Durham University Observatory.
Observatory records, 1839-1953.
Records of Durham University Observatory, c. 1939-1953, including also records of Thomas Backhouse's West Hendon House Observatory, Suderland, 1958-1920, papers of the Rousdon Observatory of Sir. Cuthbert Edgar Peek and his son Wilfrid, Lyme Regis, East Devon, c.1886-1921, which came to Durham with the Peek telescope in 1921, and papers of Prof. R. A. Sampson (1866-1939), professor of Astronomy and Mathematics in the university, relating to his work on the satellites of Jupiter. The Observatory was founded in 1939. The deposited records comprise the astronomical records, meteorological loose papers up to c. 1953 (volumes of meteorological records and later loose papers remain at the Observatory), some seismograph readings 1931-1939 and 1946-1957 (but the original traces and current records are in the care of the Dept. of Geology), and administrative records, together with the Backhouse, Peek and Sampson papers mentioned above. Precisely how the Backhouse material came to the Observatory is not recorded.
The Observatory was founded in 1939, when the University accepted an offer from Rev. T. J. Hussey of Hayes Court, Kent, and amateur astronomer, to purchase his astronomical instruments. Astronomical observations began in 1840 and continued until 1c. 1937. Meteorological observations began in 1843 and still continue today.
West Hendon House Observatory.
Astronomical observatories -- England.
Astronomy -- Records.
Meteorology
Seismological research.
Jupiter (Planet) -- Satellites.
Peek telescope.
Backhouse, Thomas.
Peek, Cuthbert Edgar, Sir.
Peek, Wilfrid.
Sampson, Ralph Allen.
Rousdon Observatory.
University of Durham. Observatory.
University of Durham. Observatory -- Administration.
AIP-ICOS
University of Durham Library, Department of Special Collections. Durham