Collections

The Lick Observatory Archive documents one of the most historically important observatories in the world, and is a unique resource for the study of the history of modern astronomy. The digital collection contains digitized historical photographs from Series 6 and 7 of the larger collection and includes portraits of astronomers, telescope and lens makers and other prominent scientists, scenes of life at the observatory on Mount Hamilton, instruments, and documentation of expeditions. The physical archive includes records beginning in 1870 describing the founding construction and operation of the observatory, and documenting aspects of the early astronomical ambitions and achievements of its founders. Correspondence, copybooks, drawings, diaries and logs, and the personal papers of resident and visiting astronomers make up a large portion of the Archive.