Finding Aid to the Papers of Hugh Johnson, 1946-1999 American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics.
One Physics Ellipse College Park, MD 20740 nbl@aip.org
December 28, 2004 Machine-readable finding aid encoded in EAD 2002 by Katherine A. Hayes on December 28, 2004. Any revisions made to this finding aid occurred as part of the editing and encoding process. Finding aid written in English. Description of the Collection American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics.
College Park, MD 20740
Papers of Hugh Johnson, 1946-1999 English. 4.25 linear feet (9 boxes) AR 1999-212 Johnson, Hugh M. This collection contains primarily correspondence, with notes, photographs, and notebooks focusing on the research of Hugh Johnson, an astronomer specializing in x-ray astronomy.

See below for information on access and restrictions.

 Selected Search Terms

These papers have been indexed in the International Catalog of Sources for History of Physics and Allied Sciences (ICOS) using the following terms. Those seeking related materials should search under these terms.

Abt, Helmut A. Aller, Lawrence H. (Lawrence Hugh), 1913- Bateson, Frank M. Bok, Bart Jan, 1906- Chandrasekhar, S. (Subrahmanyan), 1910- Giacconi, Riccardo. Heeschen, David S. Herbig, George. Hiltner, William Albert, 1914-1991. Hogg, Helen Sawyer, 1905- Howard, W. E. III. Kuiper, Gerard Peter, 1905- Luyten, Willem Jacob, 1899- Mayall, N. U. (Nicholas Ulrich), 1906- Osterbrock, Donald E. Pottasch, Stuart. Poveda, Arcadio. Seward, Frederick D. Smith, Lindsey. Snow, Theodore. Stephenson, Bruce. Strömgren, bengt, 1908- Swings, P. (Polydore), 1906- Terzian, Yervant. Westerhout, Gart. American Astronomical Society. International Astronomical Union. Lockheed Missiles and Space Company. Astronomers---Correspondence. Astronomy. Galaxies. Interstellar matter. Nebulae. X-ray astronomy. Notebooks. Biography of Hugh M. Johnson

Hugh Johnson was born on March 4, 1923 in Des Moines, Iowa. He earned his AB in 1948 and his SB in 1949 from the University of Chicago. In 1953 he received his Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Chicago, where he worked as an Assistant Astronomer at Yerkes Observatory from 1950 to 1953. He was an Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa from 1954 to 1959. He was an Associate Professor and Associate Astronomer at the University of Arizona from 1960 to 1962. Johnson was an Associate Scientist at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory during 1962 and 1963. From 1963 to 1986, Johnson was a Staff Scientist at Lockheed Missiles & Space Company. Johnson was also a Research Associate at the Yerkes Observatory from 1953 to 1960, a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University in 1958 and 1959, and a lecturer at Stanford University in 1971 through 1975 and 1980 through 1982. Johnson was a member of the American Astronomical Society and the International Astronomical Union. His research interests included x-ray astronomy, nebulae, galaxies, galactic structure, and interstellar matter.

Scope and Contents of Collection

The collection is centered on Johnson's time at Lockheed Space & Missile Company (1963-1986), with some material from his work before and after this period. The bulk of the research material he saved is on x-ray astronomy. The collection is comprised mainly of correspondence (both professional and personal), with lesser amounts of notes, newspaper clippings, and notebooks. The correspondents include: Helmet A. Abt, Lawrence H. Aller, Frank M. Bateson, Bart J. Bok, Riccardo Giacconi, David S. Heeschen, George Herbig, William Hiltner, W.E. Howard III, Helen Hogg, Willem Luyten, N.U. Mayall, Donald Osterbrock, Stuart Pottasch, Arcadio Poveda, Frederick D. Seward, Lindsey Smith, Theodore Snow, Bruce Stephenson, Polydore Swings, Yervant Terzian, and Gart Westerhout. Some correspondence related to specific research subjects, observatories, meetings, and programs is accompanied by research notes and photographs. The collection also contains notebooks from courses at the University of Chicago (taught by Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, Gerard Peter Kuiper, and Bengt Strömgren), the 1964 Hamburg IAU meeting, Yerkes Observatory Colloquia, and an NSF conference for teachers of astronomy at Berkeley in 1954.

Arrangement/Organization of Collection

This collection has been divided into six series: Series I. Alphabetical Correspondence; Series II. Subject Correspondence; Series III. Johnson-Stephenson Correspondence; Series IV. IAU Tapes Correspondence; Series V. Notebooks; and Series VI. Referee Reports.

The arrangement of the collection follows Johnson's original order. The Alphabetical Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by correspondent and then in reverse chronological order. The folders which contain only one correspondent were originally separated out by Johnson. The Subject Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by subject and then in reverse chronological order. The Stephenson-Johnson Correspondence and the Referee Reports have also been organized in reverse chronological order by date. The IAU Tape Correspondence and Notebooks have been arranged in chronological order.

Access to Collection

This collection is open to researchers except for the Referee Reports, which require permission of the donor or donor's heirs until 2075.

Restrictions on Use of Collection

Use of primary source material in the Niels Bohr Library requires prior approval through an Application for Access, which includes a statement of research purpose and the names and addresses of two scholars as references. Access applications can be obtained by contacting the Library (telephone 301-209-3177; or e-mail nbl@aip.org). The application can also be printed from our website.

 Provenance and Acquisition Information

The IAU Tapes Correspondence was received from Hugh Johnson in October 1999 and the remainder of the collection was received in March 2000.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Heather McBride in May and June 2001.

Newspaper articles were photocopied onto acid-free paper and the originals were removed from the collection. All materials were rehoused in archival quality, acid-free folders and boxes.

Preferred Citation of Collection

Cite as: [Folder title, date; Folder number, Box number], Hugh M. Johnson Papers, 1946-1999. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library, College Park, MD, 20740 USA.

 Other Related Materials

Johnson, Hugh M., Address at International Astronomical Union Mtg., 1967; (Highlight of Astronomy-X-Ray Astronomy), Optical and Radio Information. 1967. 7-86-(1-3). Advance notice of two business days is required for use of audio and video tapes.

Container List Series I. Alphabetical Correspondence, 1999-1946 Boxes 1-5

This series contains correspondence both sent and received by Johnson. The majority of the correspondence pertains to his research at Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, but also covers some of Johnson's work before 1963. Also contains personal correspondence with other scientists.

 Box 1 1 A 1988-1952 Box 1 2 Babcock-Beavers 1991-1947 Box 1 3 Becker-Bowyer 1987-1946 Box 1 4 Bradt-Butler 1990-1950 Box 1 5 Bashkin 1972-1959 Box 1 6 Bok 1979-1954 Box 1 7 Cameron-Clark 1983-1955 Box 1 8 Code-Cummings 1989-1954 Box 1 9 D 1987-1959 Box 1 10 E 1985-1955 Box 2 1 F 1988-1957 Box 2 2 G 1987-1951 Box 2 3 Golson 1972-1969 Box 2 4 Golson 1968-1967 Box 2 5 Habing-Heeschen 1984-1946 Box 2 6 Henize-D. Hogg 1984-1961 Box 2 7 H. Hogg-Huth 1980-1947 Box 2 8 Herbig 1986-1955 Box 2 9 I 1981-1966 Box 2 10 J 1986-1953 Box 3 1 K 1983-1955 Box 3 2 L 1986-1957 Box 3 3 Maccacaro-Mayer 1988-1952 Box 3 4 McCarthy-Mezger 1993-1955 Box 3 5 Michalitsianos-Murray 1984-1954 Box 3 6 Mayor- Correspondence with Mayor 1992-1983 Box 3 7 Mayor- Correspondence with Others and Notes 1986-1984 Box 3 8 N 1980-1960 Box 3 9 O 1984-1962 Box 3 10 Osterbrock 1999-1994 Box 3 11 Osterbrock 1993-1988 Box 4 1 Osterbrock 1987-1985 Box 4 2 Osterbrock 1984-1977 Box 4 3 Osterbrock 1976-1965 Box 4 4 Osterbrock 1963-1952 Box 4 5 Pacholczyk-Pismis 1988-1958 Box 4 6 Plaut-Purton 1986-1958 Box 4 7 R 1986-1955 Box 4 8 Sadler-Scott 1995-1955 Box 4 9 Seaton-Silk 1986-1953 Box 4 10 Simpson-Snijders 1988-1959 Box 4 11 Snow-Spinrad 1979-1963 Box 5 1 Spitzer-Swings 1982-1946 Box 5 2 T 1993-1960 Box 5 3 U 1983-1973 Box 5 4 V 1988-1957 Box 5 5 Wade-Weymann 1986-1956 Box 5 6 White-Wynn 1986-1958 Box 5 7 Westerlund 1979-1960 Box 5 8 Y 1977-1973 Box 5 9 Z 1983-1969 Series II. Subject Correspondence, 1999-1959 Boxes 5-7

Contains correspondence and some notes regarding Johnson's research work. Most of the research projects took place during his years at Lockheed, but some of the files contain earlier and later notes and correspondence. Some later files pertain to his work as a lecturer at Stanford University and his participation in the American Astronomical Society's Visiting Professor Program.

 Box 5 10 Cerro-Tololo 1984-1969 Box 5 11 Eastman Kodak 1969-1961 Box 5 12 Edinburgh GALAXY Machine 1976-1968 Box 5 13 Far Infrared Characteristics of K Dwarfs with H-Alpha Emission 1985 Box 5 14 Galactic X-Ray Statistics and Cluster Sources 1975-1965 Box 5 15 Haystock Observatory 1975-1970 Box 5 16 HEAO-B Stars 1980-1978 Box 6 1 IRAS/DRACO 1986-1985 Box 6 2 Jones-Chappell Clusters 1985-1981 Box 6 3 Kitt Peak National Observatory 1980-1975 Box 6 4 Kitt Peak National Observatory 1975-1963 Box 6 5 Lx ≥ 1029 (Origins and Ages) 1983-1982 Box 6 6 Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) 1973-1959 Box 6 7 M31 Spiral Dust Arms and IAU No. 52 1982-1972 Box 6 8 M31 Spiral Dust Arms and IAU No. 52 Photographs Box 6 9 M82 and NGC 4449 1975-1963 Box 6 10 Mediterranean, Chinese, and Moslem Astronomy 1960-1959 Box 6 11 NGC 5128 (Centaurus A) 1978-1962 Box 6 12 NGC 6888 and NGC 2359 1965-1963 Box 6 13 NSF Proposal 1980 Box 7 1 Palomar Observatory (Hale) 1973-1966 Box 7 2 Palomar Observatory (Hale) 1965-1961 Box 7 3 Publication- "Optical Survey of IRAS Fields in the DRACO Cloud Region" 1986-1985 Box 7 4 Rome IAU Symposium 1970-1968 Box 7 5 Strömgren Symposium 1978-1977 Box 7 6 Peter Sturrock and Stanford 1989-1965 Box 7 7 U.K. Schmidt Telescope Unit 1986-1977 Box 7 8 Van Biesbroeck 1972 Box 7 9 Visiting AAS Professor Program 1999-1969 Box 7 10 Visiting AAS Professor Program 1968-1960 Box 7 11 VLA/AJ2 - Planetary Nebulae 1984-1977 Box 7 12 Wolf 630/EXOSAT 1987-1986 Series III. Johnson-Stephenson Correspondence, 1999-1949 Boxes 7-8

Contains extensive correspondence between Bruce Stephenson and Johnson. Johnson's correspondence files were supplemented by Stephenson's records, which he gave to Johnson in 1994. Much of the correspondence relates to the men's research, their collaborations, and their personal relationship.

 Box 7 13 Correspondence 1997-1976 Box 8 1 Correspondence 1974-1968 Box 8 2 Correspondence 1967-Nov. 1966 Box 8 3 Correspondence Oct. 1966-Jan. 1966 Box 8 4 Correspondence 1965-1951 Box 8 5 Correspondence 1950-1949 Series IV. IAU Tapes Correspondence, 1966-1967) 1 folder

Correspondence about the creation, set up, and administration of the Joint Discussion on X-Ray Astronomy at the Prague meeting of the International Astronomical Union in 1967.

 Box 8 6 Correspondence 1966-1967 Series V. Notebooks, 1950-1954 Box 8

Course notes at University of Chicago: Astr. 301 by Chandrasekhar, Astr. 371 Stellar Spectroscopy by Bidelman, Astr. 377 Stellar Atmospheres II by Strömgren, Astr. 385 Celestial Mechanics by Kuiper, Astr. 386 Interstellar Problems by Strömgren. Also contains notes from Yerkes Observatory Colloquia No. 405-540; from the Hamburg IAU meetings of 1964; and from an NSF conference for teachers of astronomy at Berkeley in 1954.

 Box 8 7 Book 6 1950-1952 Box 8 8 Book 10 1952 Box 8 9 Book 11 1952 Box 8 10 Book 12 1952 Box 8 11 Book 15 1952-1954 Series VI. Referee Reports, 1989-1967 Boxes 7-8

Restricted until 2075.

Referee reports on journal articles, funding proposals, and assessments of professional personnel for promotions and society memberships. The reports were made for The Astrophysical Journal, Revista Mexicana de Astronomia y Astrofisica, Nature, the National Science Foundation, NASA, The Astronomical Journal, Cornell, The Geophysical Journal, the American Geophysical Union, Astronomy and Astrophysics, the University of Illinois, and Research Corporation.

The permission of Hugh Johnson or his heirs is required for access to the Referee Reports until 2075.

 Box 9 1 Referee Reports 1989-1983

RESTRICTED

 Box 9 2 Referee Reports 1982-1981

RESTRICTED

 Box 9 3 Referee Reports 1980-1978

RESTRICTED

 Box 9 4 Referee Reports 1977-1974

RESTRICTED

 Box 9 5 Referee Reports 1973-1967

RESTRICTED