| Title |
Papers of George Lyon Tupman |
| Reference |
GBR/0180/RGO 59 |
| Creator |
Tupman, Gerald Lyon |
| Covering Dates |
1864–1925 (circa 1864-1925) |
| Extent and Medium |
10 boxes, 1 bundle, 1 envelope + 1 photograph; paper/photograph |
| Repository |
Royal Greenwich Observatory Archives |
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| Content and context |
|
George Lyon Tupman (1838-1922) was born at Boulogne on 7 September 1838. He was educated at the Royal Naval School, New Cross, and then joined the Royal Marine Artillery as a Second Lieutenant, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the time of his retirement in 1880.
Tupman was interested in astronomy, and carried out work on meteors. He observed the transit of Venus at Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1882, and that year set up the Hillfoot Observatory at Harrow, where he made many observations of faint stars on the meridian, as well as lunar occultations of comets and minor planets. In 1874 he took charge of the expedition to observe the transit of Venus, organising the observers, equipment and shipping, and overseeing the setting up of the telescopes at the different stations. During the expedition, Tupman was based at the Sandwich Islands, where he carried out many vital preliminary observations. After his return, he devoted four years to the reduction of the observations, following a request from G.B. Airy, Astronomer Royal.
Tupman's other interests included geology, microscopy, natural history and archaeology. He was also interested in wireless, and had a wireless station at his home until 1914, when it was removed by the Postmaster-General.
He married Rebecca Wetherill of Philadelphia, USA, in 1876, but the couple did not have children. He died on 3 November 1922.
RGO 59 contains records of observations and calculations made at the Hillfoot Observatory, Harrow; papers relating to the Transit of Venus of 1874, including the notebooks and journals of observing stations; and papers concerning miscellaneous astronomical work. Many of the volumes contain loose papers. There is one item in French.
The provenance of the records is not known. They were possibly presented directly to the R.G.O. by Tupman.
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Access and Use
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In English, Fre
Please cite as Royal Greenwich Observatory Archives, Papers of George Lyon Tupman, RGO 59
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| Further information |
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A handlist is kept in the Manuscript Reading Room. Indexed
This description was created by Robert Steiner, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives. The description of RGO 59/83 was added in November 2008 by Zoe A. Rees
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| Index Terms |
| Tupman, Gerald Lyon (1838-1922) astronomer |
| Hillfoot Observatory, Harrow |
| RGO Archives/RGO 59 contains: |
|
1
|
Observations with the meridian circle. Observations made with the meridian circle at Hillfoot, Harrow, 3 October 1884 - 5 June 1887. The volume also contains a description of the Hillfoot Observatory and of several instruments.
1 volume. |
1884–1887 |
|
2
|
Reduction of star places. Tables of the reduction of the apparent places of stars observed on the meridian at Hillfoot, Harrow, 23 November 1886 - 6 June 1888.
1 volume. |
1886–1888 |
|
3
|
Observations with the meridian circle. Observations made with the meridian circle at Hillfoot, Harrow, 14 May 1887 - 31 October 1887.
1 volume. |
1887 |
|
4
|
Observations with the meridian circle. Observations made with the meridian circle at Hillfoot, Harrow, 2 November 1887 - 3 April 1888.
1 volume. |
1887–1888 |
|
5
|
Observations with the meridian circle. Observations made with the meridian circle at Hillfoot, Harrow, 5 April - 25 May 1888.
1 volume. |
1888 |
|
6
|
Observations with the meridian circle. Observations made with the meridian circle at Hillfoot, Harrow, 26 May 1888 - 12 June 1891.
1 volume. |
1888–1891 |
|
7
|
Observations with the meridian circle. Observations made with the meridian circle at Hillfoot, Harrow, 2 July 1891 - 26 April 1894.
1 volume. |
1891–1894 |
|
8
|
Observations with the meridian circle. Observations made with the meridian circle at Hillfoot, Harrow, 4 May 1894 - 14 June 1895.
1 volume. |
1894–1895 |
|
9
|
Observations with the meridian circle. Observations made with the meridian circle at Hillfoot, Harrow, 15 June 1895 - 5 November 1896.
1 volume. |
1895–1896 |
|
10
|
Observations with the meridian circle. Observations made with the meridian circle at Hillfoot, Harrow, 10 November 1896 - 7 July 1897.
1 volume. |
1896–1897 |
|
11
|
Observations with the meridian circle. Observations made with the meridian circle at Hillfoot, Harrow, 10 July - 28 December 1897.
1 volume. |
1897 |
|
12
|
Observations with the meridian circle. Observations made with the meridian circle at Hillfoot, Harrow, 31 December 1897 - 8 October 1900. Loose in the volume are letters to Tupman from David Gill, 25 April 1878, and Browne, 15 July 1878.
1 volume. |
1897–1900 |
|
13
|
Observations with the meridian circle. Observations made with the meridian circle at Hillfoot, Harrow, 12 October 1900 - 16 June 1905.
1 volume. |
1900–1905 |
|
14
|
Reduction of star places. 'Reduction of Star Places, Mean to Apparent' for meridian circle observations made at Hillfoot, Harrow, 28 September 1899 - 17 February 1905.
1 volume. |
1899–1905 |
|
15
|
North polar distances. Observations made with the meridian circle at Hillfoot, Harrow, for north polar distances. The volume includes a contents list and a description of the method of taking measurements.
1 volume. |
1885–1887 |
|
16
|
Reduction of star places. Tables of the reduction of observations made with the meridian circle at Hillfoot, Harrow, 9 June 1888 - 27 May 1899.
1 volume. |
1888–1889 |
|
17
|
Observations of stellar occultations.
2 volumes. |
1884–1900 |
|
18
|
Apparent places of stars.
2 volumes. |
1885–1886 |
|
19
|
Determinations of errors. Determinations of errors of collimation, level and azimuth made with the meridian circle at Hillfoot, Harrow, 6 January 1885 - 24 November 1891.
1 volume. |
1885–1891 |
|
20
|
Micrometric measures of Mars and Saturn. 'Micrometric Measures made with the 4½ inch Equatorial' - observations of the diameter of Mars and of Saturn's rings made at Hillfoot, Harrow, 1878-1880. There is a contents page at the beginning of the volume.
1 volume. |
1878–1880 |
|
21
|
Comparisons of chronometers. 'Reduction of Comparisons M: F: H.', comparisons of chronometers - Sidereal Standard Clock (M); Mean Solar Time Chronometers (F) and Local Sid[ereal] Time (H), 11 July - 28 December 1897.
1 volume. |
1897 |
|
22
|
Wire intervals of the meridian circle. Determination of the wire intervals of the meridian circle used at Hillfoot, Harrow, 1884-1888. There are a few later notes on the inside cover of the volume.
1 volume. |
1884–1892 |
|
23
|
Wire intervals for right ascensions. 'Computation of Wire Intervals Etc. For Right Ascensions', relating to results produced at Hillfoot, Harrow, December 1884 - March 1891.
1 volume. |
1884–1891 |
|
24
|
List of fundamental stars. 'Working List of Stars No 1' - a list of fundamental stars used for time determination at the Hillfoot Observatory.
1 volume. |
1885 |
|
25
|
Calculations of G.M.T. for the Moon. Calculations of the Greenwich Mean Times corresponding to the observed right ascensions of the Moon's centre, 23 January 1885 - 15 February 1886.
1 volume. |
1885–1886 |
|
26
|
Investigation of circle errors. An investigation of the combined flexure and division errors of the Hillfoot Observatory meridian circle in terms of A. Auwers's system of declinations. The volume is undated, but probably originates from the early 1880s.
1 volume. |
circa 1882 |
|
27
|
Determinations for the Hillfoot Observatory. Determinations of refraction, parallax and transit factors for the latitude of the Hillfoot Observatory (51º.34'.45"N).
1 volume. |
circa 1885 |
|
28
|
Star catalogue. A catalogue of stars observed with the meridian circle, 1885-1897, reduced to the epoch 1890.0 in two parts. Part 1 is a catalogue of the clock error and circle zero of fundamental stars. Part 2 is the catalogue for epoch 1890.0.
1 volume. |
1885–1890 |
|
29
|
Equatorial comparisons. A catalogue of equatorial comparisons comprised of a description of the Hillfoot Observatory's instruments and tables of observations of comets. There are many loose sheets.
1 volume. |
1884 |
|
30
|
Auxiliary tables. Auxiliary tables of constants, refraction, zenith distances and parallax for Hillfoot, Harrow.
2 volumes. |
circa 1880 |
|
31
|
Refraction calculations for Hillfoot. Refraction calculations for the latitude of the Hillfoot Observatory.
1 volume. |
circa 1880 |
|
32
|
Determination of Hillfoot's longitude. Reductions to determine the longitude of the Hillfoot Observatory using results obtained by placing two chronometers at Messrs E. Dent & Co., Strand, to receive the automatic time signals from Greenwich.
1 volume. |
1885 |
|
33
|
Apparent places of small stars.
3 volumes. |
1884–1900 |
|
34
|
Solar and lunar observations. Observations of the Sun and Moon.
1 volume. |
1885–1900 |
|
35
|
Identification of occulted stars. Calculations entitled 'Identification of Small Stars Occulted by the Moon'.
1 volume. |
1884–1900 |
|
36
|
Observations of lunar occultations. Observations of lunar occultations and two copies of 'Sternbedeckungen', 28 January 1888 and 27 December 1898.
1 volume; The spine and covers are detached and the contents of the volume are loose.. |
1880–1898 |
|
37
|
Star catalogue. Observations of lunar occultations and two copies of 'Sternbedeckungen', 28 January 1888 and 27 December 1898.
1 volume. |
circa 1910 |
|
38
|
Observations for time.
7 volumes. |
1884–1920 |
|
39
|
Time signals. Tables of corrections to the Mean Time Regulator using time signals received from the Eiffel Tower, and a comparison of these signals with those sent by the Norddeich Wireless Station. The entries cover 29 December 1912 - 28 July 1916. A note on the first page dated 5 August 1914 records that Tupman's wireless telegraph apparatus has been removed by the Postmaster General.
1 volume. |
1912–1916 |
|
40
|
Observations with the meridian circle.
2 volumes. |
1885–1886 |
|
41
|
Observations with the equatorial. Miscellaneous observations of lunar parallax and stellar transits made with the equatorial. There are two envelopes containing loose observations. The remaining envelope contains a volume of equatorial comparisons, 12 June 1887 - 14 July 1887, and a folder containing various tables, including tables for finding the Moon's parallax in right ascension and in declination.
3 envelopes. |
1877–1888 |
|
42
|
Mean places of secondary standard stars. 'Mean places of secondary standard stars. nightly observing lists.'.
1 bundle. |
1885–1886 |
|
43
|
Star catalogue. A star catalogue: 'Part 1 Catalogue of Reference Stars ['below Equator' crossed out] 1897.0 Part 2. Zenith + others'.
1 bundle. |
1897 |
|
44
|
Observations of occultations. Observations of occultations taken at 1 Vanbrugh Park, Blackheath, divided into three sections:. 1. Greenwich Mean Time and Local Sidereal Time. 2. Places of stars given in the 'Nautical Almanac' and other stars. 3. Interpolation of Lunar Elements.
1 envelope. |
1876–1880 |
|
45
|
Miscellaneous observations and calculations. Miscellaneous observations and calculations based on parameters for Hillfoot, Harrow.
1 bundle. |
circa 1880 |
|
46
|
Notes on comets. A manuscript in French on the problems of comets, their orbit parameters and their constitution.
1 volume. |
circa 1880 |
|
47
|
Messier and Ptolemy's catalogues. Copies of two catalogues:. 1. Messier's catalogue of nebulae arranged in order of right ascension for 1840, with constants for reducing the apparent places. A note by Tupman records that he has been unable to discover anything relating to the history of the catalogue, and that is was purchased in Berlin in 1867. 2. Translation of Ptolemy's catalogue by M. Halma, dated by Tupman 1867.
1 envelope. |
circa 1867 |
|
48
|
Observations of comets.
12 volumes + 1 folder. |
circa 1864-circa 1887 |
|
49
|
Papers of the solar eclipse expedition.
3 volumes, 2 envelopes + 1 folder. |
1871–1875 |
|
50
|
Catalogue of time stars. A catalogue of time stars for the epoch 1920.0, with many additional loose sheets.
1 volume. |
1917 |
|
51
|
Meteorological observations and correspondence.
3 folders. |
1872–1877 |
|
52
|
Investigations of Brahe and Hevelius's work. An investigation into the latitude of Uranibourg from the meridian altitudes of stars observed by Tycho Brahe and a comparison of his observed meridian altitudes of the Sun with Le Verrier's solar tables together with an investigation into the place of the ecliptic, 1582-1590. The volume also contains an investigation into Hevelius's observations of the Sun's meridian altitude in 1679.
1 volume. |
1899 |
|
53
|
Survey of Athenian buildings. Observations and results of a survey of the Parthenon and associated buildings in Athens, containing notes on the state of the buildings and on the size of parts and components, with several sketches of parts. The survey appears to have been written as a report on restoration work that was being undertaken and to have been carried out to prove that later buildings were modelled on those which preceded them. The folder also contains short essays on various topics, including refraction, instruments, the measurement of heights, the constitution and physical parameters of the atmosphere, and parabolic orbits.
1 folder. |
circa 1868 |
|
54
|
Observations and declinations of stars. Observations of stars and computations of the declinations of stars in prehistoric times.
1 folder. |
circa 1911 |
|
55
|
Essay on cometary orbits. An undated essay on Olbers's method for obtaining the parabolic elements of cometary orbits translated by Tupman from the appendix to Dubois's French translation of Gauss's 'Theoria Motus'.
1 volume. |
|
|
56
|
'Home' Journals.
4 volumes. |
1872–1880 |
|
57
|
Papers of the 1874 Transit of Venus. Small bundles of papers relating to the Transit of Venus of 1874: instructions by Tupman on the use of the Double Image Micrometer, Photoheliograph (including hints on developing plates) and Airy's Prismatic Eyepiece; a translation of a paper by Dr Auwers on the longitude connections of the Transit of Venus stations; notes on the Transit of Venus instruments, methods of observing and reducing the observations, and other information, followed by Mr Stone's catalogue of 78 South Polar Stars reduced to 1 January 1874; copies of general notices by the Astronomer Royal relating to the Transit of Venus; unarranged notes regarding the transit instrument; and reports on instruments.
1 bundle. |
circa 1874 |
|
58
|
Equipment for transit stations. A handwritten list by Tupman of Government Stores to be issued to each station of the 1874 Transit of Venus Expedition. The list includes telescopes, clocks, chronometers, meteorological instruments and various items supplied by contractors. There is also a printed list of provisions.
1 bundle. |
1874 |
|
59
|
Observations of stars. Sheets of paper pasted into a volume containing original observations of stars and the Moon made at Honolulu, October 1874 - February 1875, during the 1874 Transit of Venus Expedition, with further, loose observations without a year date. There is also a note of an earthquake on 28 December 1874.
1 volume. |
1874–1875 |
|
60
|
Correspondence on the Transit of Venus Expedition. A packet of correspondence with official naval correspondents and a packet of correspondence with the Accountant General of the Navy regarding the expedition for the 1874 Transit of Venus. There are also two letters and various tables regarding the longitude and other results obtained for Honolulu and other parts of the Hawaiian Islands.
1 portfolio. |
1874–1878 |
|
61
|
Papers for the 1874 Transit of Venus. Miscellaneous papers relating to the 1874 Transit of Venus: correspondence, observing notes and drawings, and an account book for Tupman's expedition entitled 'G. L. Tupman in account with Observers'.
1 folder. |
1874–1878 |
|
62
|
Papers of the Transit of Venus Expedition.
2 volumes. |
1874 |
|
63
|
Papers on the longitude of Mokattam.
2 envelopes. |
1868–1875 |
|
64
|
Papers on the longitude of Mokattam. Papers relating to the determination of the longitude of the Transit of Venus station on the Mokattam Heights, Cairo, including observations of the telegraphic signals at Greenwich and Porthcurnow, chronometer errors and chronometer rates.
1 bundle. |
1874 |
|
65
|
Transit of Venus observations at Roorkee. A folder with two wallets containing correspondence and other papers relating to the observation of the 1874 Transit of Venus at Roorkee, India, including abstracts of observations by Strachey and reductions of transit observations.
1 folder. |
1874 |
|
66
|
Station E Journal. The journal of Mr Perry for the work of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, Station E, during the 1874 Transit of Venus.
1 envelope. |
4 Feb. 1874–5 May 1875 |
|
67
|
Journal of Henry Barnacle. The journal of Henry Barnacle for the 1874 Transit of Venus. (MISSING).
1 volume. |
1874–1875 |
|
68
|
Photographers' Journal. The Photographers' Journal for the 1874 Transit of Venus, covering the period September 1874 - February 1875, containing a diary (pp. 1-16); notes on the developing of plates, chemicals, etc. (pp. 28-44); and chronometer comparisons (pp. 47-60). (MISSING).
1 volume. |
1874–1875 |
|
69
|
Honolulu Station Journal. The journal kept by J.D. Forbes and G. Tupman at Honolulu during the 1874 Transit of Venus Expedition. There is an entry for 20 November 1874 regarding the death by drowning of one of the observers (Lambert).
1 volume. |
26 May 1874–24 Jan. 1875 |
|
70
|
Honolulu Station Journal. A copy of the daily journal kept Tupman at Station B, Honolulu, during the 1874 Transit of Venus Expedition, 10 September 1874 - 19 March 1874.
1 volume. |
circa 1875 |
|
71
|
Kerguelen Island Station Journal. The journal kept by the Revd S.J. Perry for the observing party at Kerguelen Island in the southern Indian Ocean during the 1874 Transit of Venus Expedition.
1 volume. |
23 May 1874–1 July 1875 |
|
72
|
Mokattam Station Journal. The journal kept by the observing party at Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt, during the 1874 Transit of Venus Expedition.
1 volume. |
9 Oct. 1874–23 Dec. 1874 |
|
73
|
Rodriguez Station Journal. The journal kept by the observing party at Rodriguez (Rodrigues) Island in the Indian Ocean during the 1874 Transit of Venus Expedition.
1 volume. |
18 Aug. 1874–15 Dec. 1875 |
|
74
|
Atooi Station Journal. The journal kept by Richard Johnson for the observing party at the secondary station at Waimea, Atooi (Kauai), Sandwich Islands, during the 1874 Transit of Venus Expedition.
1 volume. |
6 Nov. 1874–25 Jan. 1875 |
|
75
|
Port Palliser Station Journal. The journal kept by the observing party at Port Palliser, Kerguelen Islands, during the 1874 Transit of Venus Expedition.
1 volume. |
31 Aug. 1874–17 May 1875 |
|
76
|
Determination of mean solar parallax. A manuscript discussion by Tupman for the 1874 Transit of Venus entitled 'Determination of the Mean Solar Parallax and of the corrections to the Tabular place of Venus (referred to the center of the Sun) from all the observations of the Internal Contacts deposited at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich'. The discussion is in five parts:. 1. First Approximate Solution, rejecting only Dunn and Hennissey. 2. Solution after rejecting some with large residuals. 3. Solution of 36 selected observations. 4. The Residuals converted into time. 5. Solar Parallax derived independently from Ingress and Egress, the selected times of Contact being revised, and additional ones being taken into account.
1 bundle. |
circa 1875 |
|
77
|
Account of Observations of the Transit of Venus. 'Account of Observations of the Transit of Venus, 1874, December 8 ... and of the Reduction of the Observations', edited by Sir G.B. Airy, and printed by H.M.S.O.
1 volume. |
1881 |
|
78
|
Account of the Transit of Venus. A handwritten account by Major Palmer of the 1874 Transit of Venus as observed at Burnham, New Zealand.
1 envelope. |
1874 |
|
79
|
Papers of the Burnham expedition.
4 volumes, 2 envelopes + 1 bundle. |
1882 |
|
80
|
Drawings of the 1885 Solar Eclipse. Pen and ink engravings of drawings of the solar eclipse in New Zealand of 9 September 1885, with a map showing the eclipse's isochronal lines.
1 envelope. |
1885 |
|
81
|
Papers on falling meteors. Correspondence and newspaper cuttings regarding a falling meteor of 23 November 1877, including drawings of the flight and subsequent explosion of the meteor that night at approximately 8 hours 24 minutes Greenwich Mean Time. There is also an account of another exploding meteor viewed that evening from Whitney, Oxford, at 7 hours 35 minutes.
1 bundle. |
1887 |
|
82
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Draft forms for the Transit of Venus Expedition. Manuscript drafts of forms for the 1874 Transit of Venus Expedition for recording observations of transits, calculations of collimation and azimuth errors, and apparent errors of the transit clock and clock rates and errors.
1 sheet. |
circa 1874 |
|
83
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Photograph of delegates at an ''astronomical conference'' seated on the lawn in front of the Old Schools building, University of Cambridge. It is likely that the sitters are representatives of astronomical societies attending the second general assembly of the International Astronomical Union. No names are given.
Creator: Stearn and Sons, Cambridge.
1 photographic print (20.9cm x 29.1cm); photograph. |
14 July 1925–22 July 1925 |
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