Opening Hours
Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Rare Books
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Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Image not available
Manuscripts
The collection chiefly consists of the administrative, scientific, and personal correspondence of Walter S. Adams spanning the years 1921 to 1956, including his work during World War II. Adams and the observatory staff worked, in secret, with the U.S. government and helped create prisms and optics for various types of binoculars and gun sights; the staff also assisted with aerial and naval defense and attack strategy. There is also material from Adams' retirement years. The collection also contains manuscripts and photographs (some of which are of the B-29 bomber), also dealing with Adams' astronomical work.
mssAdamsw
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Manuscripts
The collection has several strong subject points for the purpose of research including journalism and the writing process and the history of Los Angeles. There are many letters written during World War II that discuss life in America as well as abroad, especially Iwo Jima. The bulk of the collection includes correspondence to Smith from his readers, many of whom were persons of note, and Smith's own subject files of topics often discussed in his columns. The manuscripts include a number of Smith's notebooks as well as drafts of essays and monographs. The ephemera includes appearances of Smith's columns, photographs of Smith's work and family, and printed materials related to Smith's work and family life.
mssSmith, Jack papers