University of Pittsburgh - Owl Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

 - Class of 1908

Page 18 of 404

 

University of Pittsburgh - Owl Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA) online collection, 1908 Edition, Page 18 of 404
Page 18 of 404



University of Pittsburgh - Owl Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA) online collection, 1908 Edition, Page 17
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University of Pittsburgh - Owl Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA) online collection, 1908 Edition, Page 19
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Page 18 text:

ffe THE OLD ALLEGHENY OBSERVATORY FROM ADDRESS OF JOHN ALFRED BRASHEAR. Sc.D.. LL.D. AT THE LAYING OF THE CORNERSTONE OF THE NEW OBSERVATORY, OCTOBER 20. 1906 HE story of the old Allegheny observatory is replete with interest not only to the astronomer, but to the good people of Pittsburgh and Allegheny. For are we not proud of its history, proud of its achievement in the domain of science, proud of the men who have ich to advance our knowledge of the beautiful science of astronomy? For discoveries of momentous interest in solar, stellar and planetary physics have l een made within the walls of the dear old building on Observatory Mill, and to-day the discoveries made there give us a standing in the scientific world second to none. 1 lave we not also a pardonable pride in that noble corps of men who a little more than forty years since planned and budded the old observatory? Budded better than they knew, for forty years ago little was known of the new astronomy in the field in which so much has been sown and reaped at the old institution. On the evening of February 15. 1859, three citizens of this city and Pittsburgh met at the office of Professor Bradley to consider the purchase of a telescope, “the

Page 17 text:

JOHN ALFRED BRASHEAR, Sc.D., LL.D. Acting Chancellor of the Western University of Pennsylvania, 1901-1904: once Acting Director of the Allegheny Observatory; Fellow A. A. A. S.. Royal Astronomical Society of (ireat Britain; past president of the Western Pennsylvania Engineers Society and the Pittsburgh Academy of Arts and Sciences: member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, British Astronomical Association. Societe Astronomique de France, Societe Beige d'Astronomie. American Philosophical Society. Astrophvsical Society of America, honorary membci of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. “PA BRASHEAR.”



Page 19 text:

magnifying power of which would bring the heavenly bodies near enough to be viewed with greater interest and satisfaction. These three citizens were Professor Lewis Bradley, Josiah King and Harvey Childs. After some conversation upon the subject it was decided to recp.iest other gentlemen to meet with them. The next meeting was held on the evening of Washington’s birthday. February 22, 1859. At this meeting, “after further conversation, it was proposed to place the telescope upon a housetop in the central part of Allegheny. The committee on site had some negotiations with the city with reference to a location on Seminary Hill, a lease of which was offered to the association for an annual rental of sixty dollars per year, but about this time Mr. Ferguson and Mr. McClintock offered free of cost a large part of the plot of ground on which the observatory now stands, and an additional piece was purchased from Mr. Ashworth. making in all a tract of over ten acres, on what was then perhaps as fine a location for an observatory as could lx found near the city, as the prevailing winds carried the smoke away from it. thus insuring good observations in its earlier history. So successful was the association in raising funds for the projiosed observatory that it was decided to purchase a 13-inch telescope instead of an 8-inch, as originally proposed, and on motion of Mr. Wiliiam Thaw it was decided to instruct a committee to make arrangements for the purchase of an instrument from Mr. Fit , of New York, who had only a short time before completed a similar instrument for the Dudley observatory at Albany, New York. The complete organization of the association did not take place until May 15, i860, when the constitution and by-laws were rejxirted and adopted and a board of directors elected. The members constituting the lxiard were: Hon. Thomas M. Howe, l)r. C. C. Hussey, Mr. W illiam Thaw, Mr. Josiah King and Mr. John II. Shoenberger. Dr. C. (I. Hussey was elected president of the board and Mr. James Park, Jr., secretary. The act of incorix ration by the legislature of Pennsylvania was approved by (iov. Packer, on the 22 l day of March, i860. 1'he observatory was completed and the telescope erected between the first of November, i860, and the end of January. 1861. On Tuesday evening. November 17. 1863. Prof. Philotus Dean was elected director of the observatory for one year, 'flic records do not show any important observations or discoveries made up to this time, indeed it is presumed that the telescope was used almost entirely for observations of the moon and planets by the members of the association. The first director of the observatory served without any salary, save that he was furnished with a dwelling house free of rent. On the 10th of May, 1867. a meeting was held of the stockholders of the Allegheny Astronomical Association, as it is now called, to consider its transfer to the 11

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