SCIENTIFIC VISITORS TO JOHN MILNE'S OBSERVATORY AT SHIDE, ISLE OF WIGHT
John Milne's Visitors' Book is a record of about 2000 visitors received at his observatory at Shide, Isle of Wight between 1895 and 1919, and by the Oxford Observatory until 1931 after Milne's work was transferred there in 1919. As part of studies currently being undertaken by the NSA of the history of seismology in the UK, an abstract has been prepared of those visitors with known and probable scientific associations, and of several other notable visitors. It is presented as a testament to Milne's scientific and personal appeal, and in the hope of discovering lost archival material.(Lovell, J.H., 1999. Scientific Visitors to John Milne's Observatory at Shide, Isle of Wight. British Geological Survey, Global Seismology Series, Technical Report WL/99/17) downloadable from the NSA reports page.
The first entry is for May 11th 1901, although some earlier visitors had entries made retrospectively in Milne's hand, and the last entries at Shide were made in 1919. After this date the book was transferred to Oxford and used until 1931, but with only a few signatories. From this book it is clear that Milne's scientific and personal popularity were such that he attracted to his observatory not only seismologists from all over the world and interested laymen, but also scientists from many other disciplines, locals, learned societies, civic dignitaries and Royalty. FE Norris, proprietor of the Guildford seismograph station, acknowledged Milne's influence, and wrote after Milne's death 'He was typical of the true spirit of Scientific Research - giving the results of his labours for the good of men, giving his experience and ideas to the scores of workers who came to him'.
Further information on Milne's work and over 50 seismological observatories can be found in the downloadable reports on Historical Seismological Observatories in the British Isles (pre-1970) and A Catalogue of Archive Material associated with John Milne.
WL/99/14 |
A Catalogue of Archive Material associated with John Milne,
F.R.S. |
Lovell, J.H., (1999) |
A search has been made for archive material associated with John
Milne. His archives are dispersed throughout the UK, and have been
augmented by additional collections from later workers. A catalogue has
been made of these surviving archives. |
WL/99/17 |
Scientific Visitors to John Milne's Observatory at Shide, Isle
of Wight. |
Lovell, J.H., (1999) |
John Milne’s Visitors’ Book is a record of about 2000 visitors
received at his observatory at Shide, Isle of Wight between 1895 and 1919,
and by the Oxford Observatory until 1931 (Milne’s work was transferred
there in 1919). An abstract has been prepared of those visitors with known
and probable scientific associations, and of several other notable
visitors. |
|
|
UK Historical
Seismological Observatories (pre-1970). VERSION 3 |
Lovell, J.H. &
Henni, P.H.O., (1999) |
The NSA
has undertaken to publish as much information as possible
on historical seismological observatories in the UK. Examination of material curated in
the NSA, enquiries to local libraries, museums and other public bodies,
and searches of published journals, has revealed much new information, with
newly found observatories described where possible. |
