Pieces of the Past from Michigan Astronomy
DIRECTOR 1879-91 Mark Walrod Harrington was born in Sycamore, Illinois on August 18, 1848. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1868, and received a Master’s degree in 1871. After experiences such as being assistant curator of the University of Michigan Museum of Natural Science; astronomer’s assistant for the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey […]
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DIRECTOR 1892-1905 Asaph Hall, Jr. was born at Cambridge, Massachusetts on October 6, 1859. He was the son of the famous astronomer, Asaph Hall, Sr., who was trained by Brünnow at the Detroit Observatory and made his career at the United States Naval Observatory. Asaph Hall, Jr. was trained at Harvard and Yale, receiving his
DIRECTOR 1905-26 (AND ACTING DIRECTOR 1891-92) William Joseph Hussey was born on August 10, 1862 at Mendon, Ohio. Hussey received a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1889. He experienced delays in his studies due to lack of funds, during which time he worked as a school principal in Ohio. Following
DIRECTOR 1927-29 (ACTING DIRECTOR 1926) Ralph Hamilton Curtiss was born in Derby, Connecticut on February 8, 1880. He received a B.S. in 1901 and Ph.D. in 1905 from the University of California. Curtiss then worked at the Allegheny Observatory in Pittsburgh until he came to the University of Michigan as an Assistant Professor of Astronomy
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DIRECTOR 1930-41 Heber Doust Curtis was born in Muskegon, Michigan on June 27, 1872. He attended the University of Michigan but did not study the sciences. While teaching Latin and Greek, he became interested in astronomy as an amateur and volunteered at the Lick Observatory in California. After taking a teaching position in mathematics and
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ACTING DIRECTOR 1929-30 AND 1942-45 Will Carl Rufus was born in Chatham, Ontario, Canada July 1, 1876. He earned degrees in 1902 and 1908 from Albion College and became a high school mathematics teacher in Flint and Lansing, then a Methodist Episcopal pastor for two years. He traveled to Korea to teach mathematics and astronomy
ACTING DIRECTOR 1945-46 Allan Douglas Maxwell began teaching astronomy at the University of Michigan in 1928. Following W. Carl Rufus’ retirement in July 1945, Maxwell was appointed as Acting Director of the Observatories. He began the regrouping and reorganization of the Astronomy Department at the end of World War II. One year later, Maxwell resigned
Director, Detroit Observatory 1946-60 Leo Goldberg was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 26, 1913, the son of Polish immigrants. In 1922, a fire in their apartment building killed his mother and younger brother, hospitalizing Leo for many months. Later, after excelling in science and mathematics in school, Goldberg won a scholarship to Harvard,
Director, Detroit Observatory, 1854-63 Franz Friedrich Ernst Brünnow was born November 18, 1821 in Berlin, Germany. When University of Michigan President Henry P. Tappan traveled to Europe to obtain astronomical instruments for the Detroit Observatory, he engaged Brünnow to supervise the construction and testing of a meridian circle telescope and an astronomical clock, and later
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ACTING DIRECTOR 1960-61 Freeman Devold Miller was born on January 4, 1909 in Somerville, Massachusetts. He was educated at Harvard University, receiving a Ph.D. in astronomy in 1934. He served as director of the Swasey Observatory at Denison University from 1934 to 1940. Following his service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Miller
