About the library
Summary of Archives:
Astronomical Institution of Edinburgh (and earlier) 1764-1834
- Observations and calculations
- Administrative papers
Thomas Henderson 1834-1844
- Correspondence
- Observations and calculations
- Administrative and miscellaneous papers
Charles Piazzi Smyth 1845-1888
- Correspondence
- Observations reductions, instruments
- Spectroscopy
- Meteorology
- Photography
- Publications
- Pyramids
- Administrative and miscellaneous papers
Dunecht: James Ludovic Lindsay 26th Earl of Crawford 1871-1875
- Correspondence
- Observations and calculations
- Publications
- Administrative and miscellaneous papers
- Mauritius expedition 1874-1875
Ralph Copeland 1889-1905
- Correspondence
- Observations and calculations
- Eclipses
- Instruments
- Manuscripts
- Lecture notes
- Meteorology
- Photography
- Administrative and miscellaneous papers
Frank Watson Dyson 1905-1910
- Correspondence
- Observations and calculations
- Administrative and miscellaneous papers
Ralph Allan Sampson 1910-1937
- Correspondence and notes
- Telescopes, observations and calculations
- Transit circle, time service, wireless time
- Clocks and chronometers
- Time IAU correspondence
- Solar spectroscopy
- Photometry and photography
- Calculations
- Meteorology and seismology
- Manuscripts and lecture notes
- Administrative papers and reports
- Papers of A P Norton
Charles Piazzi Smyth Archives
Sketchbooks, manuscripts and printed material: on permanent loan from the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
- Bound volumes of sketches 1835-1853
- Pocket notebooks, journals, notes drawings and watercolours 1832-1841/1852-1886
- Manuscript volumes re teaching of astronomy at the UoE 1850-1855
- 'Lectures journal connected therewith' 1850
- Diaries and student notes on geology and mineralogy by Jessica Duncan (afterwards Mrs. Charles Piazzi Smyth) 1847-1859
- Meteorological records by Mrs. Piazzi Smyth 1859
- Notes on cloud-taking camera 1876, 1892
- Information and notes re the great pyramid 1867-1891
- Posters re the great pyramid and meteorology undated
- Unpublished solar spectra and accompanying manuscript 1891-1892
- Manuscript entitled 'The latest physical geography from Greenland' c. 1850s
- Manuscript and printed material held by Royal Observatory Edinburgh
- Manuscripts on laboratory, solar and auroral spectroscopy and wavelength conversion tables 1892
- Meteorological journals kept by Mrs. Piazzi Smyth in Edinburgh 1876-1888
- Meteorological diagrams 1886
- Printed spectroscopic atlases 1880, 1890 etc.
- List of recipients of volume 15 of Royal Observatory Edinburgh 1863
- Manuscript entitled 'Conjugate foci for large Steinheil 10.86 inch solar focus lens computed at Clova' 1894
- Album case of solar spectra 1891-1892
Photographic plates
- Photographic plates of Tenerife 1856
- Photographic plates of the Isle of May 1858
- Photographic plates of Russia1859
- Photographic plates of Egypt 1864
- Photographic plates of Edinburgh and the Moon 1854-1876
- Photographic plates of clouds in motion 1876
- Photographic plates of ferns 1875-1876
- Photographic plates of Clova cloud photographs 1892-1896
- Photographic plates of solar spectra 1889-1892
- Lantern slides 1900-1908 Prints of clouds photographs 1892-1896
Slides, engravings
- Slides, watercolours etc.
- Slide of flower and insect
- Moving slides for children
- Watercolours, engravings and prints by various artists
Miscellaneous
- Copy of Charles Piazzi Smyth's death certificate 1900
- Sale catalogue of contents of Charles Piazzi Smyth's house after his death 1900