Detroit Observatory Chronology: 1917-1960s
1852-1855 | 1856-1873 | 1874-1894 | 1896-1916 | 1917-1960s | 1961-present
| 1917 | Course in navigation is introduced for the
benifit of U.S. Naval Reserve units Rudolph Brünnow dies at Bar Harbor, Maine |
| 1922 | 37 1/2-inch reflecting telescope overhauled;
driving clock improved |
| 1923 | Students' Observatory dismantled to make way
for Couzens Hall Publications of the Observatory of the University of Michigan series Vol. III, is published |
| 1924 | Two-prism spectrograph designed by Curtiss is
constructed in the Observatory Shop Hartman spectrocomparator is purchased Power Plant construction on the Cat-Hole site encroaches on the Observatory with smoke and limited sight distance Land near Portage Lake identified as possible relocation site Hussey offers a popular extension course in astronomy in Detroit Simpson Building to be constructed on Observatory land to the east |
| 1925 | Hussey and others attempt to observe a solar
eclipse from a balloon near Geneva, New York, but clouds and wind prevent
it; Rufus is stationed at Bad Axe, where it is also cloudy |
| January | Lamont 27-inch refractor is completed |
| July | Lamont refractor set up on Observatory lawn
for testing prior to shipment to South Africa |
| 1926 | Ralph H. Curtiss becomes Acting Director Harrington dies |
| August | Lamont 27-inch refractor is shipped to South Africa |
| October | During travel to Bloemfontain, South Africa, undertaken despite being ill with pleurisy, Hussey dies in London |
| November | Richard A. Rossiter takes over in South
Africa |
| 1927 | Ralph H. Curtiss becomes Director Angell Hall Observatory opened for student use; two 20-foot Fecker domes house 10-inch Warner & Swasey refractor (1926) and 15-inch Fecker reflector (1929) Hazel "Doc" Losh (Ph.D. '24) joins the Astronomy Department as a Research Assistant in Astrophysics |
| 1928 | Option secured on 200 acres of land near
Portage Lake; availability of land presently occupied by the Observatory
was offered to make the deal more attractive Lamont-Hussey Observatory is dedicated |
| 1929 | Ralph H. Curtiss dies W. Carl Rufus becomes Acting Director Watson's claim that he discovered the planet Vulcan is finally dismissed |
| 1930 |
Heber C. Curtis becomes Director |
| 1931 | Board of Regents officially changes the name
of the Detroit Observatory to the inclusive "Observatories of the
University of Michigan" Curtis improves slow-motion guiding of the 37 1/2-inch reflecting telescope |
| 1932 | Curtis observes solar eclipse in Fryeburg,
Maine Publications of the Observatory of the University of Michigan Vol. IV, is published |
| 1934 | 37 1/2-inch mirror is aluminized |
| 1935 |
Publications of the Observatory of the University of Michigan
Vol. V, is published |
| 1937 |
Publications of the Observatory of the University of Michigan
Vol. VI, is published |
| 1939 | Publications of the Observatory of the
University of Michigan Vol. VII, is published Harry Fitz dies |
| 1941 | W. Carl Rufus becomes Director |
| 1942 | Heber D. Curtis dies |
| 1945 | Alan D. Maxwell becomes Acting Director Land purchased at Peach Mountain |
| 1946 | Leo Goldberg becomes Director |
| 1954 | Director's residence razed to make way for addition to Couzens Hall to the west |
| 1960 | Freeman D. Miller becomes Acting
Director |
| 1960s | Observatory largely abandoned; students and
others use it for unauthorized activities |
The chronology is excerpted with the author's persmission from A Creation of His Own: Tappan's Detroit Observatory, by Patricia S. Whitesell, ©1998.