Papers of William Christie

A journal covering different aspects of the work of the Chief Assistant, notably the maintenance, adjustment, repair and testing of the Royal Observatory instruments. There is also a record of visiting scientists, instrument-makers, dignitaries and other individuals, including W.B. Murray of the 'Illustrated London News', Professor Balfour Stewart and J. Plummer. The journal was kept irregularly and has several gaps. Some of the gaps cover only a few days (e.g. 29 July - 2 August 1881), but there are others of 3 months or more (e.g. 19 August - 18 November 1881). A note in the Astronomer Royal's Journal indicates that entries by the Astronomer Royal for the period May 1883 - March 1893 were made in this journal, and the Astronomer Royal's handwriting does appear throughout the entries for these years, as do other hands. There is an 'index to years' on the inside front board of the journal.