Files relating to the history of the Royal Observatory Greenwich and RGO, Herstmonceux, compiled and in many cases, created by, Philip Stevenson Laurie. Laurie worked at the ROG/RGO from 1935 to 1977, beginning as a Temporary Computer before going on to become the Head of the Solar Department. While most of his career involved solar work, Laurie also had a passion for ROG/RGO history and became increasingly involved with the RGO’s Archives. On 1 October 1974, he was transferred to full-time duty as ROG Archivist, a position he held until his retirement in 1977.

At Series 1 are Laurie’s files on the Royal Observatory Greenwich during the two World Wars. The file titled ‘First World War’ (RGO 107/1/6) records the work of the remaining ROG staff at Greenwich in binocular testing for the war effort. During World War 2, the Solar Department staff remained on Active Service at RO, Greenwich, taking continuous solar observations. A Home Guard was established, with regular A.R.P. (Air Raid Precaution) duties. Laurie kept two war diaries which are preserved at RGO 107/1/1-2. Both journals and scrapbooks, the diaries include descriptions of war-time work at Greenwich, illustrated with photographs and sketches of staff and buildings, including images of bomb damage. The files at RGO 107/1/7-8 include war-era circulars, notices, ration lists, and A.R.P. duty lists, along with bomb damage reports. A handwritten Klaxon warning notice giving orders for dome watchers in the event of flying bombs is also preserved at RGO 107/1/9.

As Laurie had a particular interest in the history of the Observatory, a large section of the collection is comprised of research files, covering topics such as Flamsteed, Halley family history, Time and Meridian Markers, Eclipses and Comets, and RGO history more generally (RGO 107/2). Many of these files are likely to have been kept by Laurie for answering public requests for information, or as research for presentations and publications. Laurie compiled extensive lists of former ROG, RGO and NAO staff (series RGO 107/3) as well as detailed inventories of buildings, instruments and movable property (series RGO 107/4); some of the latter were also used for internal audits.

A set of official RGO records collated by Laurie (RGO 107/5) includes a file concerning plans to relocate the LCC Generating Station at Greenwich to the Royal Observatory, records concerning the three-volume history of the Observatory, published in 1975, and a visitors’ book signed by distinguished visitors, including members of the British and other royal families. The files at RGO 107/6 record Laurie's work on the planning committee for the Tercentenary of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, which was celebrated in 1975.

Series 7 is made up of potted histories, papers and publications on aspects of Observatory history or astronomy, including many written by Laurie (RGO 107/7/3/1) and other former staff. Significant is the memoir by Clarice Chapman, reminiscing on her experience working in the Solar Department under Laurie. It includes a firsthand account of a bomb drop at the Observatory (RGO 107/7/3/15). Laurie also collected historical publications and manuscripts (RGO 7/3/2). These include an inventory of ROG instruments in 1775, early tracts on Venus and the Board of Longitude, and a manuscript by Astronomer Royal Nevil Maskelyne on “the Meteors called Fire-balls”. The final three series are made up of booklets, leaflets and ephemera, photographs and press cuttings, all relating to various aspects of ROG/RGO history (RGO 107/8-10).

Titles in inverted commas are original file titles.

Catalogued by Dr Emma Saunders, July 2024.