Paul W. Hodge Papers, 1958-1975

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Hodge, Paul W
Title
Paul W. Hodge Papers
Dates
1958-1975 (inclusive)
Quantity
3 cubic ft. (4 boxes)
Collection Number
(Accession No. 3342-001)
Summary
Professor of astronomy, University of Washington; star charts relating to the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users. Records stored offsite; advance noticed required for use.

Request at UW

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Paul Hodge is Professor Emeritus of Astronomy at the University of Washington. He received his B.S. from Yale University in 1956 and his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1960. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Washington in 1965, he taught and did research at Harvard University, Hale Observatories, California Institute of Technology, University of California at Berkeley, and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. The author of eighteen books and more than 470 articles, Hodge received the Beckwith Prize in astronomy from Yale in 1956 and the Bart J. Bok Prize in astronomy from Harvard in 1962.

Hodge has twice served as chairman of the astronomy section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1978-1979 and 1983-1984) and has been the editor of the Astronomical Journal since 1984. He served as associate dean of the Graduate School (1971-1973), associate dean of arts and sciences (1978-1980), and chair of the astronomy department (1987-1990) at the University of Washington. His major field of investigation at present includes the evolution of stars and galaxies.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists entirely of star charts acquired or used by Paul W. Hodge for his studies relating to the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are the visible evidence of the two closest galaxies to our own. They were first recorded during Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe in the sixteenth century and are only visible from the southern hemisphere. Images in the collection fall into three categories: (1) Large Magellanic Cloud prints generated from glass plates made with the A.D.H. Schmidt telescope at the Boyden Observatory in South Africa from 1958-1959, (2) Small Magellanic Cloud prints shot using the telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile from 1968-1975, and (3) a Small Magellanic Cloud print shot by Harvard University researchers in the 1890s at Arequipa, Peru. The collection includes one series of Large Magellanic Cloud prints and one series containing the Peruvian Small Magellanic Cloud print, but the Chilean Small Magellanic Cloud prints have been arranged into five (5) series according to magnification and wavelength.

Images of the stars in the clouds are recorded visually on prints that are keyed to a master chart of the entire cloud. In addition, the clouds are viewed at different light wavelengths so there are several similar views at different wavelengths (i.e. B or V). Prints are identified by wavelength letter and chart number, and many have plate numbers which refer to the original photographic glass plates from which they were printed. The charts are also differentiated by high and regular magnification. Charts keyed in two digits (i.e. 48) denote regular magnification and charts keyed in three digits (i.e. 101) denote high magnification.

Apparently, numerous plates and prints at Harvard were discarded. Professor Hodge indicates that many of the existing prints may now be unique. His co-author, Harvard's Frances W. Wright ( The Small Magellanic Cloud , UW Press, 1977) notated these charts from what she remembered of data notebooks that also no longer exist at Harvard. He notes that these records are important because variable stars or identification errors may only appear in these records.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Contact the repository for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in seven series by chart title.

Acquisition Information

Collection donated by Paul W. Hodge, July 1, 1985.

Processing Note

Processed in 1985.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1 Small Magellenic Cloud Star Charts
Photographs shot at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile.
1968-1975
1/2 Small Magellenic Cloud Star Chart
Photograph shot by Harvard University researchers in the 1890s at Arequipa, Peru.
1914
2/1 Large Magellenic Cloud Star Charts
Photographic prints made from glass plates shot using the A.D.H. Schmidt telescope at the Boyden Observatory in South Africa.
1958-1959
3/1 Small Magellenic Cloud Star Charts
Photographs shot at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. Regular magnification, V wavelength.
1968-1975
3/2 Small Magellenic Cloud Star Charts
Photographs shot at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. High magnification, V wavelength.
1968-1975
3/2 Small Magellenic Cloud Star Charts
Photographs shot at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. High magnification, B wavelength.
1968-1975
3/2 Small Magellenic Cloud Star Charts
Photographs shot at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. Regular magnification, B wavelength.
1968-1975

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Astronomers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Astronomy--Charts, diagrams, etc
  • Astronomy--Research
  • College teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Schmidt telescopes

Personal Names

  • Hodge, Paul W.--Archives
  • Wright, Frances Woodworth

Corporate Names

  • Boyden Observatory
  • Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory
  • Harvard University

Geographical Names

  • Magellanic Clouds

Form or Genre Terms

  • Astronomical charts
  • Photographs

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • University of Washington. University Archives

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington)