About the MAS Membership Information MAS Observatory Observing Information Variable Stars Special Projects Special Events Astronomy Links Astronomy Vendors MAS Personal Sites MAS Showcase MAS Archives  • 1930-1939  • 1940-1949  • 1950-1959  • 1960-1969  • 1970-1979  • 1980-1989  • 1990-1999  • 2000-2009  • 2010-2019  • Historic Documents  • Historic Members MAS Historical Archive This section is dedicated to Historical Images, Documents and Members who have contributed to the success of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society. Historical Documents Category Henry Gerner - Secretary It is the hope by resurrecting records that members will learn and appreciate the rich history of their society and its contacts with professional astronomers. The first letters reproduced here are from Otto Struve. Otto Struve first became the Director of Yerkes Observatory in July of 1932, the same year the Milwaukee Astronomical Society was created (September 1932). He was instrumental in hiring astronomers such as Gerard P.Kuiper (who did photographic studies of the planets and their satellites at Yerkes) and Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (who received the Nobel Prize on his mathematical theory on black holes) and also Bengt Strömgren (who is known for his work on explaining the nature of ionized hydrogen clouds). Otto Struve himself used spectroscopy in investigating binary and variable stars, rotation of stars and the matter in space between stars. He also was the Director of McDonald Observatory in Texas that was connected with the University of Chicago as was Yerkes in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. It will become apparent after seeing some of these letters and photographs in future focal point letters how society members were active in many areas of astronomy. For more information on Otto Struve, I recommend the book Yerkes Observatory 1892-1950 by Donald E. Osterbrock. The book can be purchased at Yerkes Observatory or signed out from the M.A.S. library. Get Your Own Visitor Globe!