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Papers on the Radcliffe Observatory, 1935 - 1951

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 8/21

Scope and Contents

Papers relating to Radcliffe Observatory, Pretoria, including the following material:

Correspondence between Theodore Dunham and Sir Harold Spencer Jones regarding plans for a coudé spectrograph at Pretoria, 1951.

Correspondence with H. Spencer Jones regarding staff and instruments at the Radcliffe Observatory, 1950.

Correspondence with the Trustees of the Radcliffe Trust and letters concerning the Trust, 1950.

Letter from H.H. Plaskett, University Observatory, Oxford, to H. Spencer Jones, regarding the Radcliffe Travelling Fellowship appointment of D.W.N. Stibbs, 1950.

Letter from H. Spencer Jones to E.L. Pilditch, regarding the Radcliffe Trust charges for the use of the 74-inch telescope, 1950.

Correspondence between H. Spencer Jones and the Admiralty regarding the part-use of the Radcliffe telescope by the staff of the Cape Observatory, 1950.

Letter from A.D. Thackeray to H. Spencer Jones regarding precautions to be observed when using the 74-inch refractor, 1950.

Proposal for a scheme of cooperation between the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, and the Radcliffe Observatory, Pretoria, 1950.

Correspondence between H. Spencer Jones and the Casella and Co. regarding the spectrograph for the Radcliffe 74-inch reflector, 1950.

Correspondence with H. Spencer Jones regarding the Radcliffe Trust Observer's Agreement, 1950.

Correspondence with E.L. Pilditch regarding the Radcliffe Trust, the Cassegrain mirror and the Cassegrain spectrograph, 1950.

Correspondence with Dr John B. Irwin regarding his visit to the Radcliffe Observatory, 1950.

Memorandum summarising the considerations to be taken into account concerning the suggested amalgamation (complete or partial) of the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, with the Radcliffe Observatory, Pretoria, 1950.

Correspondence with Professor J.H. Oort, Holland, regarding the Radcliffe 74-inch Refractor, 1950.

Letter from R. Woolley, Commonwealth Astronomer, to H. Spencer Jones regarding the vacancy as Chief Assistant at the Radcliffe Observatory, 1949.

Confidential letter from D.S. Evans to H. Spencer Jones regarding the vacancy as Chief Assistant at the Radcliffe Observatory, 1949.

'Proposal for a coudé spectrograph to be used in connection with the 74-inch Radcliffe Telescope at Pretoria' by Theodore Dunham, including drawings, 1949.

Correspondence with T. Dunham regarding the 74-inch Radcliffe Telescope and coudé spectrograph, 1949.

Correspondence with H.H. Plaskett regarding the coudé spectroscope for the Radcliffe Observatory, 1948.

Correspondence between Sir Harold Grubb, Parsons and Co. Ltd and H. Spencer Jones regarding the astigmatism in the no. 1 Cassegrain for the Radcliffe 74-inch Reflector, and graphs and reports on the Cassegrain mirror, 1948.

Correspondence with A.D. Thackeray regarding the proposed Newtonian Spectrograph for the 74-inch Radcliffe Reflector, including a drawing, 1948.

Correspondence between H. Spencer Jones and E.L. Pilditch regarding the contract price of the 74-inch mirror, 1948.

Correspondence with E.L. Pilditch regarding the finance of the calibration spectrograph, 1948.

Letter from H. Knox-Shaw to H. Spencer Jones regarding the coudé spectrograph, 1948.

Correspondence with H.H. Plaskett regarding the Radcliffe Advisory Committee, 1948.

Correspondence with Sir Howard Grubb, Parsons and Co. Ltd regarding the packing of the Radcliffe mirror, 1948.

Correspondence regarding the appointment of A.D. Thackeray as the First Assistant at the Radcliffe Observatory, 1948.

Correspondence regarding Dr McKellar taking up a position at the Radcliffe Observatory, 1947.

Letters from H. Knox-Shaw to H. Spencer Jones regarding the construction of an aluminising plant, with a drawing of the aluminising tank, 1947.

Correspondence with the David Dunlap Observatory, Ontario, regarding the coating of the Radcliffe mirror, 1947.

Correspondence with the Foreign Office regarding the customs duty on the 74-inch Radcliffe Mirror, 1947.

Correspondence with C.R. Burch, University of Bristol, regarding Bates' Wave Front Shearing Interferometer in use on mirrors, 1947.

Correspondence of H. Spencer Jones regarding the termination of D.S. Evans's appointment at Radcliffe Observatory, 1947.

Correspondence of H. Spencer Jones regarding the 74-inch Radcliffe Mirror tests, with an attached photograph, 1947.

Correspondence with H. Knox-Shaw regarding the unsuitability of D.S. Evans, 1947.

Correspondence between H. Spencer Jones and C.R. Burch regarding tests on the 74-inch Radcliffe Mirror, 1946.

Report on the visit of W.H. Steavenson on 1-2 November 1946 to test the Radcliffe 74-inch Parabolic Mirror.

Correspondence and photographs from Sir Howard Grubb, Parsons and Co. Ltd regarding the 74-inch Radcliffe Mirror, 1946.

Letter from H. Spencer Jones to E.L. Pilditch regarding the setting up of a Schmidt telescope at the Radcliffe Observatory, 1946.

Correspondence with the Royal Society regarding the setting up of a Schmidt telescope at the Radcliffe Observatory, 1946.

Correspondence with Sir Howard Grubb, Parsons and Co. Ltd regarding W.H. Steavenson's report on the Radcliffe Mirror, 1944.

Correspondence with W.H. Steavenson detailing his findings on the 74-inch Radcliffe Mirror, including graphs and Hartmann's tests on the Radcliffe Mirror, 1944.

Correspondence with Lord Cottesloe regarding H.G. Scott Barrett, 1942.

Report on the progress of the Pretoria 74-inch reflector, 1941.

Correspondence between H.G. Scott Barrett and H. Spencer Jones regarding the return of a sheet of independent checks on the apparent places of stars, 1941.

Correspondence with Lord Cottesloe regarding insurance against war damage for the 74-inch and subsidiary mirrors, 1941.

Correspondence between F.J. Hargreaves and H. Spencer Jones regarding Gaviola's paper and the testing of the Pretoria Cassegrains, including a drawing, 1941.

Correspondence with Sir Howard Grubb, Parsons and Co. Ltd regarding the 74-inch mirror, 1941.

Minutes of the business transacted by the Radcliffe Trustees at a special meeting on 19 February 1941, regarding the 74-inch mirror, 1941.

Extract from the contract between Sir Howard Grubb, Parsons and Co. Ltd and the Radcliffe Trustees, 1941.

History of the 74-inch mirror by F.J. Hargreaves, 1941.

Letters from Sir Howard Grubb, Parsons and Co. Ltd. to F.J. Hargreaves regarding the shape of the curve of the Radcliffe Mirror, 1941.

Copy of the Pretoria 74-inch reflector-knife edge chart, 1941.

Correspondence between F.J. Hargreaves and Manville regarding the 74-inch reflector, with diagrams, 1940.

Letters from H. Knox-Shaw to the Trustees regarding the total solar eclipse of 1 October 1940.

Correspondence between H. Spencer Jones, H. Knox-Shaw and Lord Cottesloe regarding the progress of the 74-inch mirror, 1940.

Letters to H. Knox-Shaw from Dunham regarding the 74-inch mirror, 1940.

Letter from Sir Howard Grubb, Parsons and Co. Ltd to H. Spencer Jones regarding the progress of the 74-inch mirror, 1940.

Correspondence between J.S. Plaskett and H. Spencer Jones regarding the 74-inch mirror, 1940.

Letters from H. Spencer Jones to H. Knox-Shaw regarding the possibility of completing the 74-inch mirror at Pasadena, 1939.

Letters from S. Adams to H. Spencer Jones regarding the completion of the 74-inch mirror, 1939.

Correspondence with J.S. Plaskett regarding the completion of the 74-inch mirror, 1939.

Minutes of the business transacted by the Radcliffe Trustees at a special meeting, 4 October 1939, regarding the Radcliffe Observatory.

List of the matters to be brought for consideration by the Radcliffe Trustees at a special meeting on 4 October 1939.

Correspondence with the Radcliffe Trustees regarding the insurance of instruments against fire and war risks, 1939.

Correspondence with the Radcliffe Trustees regarding suspension of work on the 74-inch mirror by Sir Howard Grubb, Parsons and Co. Ltd owing to the war, 1939.

'74-inch reflecting telescope of the Radcliffe Observatory, Pretoria', publication No. 12, 1938, reprinted from 'The Engineer'.

Report of the meeting of the Radcliffe Advisory Committee held on 14 May 1937.

Copy of the sixty-second Annual Report of the Visitors of the University Observatory for 1936.

Correspondence with H. Spencer Jones regarding representatives of the University on the Advisory Committee to the Radcliffe Trustees, 1936.

Legal document from the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, 1935, referring to the charitable trust set up by Dr Radcliffe on 13 September 1714.

Booklet titled 'Radcliffe Trust. Scheme for the re-establishment and maintenance at Pretoria of the Radcliffe Observatory...formally maintained at Oxford', 1935.

Undated copy of the will of John Radcliffe of 13 September 1714.

















































































































































Dates

  • Creation: 1935 - 1951

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

From the Management Group:

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Extent

1 bundle(s) (1 bundle)

Language of Materials

English