Charles Hitchcock Adams
Encyclopedia
Charles Hitchcock Adams was an amateur American
astronomer
, and father of photographer Ansel Adams
.
He was born in Belmont
, California
, the son of William and Cassandra Adams and the last of five children. He entered the University of California
in 1886 and focused his studies in the field of Chemistry
. During his second year, however, his father's business suffered a disastrous loss due to natural events and Charles left the university to help in the recovery.
He spent the following years helping his family estate, and became an insurance broker. He also performed clerical work, primarily for the Merchants' Exchange Association. By 1917 he was made executive secretary of the association, and held this position until 1940. His family estate was eventually settled successfully.
After obtaining a three-inch (76 mm) telescope and learning to enjoy the hobby of amateur astronomy
, he joined the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
. He became the paid secretary-treasurer of that organization in 1925, and held the office until he retired in 1950.
Charles was married to Olive Bray. Ansel Adams was their only child, and gave him his nickname "Carlie". His wife Olive died in 1950 after suffering an illness that made her an invalid.
Adams died in San Francisco. One source (Aitken) lists his date of death as August 8, 1951, while another (Alinder) lists it as August 9, 1951.
The crater Adams
on the Moon
is co-named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
, and father of photographer Ansel Adams
Ansel Adams
Ansel Easton Adams was an American photographer and environmentalist, best known for his black-and-white photographs of the American West, especially in Yosemite National Park....
.
He was born in Belmont
Belmont, California
Belmont is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. It is in the San Francisco Bay Area, located half-way down the San Francisco Peninsula between San Mateo and San Carlos. It was originally part of the Rancho de las Pulgas, for which one of its main roads, the Alameda de las Pulgas,...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, the son of William and Cassandra Adams and the last of five children. He entered the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
in 1886 and focused his studies in the field of Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
. During his second year, however, his father's business suffered a disastrous loss due to natural events and Charles left the university to help in the recovery.
He spent the following years helping his family estate, and became an insurance broker. He also performed clerical work, primarily for the Merchants' Exchange Association. By 1917 he was made executive secretary of the association, and held this position until 1940. His family estate was eventually settled successfully.
After obtaining a three-inch (76 mm) telescope and learning to enjoy the hobby of amateur astronomy
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...
, he joined the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is a scientific and educational organization, founded in San Francisco on February 7, 1889. Its name derives from its origins on the Pacific Coast, but today it has members all over the country and the world...
. He became the paid secretary-treasurer of that organization in 1925, and held the office until he retired in 1950.
Charles was married to Olive Bray. Ansel Adams was their only child, and gave him his nickname "Carlie". His wife Olive died in 1950 after suffering an illness that made her an invalid.
Adams died in San Francisco. One source (Aitken) lists his date of death as August 8, 1951, while another (Alinder) lists it as August 9, 1951.
The crater Adams
Adams (lunar crater)
Adams is a lunar impact crater that is located in the rugged southeastern section of the Moon, near the lunar limb. It lies just to the southwest of the crater Legendre. To the northwest are the craters Hase and Petavius, and to the southwest is Furnerius. To the southwest of Adams is a system of...
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is co-named in his honor.