"Star Gazing": 150 years of astronomy at the University of Michigan
Instruction
Astronomy was first listed as a separate subject in the University of Michigan catalogue in the year 1844-1845. It was taught by George Palmer Williams, Professor of Mathematics and one of only two faculty members at that time. But it was President Tappan's administration that gave astronomical studies a decisive impetus in 1853, as the construction of the Observatory began and astronomical instruments were ordered in New York and Berlin.
A page from a typical examination
in the early 1950s. Hazel Marie Losh
Papers, Box 1, Folder: "Student papers"
President Tappan's vision for higher education was to integrate the scholarly, classical course of study with an applied scientific program. Astronomy was one of his priorities. Franz Friedrich Ernst Brünnow, the Director of the new Observatory and Professor of Astronomy chosen by Tappan, started to build up an astronomy curriculum combining theory and practice. The possibility of practical training with the instruments set apart the University of Michigan from other American universities with comparable astronomical equipment.
Although the reputation of the University's astronomy curriculum quickly spread, enrollment was not large. Few changes were made to the curriculum until 1878-1879, when physics and mathematics were made prerequisites and the order in which astronomy courses might be taken was designated. One of Brünnow's earliest and most brilliant students was James Craig Watson, who obtained the bachelor's degree at the age of 19 and the master's degree 2 years later, one of the first two master's degrees that the University granted on examination. He assisted Brünnow at the Observatory and took his place as Director when Brünnow returned to Germany in 1863.
Watson was an excellent lecturer who could synthesize the literature and express complex problems in a clear way. President Angell held him in high regard: "In teaching he had none of the methods of the drill master. But his lecture or his talk was so stimulating that one could not but learn and love to learn by listening. Sometimes while discussing an intricate problem he would suddenly have an entirely new demonstration flash upon his mind as by inspiration and then and there he would write it out upon the blackboard."(quoted in Encyclopedic Survey, p.453)
Scale adopted for marking, n.d.
Observatory Records, Box 7, Folder:
"Astronomy Department - Course
materials, 1907-1927". Click for larger
However, he gave his attention mostly to those students who showed particular skill and interest in astronomy, and he was known for his lack of interest in examinations. Rumor has it that he passed an entire class on final examination, including one member who had died shortly after enrollment! (Encyclopedic Survey, p.453) While students could use some astronomical instruments, they frequently complained about lack of access to the big 12-inch telescope in the Observatory.
Watson's successor after 1879, Mark. W. Harrington, gave students access to more astronomic instruments. Teaching was further expanded under the directorship of William Joseph Hussey in the 1905-1926 period. Ralph Hamilton Curtiss was recruited as Assistant Professor of Astronomy in 1907 and new courses were added, including in astrophysics and other courses in modern astronomy. The doctoral program was created. The number of students enrolled in astronomy courses grew dramatically, reaching 650 in 1922-1923. The quality of the facilities and of higher courses attracted brilliant graduate students, and eleven persons obtained PhD's in astronomy between 1915 and 1926, including Hazel Marie Losh, Will Carl Rufus, and Richard A. Rossiter who later joined the Astronomy department.
Typical observation exercises, circa
1924. Observatory Records, Box 7,
Folder "Astronomy Department-
Course
materials, 1907-1927". Click for larger
In those days, astronomy students had to be versed in the history of astronomy, mathematics and physics, astronomical theory as well as practice. They had to produce essays, answer multiple choice questions and record observation results. A detailed and precise mind and superior penmanship were required of would-be astronomers.
With the increase in enrollment, the Observatory proved insufficient to provide practical experience to all students. In the late 1870s a small separate building about 100 feet away from the main Observatory had been set up for use by students, with a six-inch equatorial refractor and a three-inch transit, with zenith telescope attachment. In 1908 the Students' Observatory was moved to a location about 300 feet west of the main building and its equipment upgraded. But after 1923 it had to be removed from the site of Couzens Hall.
To make up for the loss, plans were made to equip Angell Hall with a new Student Observatory and laboratory, with the upper floor entirely devoted to astronomy. The Angell Hall Observatory was ready in 1926-1927. Observation and Laboratory requirements in the curriculum were increased, and enrolment reached about 900 in 1930-1931. After World War II, the number of undergraduates shot up again.
Professor Losh during an astronomy class, n.d.
Hazel Marie Losh Papers, Box 2, Folder "Personal"
One of the iconic figures of astronomy at the University of Michigan was Hazel Marie Losh, who first came to the University of Michigan in 1921 and was part of the astronomy faculty until she retired in 1968. Affectionately called "Doc" by her students, she was named "for ever" honorary Homecoming Queen.
In 1963 the Department of Astronomy was moved to the new Dennison Building on Central Campus in 1963. Today the Department has several facilities, including the Angell Hall Planetarium and the Angell Hall Student Observatory, located on the roof of the Angell Hall classroom building. The Angell Hall Planetarium has a projector that can display the sky as seen at any location on the Earth at any time.
This departmental history section of the exhibit was created February 2009 by graduate student assistant Dominique Daniel, University of Michigan School of Information.