Title

Pamphlet: "Dedication of the Morrison Astronomical Observatory by Robert R. Fleet. Reprinted from Popular Astronomy, Vol. XLIV, No. 9, November 1936"

Subject

Central Methodist University (Fayette, Mo.)
Morrison Observatory

Description

Pamphlet stapled into a blue paper cover, 6p, with photo illustrations. Reprinted from an article written by the author in the November 1936 issue (v. 44, no. 9) of Popular Astronomy.

Creator

Fleet, Robert R.

Source

Central Methodist University Archives

Date

November 1936

Rights

Creative Commons Attribution License

Format

PDF

Language

English

Text

Dedication of the Morrison Astronomical Observatory

BY
ROBERT R. FLEET
REPRINTED FROM POPULAR ASTRONOMY, VOL. XLIV, NO. 9,
NOVEMBER, 1936.

Dedication of the Morrison Astronomical Observatory

By ROBERT R. FLEET

The dedication service for the new Morrison Astronomical Observatory at Central College, Fayette, Missouri, was held on Monday, June 1. The exercises for the day opened with a review of the history of the old observatory and an illustrated lecture by Dr. Harlow Shapley, director of the Harvard College Observatory. Dr. Shapley gave a highly interesting outline of the present status of astronomical knowledge, using as the title of his lecture, “Exploring Outer Darkness.” This service at 10:45 o’clock in the morning was open to the public and the large audience included many astronomers and teachers of mathematics and physics from neighboring colleges and universities.

A community picnic lunch was served at noon on the campus of Central College. At 2:00 o'clock a group of especially invited guests, including the visiting astronomers and teachers, met at the new observatory which is located at the edge of the city, not far from the College. In the lecture room Dr. Shapley, by request, explained in a two-hour round-table dicussion the various phases of astronomical research now being carried on at Harvard and other observatories. The day closed with an inspection, by the visitors and friends of Central College, of the new building and instruments.

Dr. Robert R. Fleet, director of the Morrison Observatory, expressed regret that Mrs. Berenice Morrison-Fuller of St. Louis and Dr. Henry S. Pritchett of New York were unable to attend the dedication. It was through the generous gifts of Mrs. Morrison-Fuller that Professor Carr Waller Pritchett, founder of the Pritchett Collegiate Institute and father of Dr. Henry S. Pritchett, was enabled to build the original Morrison Observatory located then at Glasgow, Missouri, in connection with the institute.

History

In 1875 Professor Carr Waller Pritchett through the gifts of Mrs. Morrison-Fuller was able to carry out his plans for the building of the observatory. Mrs. Morrison-Fuller, then Miss Berenice Morrison, a personal friend of Professor Pritchett interested in the advancement of science, was a resident of Glasgow. A talented woman of vision, Mrs. Morrison-Fuller was more than glad to assist in the plans of Professor Pritchett. Her interest in the observatory still continues and she regretted her inability to be present at the dedication of the new building. Professor Carr Waller Pritchett received most of his training in astronomy at the observatory of Harvard College. There he formed lasting friendships with the Bonds, Asaph Hall, Benjamin Pierce, and other distinguished astronomers.

Plans for the original Morrison Observatory were drawn by Albert Stevens, architect, of Cambridge, Massachusetts. They were inspected and approved by Professor Joseph Winlock, then director of the Harvard Observatory. The building had a frontage of 65 feet. The computation and transit rooms were constructed of wood. The equatorial room was in the second story of a brick structure, 24 feet square, So well was this construction done that after sixty years not a crack could be found in these rather massive walls of soft home-made brick.

The pier of the equatorial telescope rested upon a base of hydraulic cement 114 feet square, 4 feet thick, sunk 10 feet below the surface of the ground. Upon this base was built a tapering pier terminating in a capstone 7 feet above the floor of the second story.

The telescope itself was a 12-inch refractor made by Alvan Clark and Sons. It had a focal length of 17 feet. The tube was of steel. The declination circle was 20 inches in diameter, graduated to 15 minutes of arc, and was read by verniers to 15 seconds. The hour circle was 15 inches in diameter and was graduated to single minutes. It was read by verniers to single seconds. Attached to the telescope was a 3-inch finder with a 50-inch focal length and a clock for motion in right ascension. This equatorial telescope was protected by a hemispherical dome modeled after that of the Harvard College Observatory. It was made of 2x6 inch white pine ribs covered with thin sheeting and heavy tin. The sliding shutters were in four sections, an arrangement calling for an involved system of cranks, wheels, and endless chains. The entire dome, 24 feet in diameter, revolved upon steel balls confined between an upper and a lower iron track. The parts of this dome were made in Massachusetts, shipped to Glasgow, and assembled at the observatory. The equatorial telescope was mounted by George Clark and Alvan Clark, Jr., who came west for that particular purpose. Alvan Clark, Sr., then a very old man, did a great deal of work on this objective.

The Meridian Circle was made by Troughton and Simms of London. Its objective had an aperture of 6 inches and a focal length of 77 inches. It was said to be of the same model as the transit instrument used so long at the Greenwich Observatory with which so much valuable work was done. The 24-inch circles were read by means of eight 21-inch microscopes attached to brass drums. Rings of total reflecting prisms gave a very effective lighting system for the cross-hairs. The dim light
of coal oil lamps was intensified by suitable lenses inserted in the axis. Finding circles provided with spirit levels and slow motion were attached near the eye-end of the tube. The micrometer head contained the usual fifteen parallel threads for right ascension reading. Two 4-inch collimators and a mercury basin provided the means of determining the collimation and level constants.

The sidereal clock was made by Charles Frodsham of London. It was a break-circuit clock used in connection with a chronograph constructed by the Clarks. There was also a Negus chronometer with a condenser and other attachments necessary for its use as a sidereal break-circuit time piece.

The instruments of the transit room were also mounted by George and Alvan Clark, Jr., with the help of W. F. Gardner, instrument maker at the United States Naval Observatory. In addition to these major instruments the Morrison Observatory possessed several important accessories including barometers, thermometers, a filar micrometer for the equatorial, and several smaller telescopes.

The old Morrison Observatory was used almost entirely for research during the lifetime of Professor Carr Waller Pritchett, Sr. Much of the observation was done by his two sons, Carr W. Pritchett, Jr., now an expert mining engineer in Denver, Colorado, and the distinguished Henry S. Pritchett, prominent in the history of the coast and geodetic survey, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

It was Henry S. Pritchett who first conceived the idea of giving exact time daily to railroads and cities in the west. Time balls were operated both in Kansas City and St. Louis.

The main work with the equatorial telescope was the observation upon double stars, planets, and comets. There is pretty strong evidence that the “Great Red Spot” on Jupiter was first seen and studied by Carr W. Pritchett, Sr., with the 12-inch instrument of the observatory.

After the retirement of Carr Waller Pritchett, Sr., and the passing of his sons into other fields of activity, the Morrison Observatory was directed by Dr. H. R. Morgan now of the United States Naval Observatory. Soon thereafter it entered a period of decline and was finally neglected to the extent that the instruments and other equipment fell into unprofessional hands ultimately resulting in their abuse.

In 1926 steps were taken by Central College to gain possession of the observatory in order to restore its equipment and make use of it in connection with the teaching of astronomy. After this transfer was accomplished, several thousand dollars were spent in restorations and improvements. But Glasgow is fourteen miles from Fayette, so the observatory was an interesting but inconvenient laboratory.

Two years ago Dr. Henry S. Pritchett visited the observatory in Glasgow and became interested in having it moved to Fayette. Through his recommendations the Carnegie Corporation made a liberal gift which was at once increased to $25,000 by the contributions of other friends of the college prominent among whom were Dr. and Mrs. S. P. Cresap of Nebraska City, Nebraska. Dr. Cresap, for many years a
curator of the college, and Mrs. Cresap have many times been benefactors of Central College.

The new Morrison Observatory stands upon a high, unobstructed ridge of seven acres within a ten-minute walk of Central College. The building, constructed of brick and concrete, is practically fireproof. The Clark equatorial is mounted upon a reinforced concrete pier that stands on a solid base 14 inches thick and extending 10 feet below the surface of the ground. The old dome was repaired and used with a more convenient revolving shutter substituted for the old arrangement. The dome is motor-driven. It rests, not on the walls of the room as formerly, but upon a circular concrete beam giving much more space around the walls.

Figure 1

New Morrison Observatory, Fayette, Missouri
(Photograph by Bullers Studio, Fayette, Mo.)

The clock for the equatorial has not yet been purchased. The motor type is to be preferred if the local alternating current proves steady enough for this purpose. The meridian circle has been remounted together with its former accessories, namely, the collimators, the sidereal clock, and the chronograph.

The transit room is 36 feet long and 16 feet wide. All of the piers are of solid concrete extending into firm clay and isolated from the floor of the room. The room can also be used for smaller transit instruments. Surveyor’s transits are available for beginners in practical astronomical studies.

Adjoining the lower floor of the equatorial tower is a lecture room 20x36 feet in size, containing a projection lantern, spectroscopes, barometers, thermometers, a sextant, star maps, celestial globes, photographs of celestial bodies, and various minor illustrative materials. The library is also in this room. It contains a large number of books and pamphlets on astronomical subjects and quite a collection of older star catalogues.

Over this lecture room and a few steps from the equatorial room is an observation deck where students may conveniently observe and sketch the constellations. Shaded lights for sketching are provided along the coping of the 3-foot parapet.

Directly south of the lecture room and deck is the home of the director. The basement of this dwelling contains a small workshop and a potential dark room. The equatorial and transit rooms are well protected from the heat of the residence and the lecture room.

Figure 2

Twelve-inch refracting telescope of the Morrison Observatory
( Photograph by Bullers Studio, Fayette, Mo.)

The main purpose of this observatory is the teaching of astronomy, but it is hoped that a moderate amount of research may be undertaken as interest develops and the equipment is perfected. Its approximate position is longitude 6" 10™ 48200 W, latitude 39° 9/ 00”.00 N.

Original Format

Pamphlet