Royal Greenwich Observatory
Richard van der Riet Woolley Papers, 1947-1975.
Includes: A. Correspondence and records which formed the working papers of the Royal Observatory, maintained in a filing system. B. Documentation of important events and topics, such as: the completion of the move of all instruments, departments and staff to Herstmonceux; completion and inauaguration of the Isaac Newton Telescope at Herstmonceux; increase in astrophysical research effort of the Royal Greenwich Observatory; the transfer of responsibility for the Royal Greenwich Observatory from the Admiralty to the newly created Science Research Council, April 1, 1965; decision to separate the post of Astronomer Royal from Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, 1969-1971; first use of electronic computers at Royal Greenwich Observatory, installed for work in HM Nautical Almanac Office. C. The following is a partial list of the names of correspondents and others as they appear in the handlist to this class of papers in RGO Archives. It must be remembered that this is not necessarily an exhaustive list of names as they appear in the papers themselves. Researchers interested in a particular period are invited to write to the RGO Archivist at the above address if they are interested in particular individuals whose names do not appear below, but who could possibly have been in correspondence with the person or institution responsible for creating the class. Correspondents include: Sir E. Appleton; N. Bliss; F. Carmody; Sir J. Cockroft; A. Curtis; A. Deutsch; R. Ditchburn; J. Dixon; Sir A. Eddington; Prof. Fitzgerald; Dr. Gascoigne; Sir H. Grubb-Parsons; G. Harding; Sir J. Herschel; E. Lindfoot; H. Plaskett; V. D. Porensky; V. Reddish; A. Sandage; M. Schmidt; Sir B. Schonland; M. Schwarzschild; Sir H. Spencer-Jones; R. Stoy; Lord Thompson; Dr. A Unsold; and Sir R. Woolley, among others.
Woolley (1906-1986) was eleventh Astronomer Royal, in office 1956-1971; Chief Assistant 1933-1937. Born in Dorest, Woolley attended school in Devon before his father retired in 1921 and moved the family to Cape Town, where in 1922 and at only 16 years of age, he entered the University. There he attained the degree of B. Sc. in 1924 and M. Sc. in 1925, both with first class honours. In Cape Town he met H. S. Jones, then HM Astronomer at the Cape. In 1926 he returned to England to continue his studies in mathematics, at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, being classed as a wrangler in the examination of 1928. He was then supervised for his doctoral studies by Arthur Eddington, and it was due to the latter's influence and that of F. J. M. Stratton that Woolley decided on a career in astronomy. From 1929 to 1931 he was at Mount Wilson Observatory, California, then returned to Cambridge to complete his PH. D. and was for two years as Isaac Newton Student. In 1933 he was appointed Chief Assistant at Greenwich by the new Astronomer Royal, Harold Spencer Jones. He took the unusual step of resigning this post in 1937 to return once more to Cambridge, as John Couch Adams astronomer at the University Observatories under Arthur Eddington. In 1939 Wooley was appointed Commonwealth Astronomer at the Mount Stromlo Observatory near Canberra. It would seem that he expected that the remainder of his working life would be spent in Australian astronomy, but in 1955 he was offered the post of Astronomer Royal to succeed Jones who would retire at the end of the year. More from a sense of duty than advancement he accepted the office, to which be brought the very considerable benefits of his 30 years experience in practical astronomy and astrophysical enquiry.
Appleton, Edward Victor, Sir, 1892-1965
Jones, H. Spencer (Harold Spencer), 1890-
Woolley, Richard van der Riet, Sir.
Royal Greenwich Observatory -- Administration.
Astronomy -- Data processing.
Astrophysics -- Research.
Astronomical observatories -- Administration -- England.
Telescopes (Astronomy) -- England.
Bliss, N.
Carmody, F.
Cockcroft, John, Sir, 1897-1967.
Curtis, A.
Deutsch, A.
Ditchburn, R.
Dixon, J.
Eddington, Arthur Stanley, Sir, 1882-1944.
Fitzgerald, Prof.
Gascoigne, Dr.
Grubb-Parsons, H., Sir.
Harding, G.
Herschel, J., Sir.
Linfoot, E.
Pagel, B.
Plaskett, Harry Hemley, 1893-
Porensky, V. D.
Reddish, V.
Sandage, Allan.
Schmidt, Maarten, 1929-
Schonland, B., Sir.
Schwarzschild, Martin
Stoy, Richard Hugh, 1910-
Thompson, Lord.
UnslĖ˛d, Albrecht, 1905-
Woolley, Richard van der Riet, Sir.
Isaac Newton Telescope.
Science Research Council (Great Britain).
AIP-ICOS
Royal Greenwich Observatory Archives Department of Manuscripts and University Archives. Cambridge University Library, West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DR, England UK