AHJ_ah545019 Inventory of the University of Wyoming. Wyoming Infrared Observatory records, 1976-2004 University of Wyoming. Wyoming Infrared Observatory records Processed by Samantha Fawcett University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
2011

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Samantha Fawcett and Rachel Gattermeyer October 2011 and May 2020 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary University of Wyoming. Wyoming Infrared Observatory University of Wyoming. Wyoming Infrared Observatory records 1976-2004 Website capture 2019-ongoing 545019 3.83 cubic ft. (5 boxes) + website material University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English The collection contains logbooks, notes, archived website and other materials relating to the Wyoming Infrared Observatory. History of the Wyoming Infrared Observatory

The Wyoming Infrared Observatory was founded in 1975 by University of Wyoming physics professors Robert Gehrz and John Hackwell. When the 2.3 meter infrared telescope was completed in 1977, it was the world's largest and was the first computer controlled telescope. The observatory attracted many undergraduates, graduate students, research assistants and post-doctorates due to its research potential. The observatory was located about twenty-five miles southwest of Laramie, Wyoming on the summit of Jelm Mountain.

Scope and Content

The collection contains information relating to the daily operations of the Wyoming Infrared Observatory. Much of the collection is composed of logbooks with daily log entries, observations, and notes regarding temperature, wind speed, cloud cover, weather conditions, instruments used and comments on the workings of equipment. The collection also contains photographs, slides, operation manuals and various other materials relating to the observatory. In addition to these materials, the collection contains a segment from the television show "20/20" that provides a brief introduction to the development and purpose of the observatory. There is also an oral history by Bob Gehrz that elaborates on the observatory's founding and construction. This collection additionally includes archived websites affiliated with the Wyoming Infrared Observatory.

 Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

 Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

 Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by the University of Wyoming, Wyoming Infrared Observatory at the date of processing.

 Acquisition Information

This material was received from Lilburn R. (Randy) Shaw and the University of Wyoming Department of Physics and Astronomy in February of 2011. New material was received from Lilburn R. (Randy) Shaw in 2012 and from E. Gerald Meyer in 2012. Website materials were captured by the University of Wyoming's University Archives from 2019-ongoing.

 Processing Information

The collection was processed by Samantha Fawcett in October of 2011. The finding aid was updated and new material was added to the collection by Bianca Infante de la Cruz in November 2017. The finding aid was updated by Rachel Gattermeyer in May 2020.

 Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

 Access Terms University of Wyoming. Infrared astronomy. Infrared telescopes. Wyoming -- History -- 1946-1999. Wyoming -- History -- 2000-.- <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Education Colleges and Universities Wyoming Science, Technology and Health Container List Series I. Textual Materials

1 1-2 Daily Journal 1977-1978 1 3 Decals undated 5 Decals with the Wyoming Observatory Emblem undated 1 4 Empire Magazine - Article Featuring the Observatory October 2, 1977- 1 5 Logbook 1976 1 6 Logbook January 1979 - May 1979 1 7 Logbook May 1979 - September 1979 1 8 Logbook October 1979 - December 1979 1 9 Logbook January 1980 - May 1980 1 10 Logbook May 1980 - October 1980 1 11 Logbook October 1980 - March 1981 1 12 Logbook April 1981 - September 1981 1 13 Logbook March 1982 - August 1982 1 14 Logbook September 1981 - March 1982 1 15 Logbook August 1982 - January 1983 1 16 Logbook January 1983 - June 1983 1 17 Logbook June 1983 - November 1983 1 18 Logbook November 30, 1983 - July 12, 1984 1 19 Logbook July 1984 - May 1985 1 20 Logbook May 1985 - November 1985 1 21 Logbook November 25, 1985 - May 20, 1986 1 22 Logbook November 30, 1986 - May 22, 1987 1 23 Logbook May 1986 - November 1986 2 1 Logbook May 22, 1987 - November 1987 2 2 Logbook November 1987 - June 1988 2 3 Logbook June 1988 - January 1989 2 4 Logbook January 1989 - September 1989 2 5 Logbook October 1989 - April 1990 2 6 Logbook April 1990 - October 1990 2 7 Logbook April 1991 - October 1991 2 8 Logbook October 1990 - March 1991 2 9 Logbook October 1991- May 1992 2 10 Logbook May 1992 - October 1992 2 11 Logbook October 1992 - May 1993 2 12 Logbook May 1993 - January 1994 2 13 Logbook September 1994 - August 1995 2 14 Logbook August 1995 - June 1996 2 15 Logbook June 1996 - August 1998 2 16 Long Wavelength Spectronomy and Photometry of M, S and C Stars by Hackwell, J.A. 1992 2 17 Miscellaneous Items 1978, undated 2 18 Observatory Log of Nova Vul September 1984 2 19 Observatory Observations 1987-1988 2 20 Operations Handouts I, Miscellaneous Operations Information 1987 2 21-22 Operations Manual 1989, 1990 3 8 Safety Handbook 1988 3 9 Science Magazine May 25, 1984 3 10 Sidereal Time Calculator 1977 5 Signs undated 5 "The Size and Nature of the Universe: the Theory of Relativity" by Teller, Dr. Edward undated 3 13 Wyoming Observatory Notes 1976 3 14 Wyoming Observatory Notes 1977 3 15 Wyoming Observatory Notes 1978 3 16 Wyoming Observatory Notes 1979 4 1 Wyoming Observatory Notes 1980 3 17 Wyoming Observatory Notes 1980-1981 3 18 Wyoming Observatory Notes 1981-1982 4 1 Wyoming Observatory Notes 1983-1984 4 3 Wyoming Observatory Notes 1985 4 4 Wyoming Observatory Notes 1986 3 19 Wyoming Observatory Notes undated 4 5 Various Articles undated Series II. Photographs, Slides, and Audio-Visual Materials

Digital ahcdm_545019_001 20/20 Segment Featuring the Wyoming Infrared Observatory, Robert Gehrz and John Hackwell circa 1978 Oral History of the Wyoming Observatory by Robert Gehrz (Video), undated 2 23 Photograph - Gehrz, Robert - Demonstrating Telescope undated 2 24 Photograph - Telescope on Jelm Mountain undated 2 25 Photographs - 15 Banger, Inner Can Failure 1987 2 26 Photographs - D.D. Summer 1987 2 27 Photographs - Emblem Negatives and Others undated Digital ahcdm_545019_003 Photographs - Magrath, Barney 1980s 2 28 Photographs - Moon, VIA 92" undated 2 29 Photographs - The Observatory undated 2 30 Photographs - Rinehart and Road Crew 1987 2 31 Photographs - Shaw, Randy undated 2 32 Photographs - Shaw, R., Black and White Negatives 1980 3 7 Photographs - Shaw, R. WIRO CD 2004 Digital ahcdm_545019_002 Photographs - Taken at the Wyoming Observatory (Digital) undated 3 1 Photographs - Taken by the Wyoming Observatory Telescope undated 3 2 Photographs - Taken of the Wyoming Observatory Telescope undated 3 3-4 Photographs - Unknown undated 3 5 Photographs - Wyoming Infrared Observatory 10th Anniversary 1987? 3 6 Photographs/Negatives - Kilt Peak 1988-1989 3 11 Slides - Shaw, R., Buford, Wyoming (Part 1 of 2) 1979-1987 3 12 Slides - Shaw, R., Buford, Wyoming (Part 2 of 2) 1979-1987 Series III. Website

This series includes digital access to archived websites associated with the Wyoming Infrared Observatory.

 Digital Website: UW Wyoming Infrared Observatory 2019-ongoing