Albert Graham Ingalls
Encyclopedia
Albert Graham Ingalls was an American
scientific editor
and amateur astronomer
. Through his columns in Scientific American
, including "The Amateur Scientist
", and his three-volume series Amateur Telescope Making
, Ingalls exerted a great influence on amateur astronomy and amateur telescope making
in the United States.
, an only child. In 1914 he graduated from Cornell University
. He worked odd jobs, including telegraph operator, until enlisting in the New York
National Guard
and serving in France
during World War I
.
In 1923 he became an editor at Scientific American
, an affiliation he maintained until his retirement in 1955. He later described his editorial duties as "obtaining articles, editing articles, finding the illustrations, writing the captions, reading the proof and, in general, being wet-nurse to six major articles each month."
He started a regular column, "The Back Yard Astronomer" in 1928 which he later named the "The Amateur Scientist
". His final column appeared in April 1955 shortly before his retirement.
Ingalls's primary interests were in the areas of astronomy and telescope
construction. After reading an article by Russell W. Porter
on telescope making, he arranged a visit by Porter to New York in June 1925, out of which came an article later that year in Scientific American. The article was so well received that Ingalls began a series of columns on amateur telescope making, some written in collaboration with Porter. Ingalls and Porter became close friends and the two men remained at the center of the American amateur telescope making community for the next thirty years. A number of articles from the columns, together with illustrations by Porter, were published in book form as Amateur Telescope Making, the first volume of which appeared in 1926, followed by volumes 2 and 3 in 1937 and 1953. These books helped to create lasting public interest in observational astronomy. The books have come to be called "the bible of telescope making"
During World War II, Ingalls organized the work of amateur telescope makers to help overcome the shortage of roof prism
s for military instruments.
After his retirement in 1955, Ingalls travelled about New York state studying genealogy
until he was struck by a car. His injuries left him paralyzed, and he died a year later at the age of 70.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
scientific editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
and amateur astronomer
Amateur astronomy
Amateur astronomy, also called backyard astronomy and stargazing, is a hobby whose participants enjoy watching the night sky , and the plethora of objects found in it, mainly with portable telescopes and binoculars...
. Through his columns in Scientific American
Scientific American
Scientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
, including "The Amateur Scientist
The Amateur Scientist
The Amateur Scientist was a column in the Scientific American, and was the definitive "how-to" resource for citizen-scientists for over 72 years , making it the longest running column in Scientific American's history...
", and his three-volume series Amateur Telescope Making
Amateur Telescope Making
Amateur Telescope Making is a series of three books edited by Albert G. Ingalls between 1926 and 1953 while he was an associate editor at Scientific American. The books cover various aspects of telescope construction and observational technique, sometimes at quite an advanced level, but always in...
, Ingalls exerted a great influence on amateur astronomy and amateur telescope making
Amateur telescope making
Amateur telescope making is the activity of building telescopes as a hobby, as opposed to being a paid professional. Amateur telescope makers build their instruments for personal enjoyment of a technical challenge, as a way to obtain an inexpensive or personally customized telescope, or as a...
in the United States.
Biography
Ingalls was born in Elmira, New YorkElmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
, an only child. In 1914 he graduated from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. He worked odd jobs, including telegraph operator, until enlisting in the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
and serving in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
In 1923 he became an editor at Scientific American
Scientific American
Scientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
, an affiliation he maintained until his retirement in 1955. He later described his editorial duties as "obtaining articles, editing articles, finding the illustrations, writing the captions, reading the proof and, in general, being wet-nurse to six major articles each month."
He started a regular column, "The Back Yard Astronomer" in 1928 which he later named the "The Amateur Scientist
The Amateur Scientist
The Amateur Scientist was a column in the Scientific American, and was the definitive "how-to" resource for citizen-scientists for over 72 years , making it the longest running column in Scientific American's history...
". His final column appeared in April 1955 shortly before his retirement.
Ingalls's primary interests were in the areas of astronomy and telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
construction. After reading an article by Russell W. Porter
Russell W. Porter
Russell Williams Porter was an American artist, engineer, amateur astronomer and explorer. He was a pioneer in the field of “cutaway illustration" and is sometimes referred to as the "founder" or one of the "founders" of amateur telescope making."-Biography:Russell W...
on telescope making, he arranged a visit by Porter to New York in June 1925, out of which came an article later that year in Scientific American. The article was so well received that Ingalls began a series of columns on amateur telescope making, some written in collaboration with Porter. Ingalls and Porter became close friends and the two men remained at the center of the American amateur telescope making community for the next thirty years. A number of articles from the columns, together with illustrations by Porter, were published in book form as Amateur Telescope Making, the first volume of which appeared in 1926, followed by volumes 2 and 3 in 1937 and 1953. These books helped to create lasting public interest in observational astronomy. The books have come to be called "the bible of telescope making"
During World War II, Ingalls organized the work of amateur telescope makers to help overcome the shortage of roof prism
Roof prism
A roof prism is in general any kind of reflective optical prism containing a section where two faces meet at a 90° angle...
s for military instruments.
After his retirement in 1955, Ingalls travelled about New York state studying genealogy
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
until he was struck by a car. His injuries left him paralyzed, and he died a year later at the age of 70.
Awards
- Astronomical League AwardAstronomical LeagueThe Astronomical League is an umbrella organization of amateur astronomy societies. Currently their membership consists of over 240 organizations across the United States, along with a number of Members-at-Large, Patrons, and Supporting members....
(1951) - Blair Medal of the Western Amateur Astronomers (1954)