February 13, 2009

The Barrett Memorial Library

Posted to Area Attractions & Events, Janet Giovannetti

In a previous blog, I wrote about “That Silver Dome” known as Yerkes Observatory, a facility of the University of Chicago, located in Williams Bay Wisconsin. I suggested a book, “Robber Baron: The Life of Charles Tyson Yerkes” which I had checked out from the local library. That library is the Barrett Memorial library, also located in Williams Bay. According to a 1938 article by William Morgan, published in Popular Astronomy, Storrs Barrows Barrett, for whom the library is named, came to the Observatory in 1900 at the age of 36. He worked as the librarian and then participated in the stellar spectrographic program which tracked and identified stars. He was responsible for over half of the five thousand plates (photos) taken between 1907 and 1920 and was joint author of two important research papers on this subject. He retired from his position as associate professor of astrophysics in 1930 and continued to reside in Williams Bay until his death in 1937. According Mr. Morgan, who himself was a renowned astrophysicist and worked with Mr. Barrett, his colleague’s role as an active community member, was perhaps as important as his scientific achievements. He was involved with the construction of the first Williams Bay High School (now the elementary school), served many terms on the Williams Bay school board, and the Walworth County board, and was the first president of the Village of Williams Bay.

For photo and information about Storrs Barrett and William Morgan, click on the following links.

http://photofiles.lib.uchicago.edu/db.xqy?one=apf6-00208.xml

http://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/BruceMedalists/Morgan/index.html

http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/seri/PA…/0046//0000128.000.html

Posted By: Janet Giovannetti



February 09, 2009

That Silver Dome

Posted to Area Attractions & Events, Geneva Lake Area , Janet Giovannetti

If you’ve ever been on the waters of Geneva Lake or driven through the Village of Williams Bay on the north side of Geneva, you may have noticed a silver dome above the tree line. This is, of course, Yerkes Observatory, a facility of the University of Chicago department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and home to the world’s largest refracting telescope. Used as a research facility since the turn of the twentieth century, it now houses a small portion of the department’s astronomy library. Comparing photographs of the skies from the 1900’s through present day has given scientists invaluable information about the expanding universe. The Observatory’s website contains a wealth of information - including an explanation of the difference between refracting and reflecting telescopes. Check the links along the left side of the home page, especially the “Image Gallery”.

As a long-time resident of the observatory neighborhood, my children were able to take advantage of the park-like setting of the 77 acre campus, as well as the educational programs offered by the Observatory in conjunction with the local schools’ regular science school curriculum. They learned some of the reasons why the Williams Bay site was chosen – it had the solid bedrock to prevent vibration of the telescope, and dark night skies removed from illuminated city skylines. Gazing at the night sky became an “awe”-some and peaceful way for our family to end fun-filled summer days in the water and sun.

I wasn’t until last summer, however, that I happened upon a book in the local library which gave interesting insight into the history of the Observatory. The book is entitled “Robber Baron: The Life of Charles Tyson Yerkes”. While the Observatory takes up a relatively small portion of the book I found myself fascinated with the events described. The development of the Geneva Lake area has always been closely linked to Chicago, but perhaps never more so than during the life and time of Charles Yerkes. He championed the development of streetcars and the “el” system in Chicago and the “tube” in London, and, in part to improve his public image, undertook the task of supporting and funding the construction of the Observatory. From imprisonment for larceny, to patronizing the arts, to subsidizing the Observatory, a more intriguing life than his can hardly be imagined. Check the following websites for more information, or better yet, check out the book!

http://astro.uchicago.edu/yerkes/index.html

http://news.illinois.edu/news/06/0725yerkes.html

Posted By: Janet Giovannetti