Harvard College Observatory History in Images

Earliest source: "[Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge, construction, ca. 1892]." Harvard University Archives / UAV 630.271 (295). Harvard Libraries, ^{olvwork431947}

[Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge, construction, ca. 1892]

1892

Creator: Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge

Earliest source: "[Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge, construction, ca. 1892]." Harvard University Archives / UAV 630.271 (294). Harvard Libraries, ^{olvwork431946}

[Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge, construction, ca. 1892]

1892

Creator: Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge

Earliest source: "[Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge, construction, ca. 1892]." Harvard University Archives / UAV 630.271 (296). Harvard Libraries, ^{olvwork431948}

[Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge, construction, ca. 1892]

1892

Creator: Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge

Earliest source: "[Harvard College Observatory building under contruction] 1892." Harvard University Archives / UAV 630.271 (149). Harvard Libraries, ^{olvwork431801}

[Harvard College Observatory building under contruction] 1892

1892

Creator: Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge

Earliest source: "Astro Photographic Museum. Harvard College Observatory [(i.e. C building)] ." Harvard University Archives / UAV 630.271 (E2547). Harvard Libraries, ^{olvwork432403}

Astro Photographic Museum, aka Brick Building, aka Building C (in later years).

This building was completed in 1892. The look of fresh landscaping makes me think this could be early 1893 (but after the transfer of plates in the snowy photo). It has to be after the plate transfer, which shows no railing around the top, while this image has the railing (but no later than 1902 when the addition was built).

This photo looks more professional than many. It was taken from a perfect height to render all the vertical lines perfectly parallel, and the image is so clean that at small scale it looks like an artists' concept drawing.

ca. 1890-ca. 1920

Creator: Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge

"The Harvard Astrophotographic Museum". Also known to me as my office building. The building was expanded in 1902, as documented in photos that will be added below. This photo is part of that series, and appears to be a different print of the first image of the series used to make the animation below. The building was mostly completed in 1892.^{annual1892 crimson18921019(missing)} It was completed in 1893 and the plates were transferred.^annual1893

Apparently this plate transfer involved loading the plates (which are heavy, fragile glass) into crates, 100 plates at a time, and letting them run downhill on a rope and pulley system from a window in the west wing of the old observatory and safely into the new building.^annual1893

Earliest source: "[Observatory Staff in "paper doll" pose, (in line holding hands) panoramic photograph ca. 1918]." Harvard University Archives / UAV 630.271 (391). Harvard Libraries, ^{olvwork432043}

From left to right (primary identifications come from Harvard, who says the names were listed on the back):