Finding Aid to the American Astronomical Society, Historical Astronomy Division, Records of the Secretary/Treasurer, 1980-1994 (bulk 1985-1992) American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics.

One Physics Ellipse College Park, MD 20740 nbl@aip.org

February 5, 2005 Machine-readable finding aid encoded in EAD 2002 by Katherine A. Hayes on February 5, 2005. 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

American Astronomical Society, Historical Astronomy Division, Records of the Secretary/Treasurer, 1980-1994 (bulk 1985-1992) English. 2.25 linear feet (5 boxes) AR 1994-355 American Astronomical Society. Historical Astronomy Division. Office of the Secretary/Treasurer. This division of the American Astronomical Society was founded in 1980 with the objective to "advance interest in topics relating to the historical nature of astronomy." Most of the records date from 1985 to 1992, and include minutes of meetings and committee nominations, newsletter files, extensive bibliographies of contemporary publications on the history of astronomy, and financial records.

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.

DeVorkin, David H., 1944- Freitag, Ruth S. Astronomy -- History. Astronomy -- Societies, etc. Astrophysics -- History. Astrophysics -- Societies, etc. Newsletters. History of the American Astronomical Society, Historical Astronomy Division

This division of the American Astronomical Society was founded in 1980 as the Historical Astronomy Division. According to the by-laws, its objective is to "advance interest in topics relating to the historical nature of astronomy." Historical astronomy includes the history of astronomy, archaeoastronomy, and the application of historical records to modern astrophysical problems. The division organizes meetings to provide a forum for discussion of recent developments in historical astronomy; assists the AAS in the commemoration of important historical anniversaries; and actively seeks to preserve important archival materials for the use of future historians of astronomy.

Full membership is open to any member of the American Astronomical Society by application and payment of dues. Affiliate membership is available to those who have membership in other professional societies with an interest in the history of astronomy, such as the History of Science Society, etc., and various anthropological associations.

Scope and Contents of Collection

While the collection includes material from 1980 to 1994, most of the records date from 1985 to 1992. Minutes of HAD meetings and committee nominations are included in the newsletter files, since these were reported in the newsletter. Of special interest are the extensive bibliographies of contemporary publications on the history of astronomy prepared by Ruth Freitag of the Library of Congress who was a member of HAD. The financial records also contain the 1983-1986 audited financial statements of AAS.

Arrangement/Organization of Collection

The initial accession was received in two file cartons from David DeVorkin in late 1994. One box contained most of the newsletter files, survey and nominations information, and some subject specific files. The other box held most of the financial information, additional newsletter files and a few more subject files. Many of the folders were not titled or had very general titles, such as "HAD Business," "HAD Dues," or "Newsletter." Some papers were not in files.

In order to facilitate access to the collection, it was reordered into appropriately titled files and placed into a framework of fours series: I. Membership Records, II. Newsletters, III. Subject Files, and IV. Financial Records. The files are arranged chronologically within the series, except for the subject files which are alphabetical. Staples, clips, and rubberbands were removed; thermo-fax paper was photocopied and the originals removed; and the documents were rehoused in acid-free folders and document cases for preservation.

In January 1996 an additional half carton of records relating to his tenue as Secretary/Treasurer was received from DeVorkin. These included AAS meetings and HAD business meeting files, abstracts of papers, and correspondence from 1988, 1991, 1992, and 1993, and newsletter files relating to issues #18 - 25. Since these materials seemed to fill in gaps in the original records, they were processed, refoldered and integrated into that collection in November 1997. They can be found in Series I and II.

Access to Collection

Permission of an officer of the Historical Astronomy Division required for access to records less than 50 years old.

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

Gift of David DeVorkin in 1994 and 1996.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Sandra Johnson in October 1995.

A second deposit was received in January 1996 from DeVorkin and integrated into the collection in November 1997.

Preferred Citation of Collection

Cite as: [Folder title, date; Folder number, Box number], American Astronomical Society, Historical Astronomy Division. Records of the Secretary/Treasurer, 1980-1994. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library, College Park, MD, 20740 USA.

Other Related Materials

Photographs from AAS-HAD in the Emilio Segrè Visual Archives; AAS-HAD Addition to records: obituary files, 1995-1998; H.A.D. News; AAS-HAD Conference on astronomy and the state [sound recording], 1994; AAS-HAD Additions to records, 1898-1998 (bulk: 1996-1998).

Materials Separated from Collection Duplicates and multiple drafts Mailing labels Blank forms Blank stationery Bank deposit slips Photocopies of checks Canceled checks Ballots Membership change of address forms Container List Series I. Membership Records, 1980-1994 Boxes 1-2 Box 1 Folder 1 Charter Members 1980-81 Box 1 Folder 2 Correspondence 1981-84 Box 1 Folder 3 Nominating Committee 1982 Box 1 Folder 4 Membership Survey 1985 Box 1 Folder 5 Correspondence 1985 Box 1 Folder 6 Membership Inquiries 1985-89 Box 1 Folder 7 Correspondence and Lists 1988 Box 1 Folder 8 Elections 1988 Box 1 Folder 9 Correspondence 1989 Box 1 Folder 10 Membership Survey 1989 Box 1 Folder 11 Correspondence 1990 Box 1 Folder 12 Correspondence 1991 Box 1 Folder 13 HAD Affiliates 1992 Box 1 Folder 14 Membership List 1992 Box 1 Folder 15 AAS Meeting 1982 Box 1 Folder 16 AAS Meeting 1984 Box 1 Folder 17 AAS Meeting/HAD Registration 1984 Box 1 Folder 18 AAS Meeting 1986 Box 2 Folder 1 AAS Meeting 1987 Box 2 Folder 2 AAS Meeting 1988 Box 2 Folder 3 HAD Executive Comm. January 1988 Box 2 Folder 4 AAS Meeting 1989 Box 2 Folder 5 AAS Meeting 1990 Box 2 Folder 6 AAS Meeting/Local Arrangements 1990 Box 2 Folder 7 HAD Business Meeting/January 1991 Box 2 Folder 8 AAS Meeting/May 1991 Box 2 Folder 9 AAS Meeting 1992 Box 2 Folder 10 HAD Business Meeting 1992 Box 2 Folder 11 Joint HAD/DDA Meeting/June 1992 Box 2 Folder 12 AAS Meeting/June 1992 Box 2 Folder 13 AAS Meeting 1993 Box 2 Folder 14 AAS Meeting 1994 Series II. Newsletters, 1985-1992 Boxes 3-4 Box 3 Folder 1 Newsletter May 1985 Box 3 Folder 2 Newsletter September 1985 Box 3 Folder 3 Newsletter November 1985 Box 3 Folder 4 Newsletter/Correspondence 1985 Box 3 Folder 5 Newsletter May 1986 Box 3 Folder 6 Newsletter September 1986 Box 3 Folder 7 Newsletter December 1986 Box 3 Folder 8 Newsletter March 1987 Box 3 Folder 9 Newsletter November 1987 Box 3 Folder 10 Newsletter #8 May 1988 Box 3 Folder 11 Newsletter #9 September 1988 Box 3 Folder 12 Newsletter #10 October 1988 Box 3 Folder 13 Newsletter #11 March 1989 Box 3 Folder 14 Newsletter #12 May 1989 Box 3 Folder 15 Newsletter #13 August 1989 Box 3 Folder 16 Newsletter #14 November 1989 Box 3 Folder 17 Newsletter #15 April 1990 Box 3 Folder 18 Newsletter #16 August 1990 Box 3 Folder 19 Newsletter #17 September 1990 Box 3 Folder 20 Newsletter #18 March 1991 Box 4 Folder 1 Newsletter #19 May 1991 Box 4 Folder 2 Newsletter #20 August 1991 Box 4 Folder 3 Newsletter #21 October 1991 Box 4 Folder 4 Newsletter #22 February 1992 Box 4 Folder 5 Newsletter #23 May 1992 Box 4 Folder 6 Newsletter #24 September 1992 Box 4 Folder 7 Newsletter #25 November 1992 Series III. Subject Files, 1984-1990 Box 4 Box 4 Folder 8 General Correspondence 1984-86 Box 4 Folder 9 General Correspondence 1987-90 Box 4 Folder 10 Amateur Astronomers 1985 Box 4 Folder 11 Annual Report 1985 Box 4 Folder 12 Council Meeting 1990 Box 4 Folder 13 Edwin Hubble Eyepiece 1989-90 Box 4 Folder 14 Obituary Notices 1989 Box 4 Folder 15 One-Paper Rule 1985 Box 4 Folder 16 Preservation Information 1980 Box 4 Folder 17 Preservation Survey 1982 Box 4 Folder 18 Preservation Correspondence 1980-83 Box 4 Folder 19 Preservation Correspondence 1984 Box 4 Folder 20 Preservation/Atherton Seidell Endowment Foundation 1985 Box 4 Folder 21 Preservation/National Park Service 1989 Series IV. Financial Records, 1982-1992 Box 5 Box 5 Folder 1 Financial Records 1985 Box 5 Folder 2 Financial Records 1986 Box 5 Folder 3 Financial Records 1987 Box 5 Folder 4 Financial Records 1988 Box 5 Folder 5 Financial Records 1989 Box 5 Folder 6 Financial Records 1990 Box 5 Folder 7 Financial Records 1991 Box 5 Folder 8 Financial Records 1992 Box 5 Folder 9 AAS Financial Statements 1982-83 Box 5 Folder 10 AAS Financial Statements 1984 Box 5 Folder 11 AAS Financial Statements 1985 Box 5 Folder 12 AAS Financial Statements 1986