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Dudley Observatory
Supporting research and education in astronomy, astrophysics, and the history of astronomy |
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Collections The Dudley Observatory Library Collections of 19th and early 20th century scientific publications together with the records of the observatory itself - both manuscript and printed - provide a record of astronomical endeavors during an important era of general scientific activity. Researchers who have found it have been amazed by the wealth of information available to them. It is the current aim of the observatory to preserve and to protect this resource, as well as to make the collections better known in the international research community. The monograph collection includes many early library acquisitions, verifiable through early accession lists and a card catalog from the turn of the century, that reflect the state of scientific research and sources from that period. This resource in the history of astronomy is divided into several sections.
Archives -- 80 linear feet of records, documenting the
history of Dudley from 1852 to the present. These are mostly paper documents,
but there is a sizable collection of photographic images dating from the 1860s
to the present (c.25 linear feet.) Library -- 400 linear feet. The monograph
collection includes titles on astronomy, the history of
astronomy and astrophysics, and those titles having significant connection
with the Dudley Observatory. Rare Books -- 60 linear feet. The rare books comprise an extraordinary
collection of early astronomical works. These books represent some of the seminal works in
astronomy and include early editions of Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, Gauss and
many others. This collection was begun by Benjamin A.
Gould, Jr., Dudley's first Director and a collector of rare books. Several of Gould's
letters found in the Dudley Archives mention his
attending book auctions or his purchasing rare books. The 15th, 16th and 17th astronomical
works in this collection represent seminal works in their fields. An exhibit featuring some examples of these books was held
at the Schenectady Museum in April, 2000.
Gould Collection -- 60 linear feet. The astronomical books belonging
to Benjamin A. Gould, Jr. form a separate collection within the Library. The Gould
collection retains the characteristics of a typical 19th century working astronomical
library and has been used by researchers and historians of astronomy. Journals -- 754 linear feet. The journal collection can be
divided into three parts Observatory Publications
-- 298 linear feet. Observatories have
had exchange policies on their publications from the nineteenth century. Most of this
collection has been amassed by Dudley in exchange for Dudley's publications. Pamphlet Collection -- 50 linear feet This un-cataloged collection contains pamphlets and reprints on numerous astronomical subjects dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Inventory Collecting policy Dudley presently limits its acquisitions to journals and monographs in the history of astronomy or astrophysics, the history of the Dudley Observatory and the astronomers who worked there. Access policy The Dudley Observatory Library and Archives are open by appointment to the public and researchers. Items in the library collection can be borrowed by faculty of Union College or RPI or by special arrangement with the Archivist. The collection is catalogued on OCLC through the Capital District Library Council and is available for interlibrary loan with the exceptions of rare and fragile materials. Reference services are available through e-mail (info@dudleyobservatory.org) and telephone (518-382-7583.) Dudley Observatory's rare book collection is currently housed in Special Collections at Union College and is available subject to their access conditions. |
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Dudley Observatory |
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Copyright © 2007 Dudley Observatory. All Rights Reserved. |
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