Life at Yerkes

Opening in 1897 and situated on Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, the Yerkes Observatory was far enough from the lights of Chicago and Milwaukee that astronomers and astrophysicists could carry out cutting-edge research with the world’s largest refracting telescope. At the same time, its location next to the town of Williams Bay meant that the Observatory was uniquely accessible to women. Williams Bay was easy and safe to reach by train from Chicago, even for young women travelling alone. Women could find accommodations at local establishments like Mrs. Sawyer’s guesthouse, enabling them to live near Yerkes without violating early 20th-century standards of decorum. Many observatories of the day had accommodation for men in dormitories, which were not available to women. Social life at Yerkes was adapted to observatory labor. In the summer months, swimming, picnicking, golfing, and painting were among the favorite activities of the Yerkes community.