ASSA Historical Section 2013 Year Report
By Chris de Coning
Introduction:
During the past year (Calendar Year 2013) the following has happened concerning the History of Astronomy.
Archive:
The following material was added to the archive:
Jan Hers collection, his personal notebooks
Natal Midlands
The University of Cape Town archive, which houses the A.S.S.A. collection finished indexing the collection
MNASSA:
Sabinet contacted ASSA in 2012, requesting a full set of JASSA and MNASSA in order to scan the material to a digital format and then to make it available on the internet. NASA did the same a couple of years ago in order to place the material on the Harvard network. Since NASA published only a few top articles from MNASSA and nothing else (see MNASSA, Vol72, nos 3&4, April 2013, p43), the Council of ASSA agreed to the request to also supply Sabinet with a set. Since a complete set does not exist any more in the Archive of ASSA the missing copies were tracked down from the SAAO library. Those copies were then scanned to the archival standards required by Sabinet. a great thank you to Shireen Davies from SAAO for her patience. In 2013 Sabinet completed the project and our publications are now available on the internet. A digital copy burned onto a CD was added to the archive.
Publications:
Individuals in their private capacities wrote articles with historical content. Please note my appreciation to the following people:
Finsen, W.S.: IGY Reminiscences, MNASSA, Vol72, nos 5&6, June 2013.
Ian Glass and Willie Koorts, MNASSA and the,SAO/NASA Abstract Service. MNASSA, Vol72, nos 3&4, April 2013.
Glass, I.S., The nearest Stars. (Presidential address), MNASSA, Vol72, nos 7-10, October 2013.
Glass, I.S.: Tercentenary of Nicolas-Louis de La Caille, MNASSA, Vol72, nos 11&12, December 2013.
Hers, J.: Moonwatch in South Africa, MNASSA, Vol72, nos 5&6, June 2013.
Roberts, G.: Amateur Optical Tracking in South Africa, MNASSA, Vol72, nos 7-10, October 2013
Slotegraaf, A.: African Star-Lore, MNASSA, Vol72, nos 3&4, April 2013.
Spargo, P.E.: Johannesburg Moonwatch Recalled, MNASSA, Vol72, nos 1&2, February 2013.
Obituaries:
MNASSA published obituaries on the following astronomers:
Edmund Ziegler, MNASSA, Vol72, nos 3&4, April 2013.
Margaret Thatcher, MNASSA, Vol72, nos 3&4, April 2013
Roy Smith, MNASSA, Vol72, nos 5&6, June 2013
Chris de Coning
Director Historical Section of ASSA