This collection documents George Ellery Hale's role in planning and developing major observatories in the U. S., and in founding the California Institute of Technology and the Huntington Library. The collection also illustrates the role Hale took in organizing the National Research Council, and in promoting international cooperation among scientists. Records relating to Hale's work on the spectrohelioscope are also included.

George Ellery Hale's papers reflect the wide diversity of his activities and accomplishments. Born in Chicago in 1868, he received his B.S. from M. I. T. in 1890. Active in the development of astrophysics, he quickly established a distinguished scientific reputation for his invention of the spectroheliograph. He made important contributions to the study of solar phenomena, organized and co-edited the Astrophysical Journal, and was the leading figure in the design, funding and construction of the Kenwood, Yerkes, Mount Wilson and Palomar Observatories.

80 linear feet

Publication Rights Requests for permission to publish material from the Hale papers located at Caltech should be addressed to: Archivist, California Institute of Technology, Mail Code 015A-74, Pasadena, CA 91125. For files listed below in the custody of the Huntington Library (Section XI only), permission requests should be addressed to: Curator, Scientific Manuscripts, Huntington Library, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108. Users of the papers are reminded that the literary rights to letters and documents in the collection written by persons other than George Ellery Hale are not necessarily in the public domain. It is the responsibility of a scholar or publisher to obtain publication permission from the individual or organization in possession of the literary rights.

Access The collection is open for research. Researchers must apply in writing for access.