WHERE YOUR GIFT IS NEEDED
Detroit Observatory
 |
CAMPAIGN GOALS
Overall goal: $700,000
Highlights:
• Endowment support for scholarship and public activities about 19th century science and technology
• Annual distinguished lecture and ongoing lecture series
• Expansion of the reference library on astronomy, history of science and scientific instruments
• Historic preservation of building and telescopes |
Celebrating 150 Years
In 2004, the University of Michigan celebrated the 150th anniversary of the founding of Detroit Observatory in Ann Arbor. There is much to recognize in Detroit Observatory's distinguished history:
Historical Highlights:
- created in 1854 by the University of Michigan's first president, Henry Philip Tappan
- funded by benefactors from the City of Detroit, and named in their honor
- equipped with some of the largest telescopes in the world:
- a 6-inch Pistor and Martins meridian circle
- a 12 5/8 inch Fitz refractor
- discoveries include twenty-one minor planets, and two comets
- provided a timekeeping service for the entire Great Lakes region
- determined the longitude in 1861 in collaboration with the United States Lake Survey, which became the fundamental reference point for all subsequent land surveys from Detroit across the Western states;
- today, the Observatory is the oldest observatory in America to retain its original telescopes in their mounts.
History
Detroit Observatory was the centerpiece of the vision held by the University's first President, Henry Philip Tappan, to transform the fledgling University into one of the first research universities in the United States, following the Prussian model of higher education. Tappan recruited the renowned Prussian astronomer, Franz Brünnow, as the inaugural director of the Observatory. Dr. Brünnow was the first faculty member at Michigan to hold the Ph.D. degree, and the first to create a scholarly journal, Astronomical Notices. In 1858, Brünnow married the Tappans' only daughter, Rebecca. The Observatory was the achievement from Tappan's administration that gave him the greatest sense of pride.
Today
Detroit Observatory was meticulously restored from 1994-1998, and the project received numerous national, State, and local awards. The Observatory, which now serves as a museum and instructional center, is dedicated to furthering research and educational activities related to 19th-century science, technology, and culture, and to imparting this knowledge through its programs, instructional activities, and publications.
Opportunities for Giving
Endowment:
An endowment has been initiated to support the Observatory's programs, staffing, and building maintenance. Gifts to this fund will help support the Observatory in perpetuity.
Naming Opportunities:
Several naming opportunities are available to donors wishing to make significant gifts.
The Annual Fund:
Please consider joining the Friends of the Observatory by making a donation to celebrate the building's 150-year history.
Our special challenge is for gifts of $150, with a goal of 150 donations at the $150 level - a fitting objective to recognize the Observatory's 150th anniversary! Gifts in any amount are welcome.
Planned Giving:
Please consider making a lasting gift by including the Detroit Observatory in your estate planning.
Premiums for Donors:
- Donors at the $150 level and above can receive a copy of Dr. Whitesell's 1998 book titled A Creation of His Own: Tappan's Detroit Observatory.
- Donors at the $400 level and above can receive an original brick from the 1854 Observatory. Quantity is limited, so act soon.
Further Information:
Dr. Patricia S. Whitesell
Director and Curator
Detroit Observatory
University of Michigan
1398 E. Ann St.
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2051
Telephone: (734)763-2230
E-mail: DetroitObservatory@umich.edu
More information on the Bentley Historical Library's Web site: http://www.umich.edu/~bhl/
return to top
|
