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V. M. Slipher Papers, 1899-1965.

MS.2

Biographical Note

Vesto Melvin Slipher was born on November 11, 1875 in Mulberry, Indiana. He was educated first at a high school in Frankfort, Indiana and later at the University of Indiana at Bloomington. Here, he received a bachelors degree in mechanics and astronomy in 1901, a masters degree in 1903, and a Ph.D in 1909. He began work at Lowell Observatory in August of 1901. His best known work at this institution concerns his discovery of the radial velocities of spiral nebulae, starting in 1912. Through this research, he determined that spiral nebulae were moving at approximately three times the speed of any other known object, a discovery which was later utilized by astronomer Edwin Hubble. In addition, Slipher discovered that these spiral nebulae are rotating.

Slipher also provided important data which helped to prove the existence of vast quantities of gas and dust in interstellar space. The existence of interstellar gas had been postulated by J.C. Kapteyn in 1908, a hypothesis which Slipher proved in 1909 by examining stellar spectra. In 1912, Slipher demonstrated the existence of interstellar dust with his discovery that a nebula in the constellation Pleiades near the star Merope shone by reflected starlight alone. Slipher also conducted investigations of aurorae and night sky light, expanding his work to include zodiacal light, as well, in the early 1930s.

Slipher was also involved in planetary astronomy, starting a spectrographic investigation of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune in the infrared in 1903. He discovered several previously unknown spectral lines, some of which Rupert Wildt found, in 1931, to be due to ammonia and methane. Slipher also determined periods of rotation for Venus in 1903 and Uranus in 1911. After 1927, he supervised the search for Lowell's predicted Planet X.

In addition to his astronomical work, Slipher was active in the administration of Lowell Observatory. He became the assistant director of the Observatory in 1915, acting director upon Percival Lowell's death in 1916, and was named Observatory director in 1926. He remained in this position until his retirement in 1954. He died in Flagstaff in 1969 at the age of 93.

Scope and Content

The V. M. Slipher Papers consist of original research, publications, and correspondence from Slipher's long career at Lowell Observatory. The papers date from 1899-1965 and are divided into four series: Manuscripts, Working Papers, Correspondence, and Non-Research Activities.

The Manuscripts series dates from 1901 to 1938 and contains Slipher's published works on subjects such as planets, stars, nebulae, spectra, comets, aurorae, and the night sky.

The Working Papers series dates from 1899 to 1962 and contains Slipher's research notes on the solar system, comets, aurorae, the night sky, nebulae, clusters, stars, and scientific instruments. It also includes documents pertaining to his professional activities outside of Lowell Observatory.

The Correspondence series contains Slipher's letters to and from other astronomers, scientists, family, friends, and the general public. It dates from 1902 to 1965.

The Non-Research Activities series dates from 1930 and contains information about the Northern Arizona Furniture Company, of which Slipher was president.

Restrictions

Conditions Governing Access

Please contact the archives to make an appointment before visiting the institution.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished and published manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Other information

For further description visit: Lowell Observatory Library and Archives Homepage

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

V.M. Slipher Papers, Lowell Observatory Archives

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