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Climax Observatory Photograph Collection

 Collection
Identifier: CLIM

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of 16 digital copies of photographs taken during the construction of the Climax Observatory. The photographs depict the transport and installation of the observatory dome.

Dates

  • 1940

Conditions Governing Use

Users must credit the photographer, Walter Raymond Allen, in any use of these images.

Biographical / Historical

These photographs were taken by Walter Raymond Allen during the construction of the Climax Observatory. Allen worked for the Climax Molybdenum Company during the construction of the observatory. The Climax Observatory eventually became part of the High Altitude Observatory, which joined with NCAR in the 1960s.

Walter Orr Roberts, later first director of NCAR and president of UCAR, erected the Harvard College Observatory's coronagraph in 1940 at Fremont Pass, near the mining town of Climax, Colorado. Situated on the Continental Divide at an elevation of 11,500 feet, the location provided favorable conditions for studies of the solar corona due to reduced atmospheric scattering. The Climax Molybdenum Company donated the land for the Observatory, as well as funds for constructing buildings and a $6,000 grant. Roberts was the sole resident scientist at the isolated mountain Observatory, and he and his wife Janet remained the only residents in the early years.

Extent

16 Items

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Collection was donated by Jay Sennett, Walter Raymond Allen's grandson, in 2017.

Author
Laura Hoff
Date
2018-05-02
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Archives Repository