Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh Records Creator
Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh
Collection Number AIS.2000.12 Extent
8 Linear Feet
(13 boxes and one flat file)
Date 1931-2012 Abstract The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh (AAAP) was established in 1929. The purpose of AAAP is to promote the common interests of amateur astronomers while further advancing the science of astronomy through public education programs and scientific research. This collection spans the years 1931 to the present and consists of historical materials, official papers, newsletters, day books, membership information, articles and photographs. The records also include the personal papers from two prominent members of the organization. Language
English
. Author Sarah Cranston and Jamie Shriver. Publisher ULS Archives & Special Collections Address University of Pittsburgh Library Systemhttp://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections History
The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh, Inc. (AAAP) was established in 1929 as a non-profit corporation. The purpose of AAAP is to promote the common interests of amateur astronomers while further advancing the science of astronomy through public education programs and scientific research. Leo Scanlon and Chester Roe organized the first meeting of the AAAP in June 1929. In less than a year the organization became so well established it joined the newly created Astronomical Section of the Academy of Science and Art of Pittsburgh. In October 1929 the AAAP proposed the construction of a planetarium and ten years later the Buhl Planetarium opened to the public.
The original interest of the group focused on home built telescopes, but the success of the Buhl Planetarium broadened the vision to include public lectures and star parties. During the 1950's and 1960's the organization continued to study home built telescopes and met with other amateur groups. The group's members closely followed the emerging U.S. space program and frequently published related articles in the local newspapers.
In the mid-1970's the AAAP began exploring construction of an observatory. After various proposals, site location studies, and raising $23,000, the Wagman Observatory was dedicated in June 1987. Located in Deer Lakes Park, the observatory bears the name of the former Allegheny Observatory Director and friend of the AAAP, Nicholas E. Wagman.
Scope and Content Notes The collection spans the years 1931 to the present and is comprised of ongoing deposits of material from the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh. The records in the collection include historical materials, official papers, newsletters, day books, membership information, articles and photographs. The records also include personal papers from two prominent members of the organization.
The collection is arranged into 11 series. Additional notes on each series can be found in the container list at the series level. The records in some series may overlap due to the nature of continuing deposits and will be cross-referenced in the series scope notes.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh, April 20, 2000.
Additional materials were donated in November 2002, February 2003, March 2003, January 2007, and March 2013.
Previous Citation
Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh Records, 1931-2002, AIS.2000.12, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Preferred Citation
Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh Records, 1931-2002, AIS.2000.12, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Sarah Cranston and Jamie Shriver in 2003.
Copyright
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Subjects Corporate Names Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh -- Archives Personal Names Scanlon, Leo J. (Leo John) Schmidt, Robert A. Other Subjects Astronomers -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh -- Societies, etc. -- Archives Societies Container List Series I. Historical Materials , 1948-1999 Scope and Content Notes Series I contains historical material relating to the AAAP; programs and events; and biographical information about significant individuals in the association. These materials include a historical timeline, anniversary programs, memoirs, event programs, minutes, and correspondence.
Meeting Minutes , September 1998 - June 1999 Containers box 1 , folder 1 "History of the AAAP," a timeline Containers box 1 , folder 2 50th Anniversary Program , June 9, 1979 Containers box 1 , folder 3 60th Anniversary Program , June 11, 1989 Containers box 1 , folder 4 Correspondence , 1988-1996 Containers box 1 , folder 5 Thank You Letters Containers box 1 , folder 6 Schedule for Open House , 1985 Containers box 1 , folder 7 Cartoons by Robert Schmidt (see also Series X, Box 10, folder 5) Containers box 1 , folder 8 George G. Lindbloom Containers box 1 , folder 9 Programs and Events , 1989-1997 Containers box 1 , folder 10 Dedication Program, Valley View Observatory Historic Marker Containers box 1 , folder 11 Leo Scanlon Memoirs and Biography, (see also Series IX, Box 9) , 1976 Containers box 1 , folder 12 Astronomical League Regional Convention Program , 1948 Containers box 1 , folder 13 Series II. Membership Lists , 1931-2000 Scope and Content Notes Series II consists of membership lists for the years 1931 to 2000. The member list for 1931-1939 is a bound volume and is located in Series VI, box 6, ff 2 with other bound materials.
1950-1996 Containers box 1 , folder 14 1996-1998 Containers box 1 , folder 15 2000 Containers box 1 , folder 16 Membership Cards Containers box 1 , folder 17 Series III. Wagman Observatory , 1985-1996 Scope and Content Notes Series III pertains to the Wagman Observatory and includes blueprints, dedication programs, correspondence, registration books, and visitor logs.
Construction Plans , 1985 Containers box 2 , folder 1 Blueprints , 1986 Containers box 2 , folder 2 Dedication Program , June 13, 1987 Containers box 2 , folder 3 Miscellaneous , 1987-1996 Containers box 2 , folder 4 Correspondence , 1994 Containers box 2 , folder 5 Letter, re: uncompleted time capsule Containers box 2 , folder 6 Dedication of Brashear 11 inch refractor , 1996 Containers box 2 , folder 7 Registration Book , June 1987 - October 1991 Containers box 2 , folder 8 Registration Book , April 1992 - March 1996 Containers box 2 , folder 9 Guest Book, First Light of Brashear 11 inch refractor , October 7, 1995 Containers box 2 , folder 10 Visitor Logs (microfiche copies) , 1987-1995 Containers box 2 , folder 11 Series IV. Newsletters , 1948-1999 Scope and Content Notes Series IV contains the organization's newsletters from 1948 to 1999. The original newsletter, Stargazer, began in 1948 and changed to The Bulletin in 1957 then again to The Guide Star in 1967. The information in these newsletters describes local activities and discoveries of the AAAP. They also include articles by AAAP members on astronomical happenings around the world.
Stargazer, Vol. III, - Vol. X , 1948 1955 Containers box 3 , folder 1-8 The Bulletin , 1957-1966 Containers box 3 , folder 9-18 The Guide Star , 1967-1969 Containers box 3 , folder 19-21 The Guide Star, Vol. 14 - Vol. 33 , 1980 1999 Containers box 4 , folder 1-21 The Guide Star, Vol. 34 - Vol. 46 , 2000-2012 Containers box 4a , folder 1-13 Series V. Newspaper Clippings , 1954-1997 Scope and Content Notes Series V consists of newspaper articles from 1954 to 1997. A chronological list of the majority of the clippings can be found in folder 1. The clippings are arranged by subject within the series.
Chronological Index of Clippings , 1954-1997 Containers box 5 , folder 1 AAAP - general , 1955-1995 Containers box 5 , folder 2 Amateur Astronomers - general , 1955-1997 Containers box 5 , folder 3 Brashear 11 inch refractor Containers box 5 , folder 4 Light Pollution , 1990 Containers box 5 , folder 5 Public Information Containers box 5 , folder 6 Space Flights , 1983-1994 Containers box 5 , folder 7 Star Parties , 1962-1996 Containers box 5 , folder 8 Miscellaneous Containers box 5 , folder 9-12 Articles saved by Leo Scanlon Containers box 5 , folder 13 Series VI. Bound Volumes , 1931-1997 Scope and Content Notes Series VI contains the bound volumes in the collection. These include a membership book, account book, and day books. The day books record visitors, events, and daily observations dating from 1931 to 1938. Other volumes include Popular Astronomy journals kept by AAAP members for the years 1932 through 1937. In addition, the Star Atlas and Reference Handbook that was kept at the Valley View Obsevatory in the North Side of Pittsburgh can be found in this series. This volume was published in 1927 and includes annotations by Leo Scanlon.
Account Book , 1945-1983 Containers box 6 , volume 1 Membership Book , 1931-1939 Containers box 6 , volume 2 Day Book , 1931 Containers box 6 , volume 3 Day Book , 1932 Containers box 6 , volume 4 Day Book , 1933 Containers box 6 , volume 5 Day Book , 1934 Containers box 6 , volume 6 Day Book , 1935 Containers box 6 , volume 7 Day Book , 1936 Containers box 6 , volume 8 Day Book , 1937 Containers box 6 , volume 9 Day Book , 1938 Containers box 6 , volume 10 Popular Astronomy , 1932-1933 Containers box 6 , volume 11 Popular Astronomy , 1934-1935 Containers box 6 , volume 12 Popular Astronomy , 1936-1937 Containers box 6 , volume 13 Amateur Telescope Making, Scientific American , 1937 Containers box 6 , volume 14 Star Atlas and Reference Handbook, by Arthur P. Norton, Gail and Inglis, London, England , 1927 Containers box 6 , volume 15 Series VII. Photographs Scope and Content Notes Series VII contains photographs of group members and activities for the years 1931 through 1999. Approximately 180 images in black and white or color in various sizes are collected in this series. This series is housed separately in the Media room at the Archives Service Center.
Photographs , 1931-1999 Series VIII. Official Papers , 1941-2002 Scope and Content Notes Series VIII contains official papers of the AAAP. The majority of the material is AAAP meeting minutes and The Guide Star newsletter for the years 1998-2002. These materials can be found in the recording secretary file from July 2001 to September 2002 along with the secretary's correspondence, agendas, and membership directory. Information in this series also pertains to the controversial issue of changing the monthly meeting dates in 2001. Other materials include correspondence, insurance policies, and membership lists. In addition, this series contains the Constitution and By-laws of the AAAP that were amended as of March 14, 1997.
Constitution and By-laws , March 14, 1997 Containers box 8 , folder 1 Meeting Minutes , September 1997 - May 2000 September 2000 - May 2001 Containers box 8 , folder 2 Recording Secretary File , July 2001 - January 2002 Containers box 8 , folder 3 Recording Secretary File , February 2002 - September 2002 Containers box 8 , folder 4 AAAP Member Survey regarding monthly meeting dates , October 2001 Containers box 8 , folder 6 Astronomical League Bulletin , May 1951 Containers box 8 , folder 7 Official Papers, Insurance Policies and Correspondence regarding the use of Allegheny Observatory by Amateurs , 1956-1967 Containers box 8 , folder 8 Membership Lists, (intermittent) , 1943-1999 Containers box 8 , folder 9 Miscellaneous Correspondence, Clippings, and Announcements , 1941-2001 Containers box 8 , folder 10 Meeting Minutes (2 disks, 1 cd-rom) , 2001-2002 Containers box 8 , folder 11 Meeting Attendance , November 2012 - April 2015 Containers box 8 , folder 12 Series IX. Papers and Diaries of Leo Scanlon , 1929-1949 Scope and Content Notes Series IX consists of the private papers and diaries of AAAP co-founder Leo Scanlon. Scanlon co-founded the AAAP with Chester Roe in 1929 and remained an active member for 70 years until his death in 1999. Scanlon was an accomplished telescope maker and observer which is reflected in his papers. The astronomical community regarded Scanlon highly as a person and as an emissary of popular science, particularly astronomy. Leo Scanlon's memoirs and biography can be found in this collection under Series I, Historical Materials, located in Box 1, folder 12.
The bulk of the material in this series is the eleven diaries kept by Scanlon from 1929 to 1937. The diaries include correspondence, photographs, clippings, observation logs, newsletters, AAAP meeting minutes, and AAAP memorabilia. An inventory of topics and materials contained in the diaries is available for most of the volumes and can be found with the diary. The original copy of Volume 2 was donated to the Astrology Museum in Springfield, VT and is accessible in this collection as a photocopy.
The series also consists of lecture notes, published articles, radio scripts and photographs by Leo Scanlon. Additional materials collected by Leo Scanlon include articles and photographs on telescopes, amateur astronomers, observatories and astronomical interests.
Subseries 1. Bound Diaries , 1929-1937 Volume 1 , September 1929-August 1930 Containers box 9 , folder 1 Volume 2, (photocopy) , August 1930-December 1930 Containers box 9 , folder 2 Volume 3 , January 1931-December 1931 Containers box 9 , folder 3 Volume 4 , January 1932-June 1932 Containers box 9 , folder 4 Volume 5, (eclipse edition) , July 1932-September 1932 Containers box 9 , folder 5 Volume 6 , September 1932-December 1932 Containers box 9 , folder 6 Volume 7 , January 1933-June 1933 Containers box 9 , folder 7 Volume 8 , July 1933-December 1933 Containers box 9 , folder 8 Volume 9 , January 1934-November 1934 Containers box 9 , folder 9 Volume 10 , September 1934-July 1935 Containers box 9 , folder 10 Volume 11, Springfield Trip (Convention of Amateur Telescope Makers) , 1937 Containers box 9 , folder 11 Subseries 2. Research Papers Variable Star Observer Questionnaire , 1934 Containers box 9 , folder 12 Halley's Comet , 1984-1985 Containers box 9 , folder 13 Valley View Observatory Stationary Containers box 9 , folder 14 News Clippings from Pittsburgh Papers Detailing Early Space Exploration , 1956-1958 Containers box 9 , folder 15 Lecture Notes on Telescope Setting Circles , February 1948 Containers box 9 , folder 16 Lecture Notes , 1933-1948 Containers box 9 , folder 17 Academy of Science and Art, Lecture Programs, (intermittant) , 1933-1977 Containers box 9 , folder 18 Framed Letter to Mr. Scanlon from the Secretary of Smithsonian Institution , 1932 Containers box 9 , folder 19 Articles and Notes on What Amateur Astronomers thought of Astrology , 1933-1940 Containers box 9 , folder 20 Pittsburgh Moonwatch Program; Invoices and correspondence with Kaufmans in regard to financing the station , 1956-1957 Containers box 9 , folder 21 Kiwanis Club, certificate and lecture notes , 1940-1963 Containers box 9 , folder 22 Lecture Notes on AAVSO and Telescopes , 1942-1948 Containers box 9 , folder 23 The Science Counselor, Vol. XI, no. 1 , September 1948 Containers box 9 , folder 24 General Note Article on page 83 details the construction of Cliff Raible's working model of the 200 inch Palomar Telescope. Raible was a member of the AAAP and student of John A. Brashear. The folder includes a black and white print of the model telescope.
Sky and Telescope, Vol. I, no. 4 , February 1942 Containers box 9 , folder 25 General Note Article on page 18 is about Leo Scanlon written by AAAP member Fred Garland.
Sky and Telescope, Vol. VII, no. 1 , November 1947 Containers box 9 , folder 26 General Note Article on page 3 is by Leo Scanlon on the Cliff Raible telescope model.
The Bulletin Index , December 3, 1936 Containers box 9 , folder 27 General Note Article on page 20 about the AAAP.
Russell Porter File , 1946 Containers box 9 , folder 28 General Note Includes script for lecture given on astronomer and polar explorer, Russell Porter, given by Leo Scanlon on December 13, 1946; notice in Sky and Telescope magazine, article in same, and related correspondence with editor; and draft article by Scanlon for Atlantic Monthly about Russell Porter's influence on amateur astronomer groups, especially the Pittsburgh chapter.
Script for Radio Series, "You and the Universe", written by Leo Scanlon Containers box 9 , folder 29 Miscellaneous Photographs , 1930-1940 Containers box 9 , folder 30 General Note Includes: Valley View Observatory (1930), Meteor Crater (1932), Autographed Photo of Rod La Roque (1934), Group Portrait of Identified Amateur Astronomers (1935), Visit to Allegheny College (1937), Group Photo at the AAVSO Convention with some identifications (1940), Moon by Vic Maier and dedicated to Leo Scanlon (1940), and J.L. Wagoner's Telescope.
Series X. Papers and Photographs of Robert A. Schmidt , 1949-2002 Scope and Content Notes Series X consists of the personal papers and photographs of Robert A. Schmidt, a member of AAAP since the 1950's. R.A. Schimdt was particularly interested in telescope making, which is strongly reflected in the materials of this series. Schmidt was also known for his astronomical cartoons that appeared in many publications over the years and are gathered together in folder 5 of this series. Other areas of interest that are represented in this series are astronomical theories and programs that the AAAP were involved in such as the Moonwatch program, an early, national satellite tracking program. Observations from the roof of Allegheny Observatory, official papers, photographs and clippings relating to the Moonwatch program can be found in folder 7.
This series is rich with photographs and published articles both by R.A. Schmidt and others. Most of the articles appeared in club newsletters of the AAAP and the Oklahoma City Astronomer's Club. Other materials include correspondence, clippings, and biographical information on other amateur astronomers.
R.A. Schmidt's collection of slides are housed separately in the media room.
Telescopes by R. A. Schimdt , 1949-1980 Containers box 10 , folder 1 Leo Enie's Lunar Theories , 1965-1967 Containers box 10 , folder 2 Personal Memorabilia, Clippings, Newsletters and Photographs , 1958-2002 Containers box 10 , folder 3 Published Articles on Telescope Making by R. A. Schmidt , 1964-1999 Containers box 10 , folder 4 Astronomical Cartoons by R. A. Schmidt, (See also: Box 1, ff 8) , 1976-1995 Containers box 10 , folder 5 Mogey Refractor Memoirs , 1960 Containers box 10 , folder 6 AAA Moonwatch Program , 1957-1962 Containers box 10 , folder 7 Yolo Schiefsspiegler Telescope , 1966 Containers box 10 , folder 8 Miscellaneous Photographs of Astronomical Occurrences and Equipment by E. Ken Owen and Howard F. Zeh , 1965-1971 Containers box 10 , folder 9 Photographs of Equipment Made or Owned by R. A. Schimdt , 1957-1977 Containers box 10 , folder 10 Oscar Knabb File , 1968-1995 Containers box 10 , folder 11 General Note Includes: correspondence, photographs, articles, clippings, and drawing of telescope.
Series XI. Secretaries Records , 1988-1996 Scope and Content Notes The Secretaries records consist of astronomy club surveys, incoming and outgoing correspondence, press releases, and records of donations to the Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory during the time that John Holtz held the office.
Astronomy Club Surveys , 1989 Containers box 11 , folder 1 Correspondence (incoming) , 1988-1995 Containers box 11 , folder 2 Correspondence (outgoing) , 1988-1995 Containers box 11 , folder 3 Press Releases , 1992-1995 Containers box 11 , folder 4 Wagmen Observatory Donations , 1988-1996 Containers box 11 , folder 5 
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