Title: Robert R. McMath Papers Creator: McMath, Robert R. (Robert Raynolds), 1891-1962 Inclusive dates: 1916-1962 Extent: 10 linear feet Abstract:
Detroit, Michigan industrialist and director of the McMath-Hulbert Observatory of University of Michigan (located on Lake Angelus near Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan.). Correspondence concerning astronomy, particularly celestial photography, and the development of the McMath Observatory, financial records, plans for telescope equipment, and printed materials.
Call number: 851801 Aa 2 Language: The materials are in English. Repository: Bentley Historical Library
1150 Beal Ave. Ann Arbor, MI
48109-2113 Phone:
734-764-3482 Fax:
734-936-1333 e-mail:
bentley.ref@umich.edu Home Page: http://www.bentley.umich.edu/
Finding aid prepared by: Robert Westman
Access and Use
Acquisition Information:
The collection came to the library in different accessions from different donors. Robert McMath (donor no. 2623) donated some materials in 1949. The bulk of the collection came from the U-M astronomy department (donor no. 1435) in 1949 and 1962. In 1978, Orren Mohler (donor no. 4765) acting for the astronomy department donated McMath's American Astronomical Society papers.
Access Restrictions:
The collection is open for research.
To protect fragile audiovisual recordings (such as audio cassettes, film reels, and VHS tapes), the Bentley Historical Library has a policy of converting them to digital formats by a professional vendor whenever a researcher requests access. For more information, please see: http://bentley.umich.edu/research/duplication/.
Copyright:
Copyright is held by the Regents of the University of Michigan but the collection may contain third-party materials for which copyright is not held. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials.
Preferred Citation:
item, folder title, box no., Robert R. McMath Papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan
Biography
The time has vanished when a man such as Isaac Newton could cultivate a knowledge of natural philosophy outside a formal institutional setting while, at the same time, restructuring man's understanding of the cosmos. For one thing, the specialization of knowledge has virtually extinguished the possibility of such an enterprise; for another, scientific investigation has been transformed from a primarily individual matter into one which is administered, financed and conceived within large institutions, such as the University of Michigan. This transformation from, what one author has called, "Little Science" to "Big Science" has been so complete that, in examining the past of history of science, it is apparent that a profound change has occurred in the etymology of the word "science."
Against this background the career of Robert R. McMath acquires both meaning and fascination. For he was probably one of few men to convert a personal hobby (astronomy) into a productive scientific career. McMath's background in engineering is very much reflected through his interests in, what he was fond of calling, "things astronomical." His innovations tend to be technical, rather than conceptual. Celestial photography was the area with which he was most concerned; and, consequently, many of the papers deal with motion picture techniques, the development of new instruments for studying and photographing spectra (e.g. spectrohelio-kinsmatograph, photometer), and necessary adaptations in the telescope. In addition to its value as a source in the history of astronomy, the collection may also be used profitably to study the financial and structural growth of a scientific organization; and, of course, the relationship of the University and the government to scientific endeavor.
Robert R. McMath was born May 11, 1891 in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated with a degree in civil engineering from the University of Michigan in 1913, then worked for his father's company and another firm before entering the army air service in 1917. After the war he became general manager of the Biltmore Forest Estates Company in North Carolina. He then returned to Detroit as assistant manager of the Motors Metal Manufacturing Co. He worked for this company (and the firms that merged from it) for the next forty years in a succession of responsible positions: general manager, president, and chairman of the board.
McMath's passion was astronomy which he shared with his father and with Detroit banker and judge Henry S. Hulbert. He was supportive of the work of astronomers at the University of Michigan and was able to make many gifts to his alma mater. On his property near Lake Angelus in Oakland County, the McMaths (father and son) and Judge Hulbert had been planning and building a telescope. In 1931, the property was deeded to the University of Michigan. Among the equipment designed and built at Lake Angelus were a 70-foot tower telescope, a 24-inch reflecting telescope, and a 50-foot solar tower. From 1939 to 1961, McMath was director of the McMath-Hulbert Observatory; and from 1945 to 1960, he was named professor of solar physics and astronomy at the University of Michigan.
McMath was the recipient of many awards and honors. He was a member of the American Association for Advancement of Science, the American Philosophical Society, the American Astronomical Society, and the Royal Astronomical Society. In addition, he was director of Cranbrook School (1929-1946), and a trustee of the Cranbrook Institute of Science (chairman, 1946-1950). He died January 2, 1962.
Collection Scope and Content Note
The Robert R. McMath papers consist primarily of correspondence concerning astronomy, particularly celestial photography, and the development of the McMath-Hulbert Observatory of the University of Michigan, financial records, plans for telescope equipment, and printed materials. Correspondents include some leading astronomers of the day but the bulk is with his collaborators in construction and operation of the Observatory and with the Heber D. Curtis, chair of the University of Michigan Astronomy Department and university president Alexander Ruthven. Writings include articles by McMath about the equipment and operation of the observatory and reports on specific astronomical observations made there. The papers have been arranged into the following series: Biographical; Correspondence; Miscellaneous; Organizational Affiliations; Writings; McMath-Hulbert Observatory, Lake Angelus; and Research and topical files.
Subject Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the finding aid database and catalog of The Bentley Historical Library/University of Michigan. Researchers desiring additional information about related topics should search the catalog using these headings.
Astronomy -- Michigan.
Detroit (Mich.)
Pontiac (Mich.)
McMath, Robert R. (Robert Raynolds), 1891-1962.
McMath-Hulbert Observatory (University of Michigan)
National Science Foundation (U.S.)
University of Michigan. Dept. of Astronomy.
University of Michigan -- Faculty.
University of Michigan. Observatory.
Adams, Randolph Greenfield, 1892-1951.
Adams, Walter Sydney, 1876-1956.
Adel, Arthur, 1908-1994.
Allen, Irwin, 1916-1991.
Avila Camacho, Manuel, 1897-1955.
Barker, Ernest F. (Ernest Franklin), 1886-1970.
Beal, Junius E. (Junius Emery), 1860-1942.
Brown, Prentiss M. (Prentiss Marsh), 1889-1973.
Burns, Kevin, 1881-1958.
Burr, George L. (George Lindsley), 1889-1971.
Bush, Vannevar, 1890-1974.
Cisler, Walker L. (Walker Lee), 1897-1994.
Cranbrook Institute of Science.
Cranbrook School (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.)
Curtis, Heber Doust, 1872-1942.
Curtiss, Ralph Hamilton, 1880-1929.
Dale, Albert Ennis, 1890-1954.
Davison, Frederick Trubee, 1896-1974.
Dodson, Helen Walter, 1905-
Dulles, Allen Welsh, 1893-1969.
Dunham, Theodore J., 1897-
Eckart, Carl, 1902-1973.
Edmondson, Frank K. (Frank Kelly), 1912-
Effinger, John Robert, 1869-1933.
Fecker, J. W.
Fisher, Clyde, 1878-1949.
Gardner, Erle Stanley, 1889-1970.
Gilmore, William Steele, 1884-
Goldberg, Leo.
Grosvenor, Gilbert Hovey, 1875-1966.
Grosvenor, Melville Bell, 1901-1982.
Heyns, Roger W. (Roger William), 1918-1995.
Hulbert, Henry Schoolcraft, 1869-1959.
Johnson, Nelson C.
Karpinski, Louis Charles, 1878-1956.
Keller, Kaufman Thuma, 1885-1966.
Kellogg, Remington, 1893-
Keniston, Hayward, 1883-
Kraus, Edward Henry, 1875-1973.
Learer, F. H.
McClure, Roy Donaldson, 1882-1951.
McDowell, C. S.
McGregor, Tracy William, 1869-1936.
McMath, Francis Charles, 1867-1938.
Malesky, George.
Menzel, Donald H. (Donald Howard), 1901-1976.
Merrill, Paul W. (Paul Willard), 1887-1961.
Mohler, Orren, 1908-
Nicholson, Seth B. (Seth Barnes), 1891-1963.
Norton, William J. (William John), 1883-1975.
Odegaard, Charles E.
Ormondroyd, J. (Jesse), 1897-
Petrie, Robert Methven, 1906-
Pettit, Edison, 1889-1962.
Pyke, Alfred Joseph, 1880-
Quarles, Donald Aubrey, 1894-1959.
Reynolds, Harrison G.
Rice, Warner Grenelle, 1899-
Russell, Henry Norris, 1877-1957.
Ruthven, Alexander Grant, 1882-1971.
Sass, Samuel, 1915-
Sawyer, H. E.
Schauer, Charles Hawver, 1912-
Schriever, Bernard A.
Scripps, William Edmund, 1882-1952.
Shapley, Harlow, 1885-1972.
Shirley, Joseph W.
Smith, Shirley Wheeler, 1875-1959.
Stason, E. Blythe (Edwin Blythe), 1891-1972.
Stebbins, Joel, 1878-1966.
Stetson, Harlan True, 1885-1964.
Stone, Julius Frederick, 1855-1947.
Struve, Otto, 1897-1963.
Tapping, Theodore Hawley, 1889-1969.
Waterman, Alan Tower, 1892-1967.
Whipple, Fred L. (Fred Lawrence), 1906-2004.
White, Alfred H. (Alfred Holmes), 1873-
Wilson, Charles Erwin, 1890-1961.
Yoakum, Clarence Stone, 1879-1945.
Contents List
Request materials for use in the Bentley Library
Container / Location
Title
Biographical [series]
Box 1
Vitae, dossiers, bibliography
(2 folders)
Correspondence [series]
The Correspondence series is organized annually, 1928-1962. The volume begins to increase about 1932, reaches a peak period from 1937 to 1942, and drops off significantly in the postwar years, particularly after 1950. Appended to this finding aid is an extensive index to McMath's correspondents. Most of his correspondents relates to astronomy, his observatory, and his interaction with the University of Michigan. What little McMath reveals of his views on politics and personal matters will probably be found in his correspondence with Julius F. Stone. Aside from his letters to his father, Francis McMath, and the other collaborator on the observatory, Judge Henry S. Hulbert, McMath's major correspondent is astronomy department chairman Heber D. Curtis.
Box 1
Undated, 1916-1935
(59 folders)
Box 2
1936-1938
(41 folders)
Box 3
1939-May 1941
(45 folders)
Box 4
June 1941-1946
(61 folders)
Box 5
1947-1959
(50 folders)
Box 6
1960-1962
(9 folders)
Miscellaneous [series]
Box 7
1930-1940
(28 folders)
Box 7
1941-1962
(27 folders)
Organizational Affiliations [series]
Cranbrook Institute of Science [subseries]
Box 7
Founding document
Box 7
Interview between McMath and Robert T. Hatt concerning early history of the Cranbrook Institute of Science 1956
Box 7
1938-1939
Box 7
1940
(3 folders)
Box 7
1941
(4 folders)
Box 7
1942
(3 folders)
Box 7
1943
(2 folders)
Box 7
1944
Box 7
1945
Box 7
1955
(dedication of Robert R. McMath Planetarium)
Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences Division of National Science Foundation [subseries]
Box 8
1952-1954
Box 8
March 1955
Box 8
October 1955
(2 volumes, 1 folder)
Box 8
March 1956
(1 volume, 2 folders)
Box 8
October 1956
(3 volumes, 2 folders)
Box 8
1957
(1 volume, 2 folders)
American Astronomical Society [subseries]
Box 9
1942-1951
Box 9
1952
Box 9
January-June 1953
Box 9
July-December 1953
Box 9
January-June 1954
Box 9
July-December 1954
Box 9
January-June 1955
Box 9
July-December 1955
Box 9
January-June 1956
Box 9
July-December 1956
Box 9
1957
Box 9
1958-1961
Other Organizations [subseries]
Box 9
Interamerican Astrophysics Congress 1942
Box 9
International Astronomical Union 1955
Box 9
National Academy of Science meeting 1959
Box 9
National Radio Astronomy Observatory 1956
Writings [series]
Box 9
"Prominences of the Active and Sunspot Types Compared," by Robert McMath and Edison Pettit 1937
Box 9
"The Tower Telescope of the McMath-Hulbert Observatory," by Robert McMath
Box 9
"Recent Studies in Solar Phenomena" by Robert McMath, and notes concerning solar prominence studies 1938
Box 9
"A Review of Lake Angelus Tower Telescope Motion Picture Records," by Robert McMath and Harold Sawyer 1938
Box 9
"A Review of Lake Angelus Prominence Observations," by Robert McMath and Harold Sawyer 1939
Box 9
"The Measurement of Space Motions of Solar Prominences" by Robert McMath 1941
McMath-Hulbert Observatory, Lake Angelus [series]
Box 9
History 1959
Box 9
Financial Correspondence and Statements 1932-1940
(7 folders)
Box 9
Miscellaneous surveys of McMath's Lake Angelus estate
Box 9
Miscellanea concerning 10 1/2 inch telescope 1930-1933
Box 9
Notes on the history of McMath-Hulbert Observatory
Box 9
Miscellaneous
Research and topical files [series]
Box 9
Record of solar prominences 1938-1939
Box 9
Solar prominences papers
Box 9
Study of solar prominence 1950
Box 9
Early solar tower telescope undated, 1937-1941
(2 folders)
Box 9
Solar tower telescopes 1951
Box 10
Solar eclipse of August 31, 1932
(include logbook)
Box 10
Photometer 1947
Box 10
24 inch telescope construction
Box 10
10 1/2 inch telescope, small tower coelostat, 24 inch telescope
Box 10
Auxiliary coelostat and spectrohelio radialgraph
Box 10
Telescopes 1930-1934, undated
(5 folders)
Box 10
Telescope construction
(5 folders)
Box 10
Mt. Wilson spectrohelioscope
Box 10
Observatory electrical circuits, notes concerning
Box 10
Observatory "Dome Instructions" 1930-1935
Box 10
Edison Pettit Notebook 1935-1936
Box 10
Reports on research
Box 10
Miscellanea regarding motion pictures
(2 folders)
Box 10
Information concerning candidates for the chairmanship of the Department of Astronomy
Mar. 19, 1937; Apr. 22, 1937; May 26, 1939; Feb. 7, 1941; Oct. 24, 1949
Grosvenor, Melville Bell, 1901-1982.
Dec. 17, 1937; Jan. 17, 1938
Heyns, Roger William,1918-
Dec. 10, 1958
Hulbert, Henry Schoolcraft, 1869-1959.
Jan. 14, 1930; Jan. 15, 1930; Jan. 20, 1930; Feb. 7, 1930, Feb. 8, 1930; Feb. 27, 1930; Mar. 19, 1930; Apr. 11, 1930; Apr. 18, 1930; May 26, 1930; June 12, 1930; May 11, 1930; Aug 6, 1932; Dec. 14, 1932; Mar. 9, 1933; Mar. 24, 1933; Mar. 3, 1934; June 3, 1936; Jan. 18, 1937; Feb. 18, 1937; May 19 1937; July 13, 1937; July 16, 1937; Nov. 12, 1937; Jan. 7, 1939; Apr. 18, 1939; Oct. 14, 1939; Jan. 3, 1940; Feb. 9, 1940; May 2, 1940; Oct. 10, 1940; Feb. 15, 1941; July 1, 1941; Jan. 24, 1942; Apr. 2, 1942; June 4, 1942; June 11, 1942; July 18, 1942; Jan 23 1942, July 4, 1943; Dec. 27, 1943; May 10, 1944; May 9, 1947; May 5, 19, 1948
Johnson, Nelson C.
June 12, 1944, Aug. 1, 1944, Aug. 5, 1944
Karpinski, Louis Charles.1878-1956.
Mar. 21, 1943, June 9, 1943
Keller, Kaufman Thuma, 1885-1966.
Jan.-June 1953 folder; July-Dec. 1953 folder
Kellogg, Remington, 1892-
July 16 1948
Keniston, Hayward, 1883-
Nov. 8, 1945
Klopsteg, Paul E. (Paul Ernest), 1889-
1949-1954 throughout
Kraus, Edward Henry, 1875-
Jan. 22, 1942; Jan. 26, 1942; June 10, 1942; June 16, 1942; June 21, 1944
Learer, F. H.
Feb. 20, 1937; Mar. 21, 1937; Apr. 12, 1937; May 11, 1937; June 12, 1937; June 14, 1937; July 13, 1937; July 26, 1937; July 27, 1937; Aug. 8, 1937; Aug. 24, 1937; Aug. 27, 1937; Sept. 15, 1937; Nov. 30, 1937; Dec 23, 1937; June 23, 1938; July 6, 1938
McClure, Roy Donaldson, 1882-1951.
July 1939; Jan. 1940; Mar. 24; 1941; Apr. 8, 1941; Apr. 15, 1941; Apr. 19, 1941; Nov. 25, 1941
McDowell, C. S.
July 16, 1935; Oct. 15, 1935; Nov. 14, 1935; July 1, 1936; July 15, 1936; Oct. 30, 1936; July 3, 1937; Oct. 8, 1937;Dec. 3, 1937; Dec. 13, 1937; Jan. 25, 1938; Mar. 26, 1936; Apr. 2, 1938; May 9, 1938; May 10, 1938; May 19, 1938; May 27, 1938; June 11, 1938; June 22, 1938; Sept. 11, 1938; Sept. 24, 1938; Oct. 3, 1938; Apr. 23, 1947
McGregor, Tracy William, 1869-1936.
Dec. 26, 1933; Mar. 22, 1934; May 7, 1934; June 22, 1934; Sept 12, 1934; Nov. 23, 1934; Dec. 7, 1934; Apr. 19, 1935; Jan. 20, 1936; Apr. 2, 1936
McMath, Francis Charles, 1867-1938.
Nov. 28, 1930; Jan. 1931; May 1931; May 1, 1933; May 24, 1933; Oct. 22, 1935, Nov. 21, 1935; Dec. 2, 1935; Dec. 6, 1935; Dec. 21, 1936, May 19, 1937; May 28, 1937; June 1, 1937; Sept. 21, 1937
Malesky, George.
May 19, 1939; July 19, 1939; Sept. 25, 1939; Nov. 17, 1939, Mar. 27, 1940; Feb. 17, 1943; Feb. 20, 1943; Mar.-Apr. 1943; Apr. 3, 1944; June 22, 1944; June 28, 1944, July 5, 1944; July 6, 1944; Aug. 17, 1944; Oct. 8, 1944; Nov. 3, 1944
Menzel, Donald Howard, 1901-
Sept. 29, 1937; Mar. 15, 1938; Apr. 10, 1938; Apr. 29, 1938; Jan. 18, 1939; Mar. 3, 1939; Mar. 24, 1939; Mar. 29, 1939; May 9, 1939; July 21, 1939; Mar. 13, 1940; May 24, 1940; July 18, 1940; July 31, 1940; Aug. 23 1940; Sept. 24, 1940; Oct. 21, 1940; Nov. 29, 1940; Dec. 23, 1940; Jan. 15, 1941; Feb. 14, 1941; Feb. 28, 1941, Mar. 24, 1941; Aug. 18, 1941; Aug. 26, 1941; Nov. 12, 1941; Nov. 25, 1941; Dec. 8, 1941; Mar. 2, 1942; May 5, 1942; July 4, 1942; Aug. 15, 1942; Aug. 22, 1942; Dec. 22, 1943; Dec. 21, 1943; May 20, 1944; Oct. 27, 1945; Aug. 22, 1946; Aug. 27, 1946; Nov. 22, 1946; Throughout AAS correspondence
Merrill, Paul W. (Paul Willard), 1887-
July 18, 1937; July 19, 1937
Mohler, Orren, 1908-
Oct. 25, 1933; Feb. 12, 1934; July 30, 1934; Mar. 31, 1939; Sept. 13, 1939; Sept. 14, 1939; Oct. 7, 1939; Mar. 29, 1941; May 27, 1941; Aug. 25, 1941; June 17, 1941; Aug. 15, 1941; Oct. 6, 1941; Oct. 9, 1941; Oct. 13, 1941; Nov. 7, 1941; Feb. 2, 1942; Feb. 10, 1942; Mar. 17, 1942; Mar. 18, 1942; Mar. 25, 1942; May 27, 1942; June 16, 1942; June 28, 1942; July 25, 1942; Aug. 1, 1942; Aug. 3, 1942; Aug. 5, 1942; Sept.-Oct. 1942; Dec. 8, 1942; Dec. 15, 1942; Jan. 13, 1943; Mar. 1943; June 23, 1943; Aug. 9, 1943; Oct. 16, 1943; Oct. 21, 1943; Oct. 22, 1943; Nov. 1, 1943; Dec. 30, 1943; Jan. 12, 1944; Jan. 31, 1944; Mar. 30, 1944; Apr. 7, 1944; May 12, 1944; July 11, 1944; Aug. 7, 1944; Sept. 15, 1944; Sept. 28, 1944; Nov. 27, 1944; July 30, 1945; July 31, 1945; Nov. 7, 1945; Nov. 8, 1945; Nov. 19, 1945; Dec. 6, 1945; Jan. 30, 1946; Mar. 8, 1946; June 7, 1946; Aug.-Oct. 1946; Jan.-May 1947; Sept.-Nov. 1947; Nov. 1948; Jan. 1949; July 1949; May 28, 1960
Nicholson, Seth Barnes, 1891-
Oct. 31, 1936; Mar. 10, 1939; May 10, 1939; Feb. 5, 1943, Feb. 15, 1943
Norton, William J. (William John), 1883-1975.
Aug. 1, 1941; Aug. 8, 1941; Aug. 15, 1941; Aug. 22, 1941; Aug. 29, 1941; Sept. 5, 1941; Sept. 12, 1941; Sept. 25, 1941; Oct. 3, 1941; Oct. 10, 1941; Oct. 22, 1941; Jan. 26, 1942; May 10, 1954
Odegaard, Charles E.
May 24, 1956; Dec. 6, 1956
Ormondroyd, J. (Jesse), 1897-
Oct. 5, 1939, Sept. 28, 1959
Petrie, Robert Methven, 1906-
May 17, 1933; Dec. 21, 1933; Apr. 28, 1937; Aug. 2, 1937; Nov. 7, 1937; Nov. 7, 1937; Feb. 5, 1938; Oct. 18, 1938; Jan. 9, 1939; Mar. 8, 1940; Mar. 27, 1940; Apr. 16?, 1940; May 30, 1940; Nov. 25, 1940; Sept. 14, 1941; Dec. 17, 1941; Dec. 31, 1941; Feb. 17, 1942; Jan. 22, 1946; July 11, 1959
Mar. 18, 1941; May 9, 1941; May 16, 1941; May 27, 1941; June 24, 1941
Smith, Shirley Wheeler, 1875-1959.
Oct. 19, 1935; Oct. 25, 1935; Nov. 13, 1937; Dec. 15, 1937; May 26, 1938; June 6, 1938; Dec. 28, 1938; June 4, 1940; June 6, 1940; June 19, 1940
Stason, E. Blythe (Edwin Blythe), 1891-1972.
July 12, 1943
Stebbins, Joel, 1878-
May 17, 1940; Oct. 14, 1940; Mar. 17, 1941; Apr. 4, 1941; May 23, 1941; May 28, 1941; June 5, 1941; Jan. 31, 1942; Apr. 29, 1942; Aug. 9, 1942; Apr. 18, 1943; May 23, 1943; Mar. 16, 1955
