Exist Dates
1924 - 1999
Biographical or Historical Note
- abstract
- The Department of Astronomy at the American Museum of Natural History
existed from 1924 to 1999 and was the earliest manifestation of the study of
Astronomy at the Museum. It was originally conceived in 1924 as part of the
Division of Mineralogy, Geology and Geography, with Department of Education
Curator Clyde Fisher put in charge (1, 1925 p. xix). In 1935 the Department’s
reach expanded with the opening of the Hayden Planetarium. Thereafter the
scientific research department and the physical exhibition and educational space
were merged. From 1935, curatorial staff held responsibility for both the
Department of Astronomy and the Hayden Planetarium, and the department’s name
changed to Department of Astronomy and Hayden Planetarium. In 1953 it would
change to Department of Astronomy and American Museum-Hayden Planetarium. In
1999, the department was re-envisioned as the Department of Astrophysics. This
reflected a change in divisional focus and the construction of the new Rose
Center for Earth and Space, which would open in 2000. At this point, the
relationship between the Hayden Planetarium and the scientific Department of
Astrophysics split into more discrete identities. This record documents the
Department of Astronomy up until the opening of the Hayden Planetarium, from
1924-1935.
In 1924, then curator in the Department of Education George Clyde Fisher was
asked by Museum President Osborn to head a new Department of Astronomy. In fact,
before it was formalized, Fisher was originally listed in staff directories as
simply "in charge" of Astronomy. From this inception, plans were in effect for
the establishment of a permanent hall for this field of study (1, 1925, p. 34).
An ultimately temporary Astronomy Hall was set up in the Museum (1, 1925 p.
32-33). In 1930, Fisher traveled to Germany to observe the new Zeiss projector
technology. Upon return, he was convinced that this would be the ideal tool for
the proposed space at the Museum. Thus, research into the development of a
planetarium in New York was begun in earnest (1, 1931 p. 52; 1, 1932 p. 60). The
building was named for Financier Charles Hayden who funded the purchase of
optical equipment, and on October 3, 1935 the Hayden Planetarium opened to the
public.
From 1935, the Department of Astronomy was officially established and also merged
with the Hayden Planetarium in administration, scope and purpose. Clyde Fisher
would thus serve as the inaugural Curator of the newly titled Department of
Astronomy and Hayden Planetarium (1, 1936 p. 38). For information about the
department’s activity after the opening of the Hayden Planetarium, please see
Hayden Planetarium, (Record ID: amnhc_3000045) In 1999-2000, a focal shift
occurred and the Department of Astronomy was transitioned to the Department of
Astrophysics, joining with the Department of Earth and Planetary Science to
collectively make up the Division of Physical Sciences. For history of that
iteration of the scientific research department, please look to Department of
Astrophysics (Record ID: amnhc_3000046).
Sources
(1) American Museum of Natural History. Annual Reports. New York:
American Museum of Natural History, 1934-2006.
(2) American Museum of Natural History. "Scientific Staff," Annual
Reports. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1934-2006. Note years
1948-50, 2004-05 and 2007 to present do not detail staff
directories.
Chronology
- 1924 - 1999: New
York
The Department of Astronomy was one of the scientific departments at the
American Museum of Natural History, which is located in New York,
N.Y.
- 1924: The Department of Astronomy was instituted as part of the Division of
Mineralogy, Geology and Geography. (1, 1925 p. xix) Department of Public
Education Curator Clyde Fisher was put ‘in charge’ of the fledgeling
Astronomy department and an Astronomy room was put on exhibition. This
contained paintings and photographs and both anticipated and benefitted
from public interest in astronomical matters due to the upcoming 1925
eclipse. (1, 1925 p. 32-33) Meteorites in the collection were displayed
in other Museum spaces. (1, 1925 p. 33) Descriptive plans, anticipated
costs, and an advisory committee for the erection of an Astronomy Hall
are presented in the Annual Report for the year 1924 (1, 1925, p.
34)
- 1930: Clyde Fisher travels to Germany to view and research the Zeiss
planetarium technology. Studies were subsequently begun for the plans of
a building to house a space similar to the Adler Planetarium in Chicago.
(1, 1931 p. 52) This planning work would continue into the next year (1,
1932 p. 60)
- 1933: Charles Hayden donates funds for the purchase of a Zeiss Projection Planetarium and Copernican
Planetarium (1, 1934, p. 3; 1935 p. 28, p. 87).
- 1935: On October 3, the Hayden Planetarium opened to the public, with Clyde
Fisher as curator of the Department of Astronomy and Hayden Plantarium.
(1, 1936 p. 38) At this point the Department of Astronomy effectively
merged with the Planetarium activity. Curators would continue to hold
dual responsibility for the Department of Astronomy and the Hayden
Planetarium until the establishment of the Department of Astrophysics in
1999.
Terms
- localDescription
- enhanced
- place
- New
York

dates: 1924-1999
The Department of Astronomy was one of the scientific departments at the
American Museum of Natural History, which is located in New York,
N.Y.