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Presentation commemorates 125 years for Astronomical Library
By Michael Worringer
Library Communications
Posted 9/25/2006
MADISON, Wis. —The Friends of the UW-Madison Library celebrate the Woodman Astronomical Library's 125th anniversary with an illustrated history on astronomy and the library at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 28, in 126 Memorial Library. Jim Lattis, director of the University of Wisconsin Space Place, and David Null, university archivist, will present.
The Astronomical Library traces its origin to 1881, when it was established in the office of the director of the newly constructed Washburn Observatory, named after former Wisconsin governor Cadwallader C. Washburn. In 1876 Washburn allocated a sum of $3,000 per year (one-seventh of the university's state-funded budget at the time) in state tax revenues for three years for the creation of a university observatory. In 1883, longtime Washburn friend and law partner Cyrus Woodman endowed the Observatory with $5,000 to support the Astronomical Library. Today the endowment has grown to more than $250,000.
Over the years, the library has undergone great changes. It moved to Sterling Hall with the rest of the Astronomy Department in 1959, and it expanded to its present size during reconstruction following the Aug. 24, 1970 bombing of Sterling Hall at the height of on-campus disturbances over the Vietnam War. When renovation begins in 2007, the library will move again with the department to temporary quarters in Bradley Hall and will return to Sterling in 2009.
While the majority of library users are connected with the astronomy department, the Woodman Astronomical Library serves the astronomical resource needs of the campus at large. The library is open to the public and is a resource for the entire state of Wisconsin. In addition to a large collection of astronomy books and subscriptions to approximately 40 journals, the library maintains a large collection of observatory publications and other non-commercial publications.
For questions about the event contact the Friends of the UW-Madison Library at 265-2505, or visit their Web site.
