Description of the Collection
American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics.
College Park, MD 20740
Addition, Nancy Grace Roman Papers, 1934-2006.
AR 2006-696, AR 2007-744
English
.
1.0 linear feet
(1 records box)
Nancy Grace Roman
This collection includes correspondence, research notes and observations, course materials and reprints of articles authored by Nancy Grace Roman.
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.
Roman, Nancy Grace, 1925-
Naval Research Laboratory (U.S.)
Swarthmore College.
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Allegheny Observatory.
University of Chicago.
Astronomical observations.
Astronomy.
Women in astronomy.
Correspondence.
Notebooks.
Biographical note
Nancy Grace Roman was born in Nashville, Tennessee on May 16, 1925. She received her B.A. from Swarthmore College in 1946 and her Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Chicago in 1949.
After receiving her Ph.D., Nancy Grace Roman remained at the University of Chicago as a research associate, and later, as an assistant professor. In 1955 she took a position as an astronomer with the Radio Astronomy Branch of the Naval Research Laboratory. She was the head of the Microwave Spectroscopy Section when, in 1959, she left NRL to become the head of the observational astronomical program at NASA. Dr. Roman remained at NASA, serving as Chief of the Astronomy and Relativity Programs in the Office of Space Sciences from 1960, until her retirement in 1979.
The high-ranking position Nancy Grace Roman held, at a time when it was unusual for women to have such responsibility, is a strong indication of her knowledge and abilities. Because of her achievements in a field dominated by men, Dr. Roman has become a role model for young women.
Scope and Contents of Collection
This addition to the papers of Nancy Grace Roman include correspondence about her career, and correspondence relating to her work with the American Institute of Physics. The bulk of the correspondence is comprised of annual Christmas letters to her friends and family. These letters provide a review of Roman's activities from the previous year, her travel and research projects, and her thoughts on the passing year.
Also included in this collection are the following: Roman's notebooks containing research notes and data from her astronomical observations; course materials from her years at the University of Chicago; reprints of articles and NASA reports authored by Roman; personal accounting books from her days at Swarthmore College; engagement books and calendars; and materials from her childhood, including photographs, early essays, poetry, artwork, and arithmetic assignments.
Organization and Arrangement of Collection
Organized into the following series:
- I. Correspondence
- II. Notebooks
- III. Lecture notes
- IV. Reprints and articles
- V. Personal materials
This collection is arranged chronologically within each series.
Access to Collection
Open to approved researchers without restrictions. 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.
Restrictions on Use of Collection
The scholar pledges not to quote from, cite, or reproduce by any means this material except with the written permission of the Institute.
Provenance and Acquisition Information
Donated to the Niels Bohr Library and Archives inApril and August 2006.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Melanie J. Brown in January 2007.
Preferred Citation of Collection
Cite as: Box [number], Folder [number], Addition, Nancy Grace Roman Papers, 1934-2006. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library, College Park, MD 20740, USA.
Other Related Materials
Nancy Grace Roman Papers, 1931-1993 (bulk 1950-1980)
Materials Separated from Collection
The following books were included in the original donation, and have been removed to the public books stacks of the Niels Bohr Library:
- Challenge of the Universe (Hynek and Anderson), 1962
- Astrophysics and Space Science, Volume 267, Nos. 1-4 (ed. Dyson and Lamb), 1999
- She Does Math! Real Life Problems from Women on the Job (ed. Marla Parker), 1995
- Les Spectres de Astres dans L'ultraviolet Lointain - Les Congrs et Colloques de L'universit de Lige, Volume 20, 1960
- International Astronomical Union, International Scientific Radio Union - Paris Symposium on Radio Astronomy (ed. Ronald Bracewell), 1958
- Astronomy in Space (Newell, Smith, Roman, and Mueller) - NASA Scientific and Technival Publications, 1967
- International Astronomical Union - Symposium no. IV - Radio Astronomy (ed. H.C. Van de Hulst), 1957
- Radio Astronomy (by Bernard Lovell and J.A. Clegg), 1952
- Radio Astronomy (by J.L. Pawsey and R.N. Bracewell) - part of International Monographs on Radio - 1955
- Wanderers in the Sky: The Motions of Planets and Space Probes - part of Macmillan's Sky and Telescope Library of Astronomy (ed. By Thornton Page and Lou Williams Page), 1965
- Principles of Stellar Dynamics (S. Chandrasekhar), 1942
- Astronomy (Robert H. Baker), 1938
- Statistical Astronomy (Robert J. Trumpler and Harold F. Weaver), 1953
- Spectra of Long-Period Variable Stars (Paul W. Merrill), 1940
- Stellar Evolution: proceedings of an international conference, 1963, sponsored by the Institute for Space Studies of the Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA (ed. R.F. Stein and A.G.W. Cameron), 1966
- An Introduction to the Study of Stellar Structure (S. Chandrasekhar), 1939
- Seeing Stars (W.B. White), 1935
- Handbook of the Heavens (ed. Hubert J. Bernhard, Dorothy A. Bennett, Hugh S. Rice, foreword by Harlow Shapley), 1935
- International Astronomical Union, Colloquium No. 7 - Proper Motions (ed. W.J. Luyten), 1970
- The Nature of Light and Color in the Open Air (M. Minnaert), 1954
Container List
Series I: Correspondence,
n.d.
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1
1
Correspondence,
1945-2006
1
2
Correspondence Christmas letters,
1962-2005
Series II: Notebooks,
n.d.
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1
3
Notebook Photometry notes,
[undated]
1
4
Notebook observation log,
1951
1
5
Notebook observation log, titles Photometry,
1951
1
6
Notebook observation log,
1952-1953
1
7
Notebook observation log,
1953-1955
Series III: Lecture notes,
n.d.
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1
8
Lecture notes and course materials,
1952, undated
Series IV: Publications,
n.d.
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1
9
NASA publications,
[undated]
1
10
Articles authored by NGR,
[undated]
1
11
Sky and Telescope magazine ,
1948
1
12
Sky and Telescope magazine,
1951
1
13
Articles authored by NGR,
1955-1969
1
14
Articles authored by NGR,
1970-1999
1
15
NASA Final Report Life cycle cost comparison of four space technologies for crustal motion measurement,
1984
1
16
Report of the Space Telescope Science Program Implementation Committee,
1985
1
17
NASA Technical Report Aspect determination for AXAF,
1985
Series V: Personal materials,
n.d.
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18
Photographs,
[undated]
19
Childhood poetry, artwork and schoolwork,
1934-1935
20
Personal accounting logbook,
1942-1948
21
Personal accounting logbook,
1960-1976
22
Engagement books and calendars,
1964-1994
23
Engagement books and calendars,
1997-2005