Sarah Frances Whiting
Encyclopedia
Sarah Frances Whiting American
physicist
and astronomer
, was the instructor to several astronomers, including Annie Jump Cannon
.
in 1865.
Whiting was appointed by Wellesley College president Henry Fowle Durant
, one year after the College's 1875 opening, as its first professor of physics. She established its physics department and the undergraduate experimental physics lab at Wellesley, the second of its kind to be started in the country.
At the request of Durant, she attended lectures at MIT
given by Edward Charles Pickering
. He invited Whiting to observe some of the new techniques being applied to astronomy, such as spectroscopy
.
In 1880, Whiting started teaching a course on Practical Astronomy at Wellesley.
In 1895, as told by biographer Annie Jump Cannon
,
Between 1896 and 1900, Whiting helped Wellesley College trustee Sarah Elizabeth Whitin to establish the Whitin Observatory
, of which Whiting became the first director.
Tufts College bestowed an honorary doctorate on Whiting in 1905. She was also known for supporting prohibition
.
Whiting retired from Wellesley in 1916 and was a Professor Emeritus until her death in 1927. She is buried in Machpelah Cemetery
in Le Roy, New York
, near her now-defunct alma mater.
Daytime and evening exercises in astronomy, for schools and colleges.
She was also author of several articles in Popular Astronomy, including:
"Use of Graphs in Teaching Astronomy",
"Use of Drawings in Orthographic Projection and of Globes in Teaching Astronomy",
"Spectroscopic Work for Classes in Astronomy","The Use of Photographs in Teaching Astronomy",
"Partial Solar Eclipse, June 28, 1908",
Solar Halos,
"A Pedagogical Suggestion for Teachers of Astronomy",
"Priceless Accessions to Whitin Observatory Wellesley College",
"The Tulse Hill observatory diaries (abstract)",
and "The Tulse Hill observatory diaries",
as well as the obituary for Margaret Lindsay Huggins
, "Lady Huggins".
She described her experience as a "woman physicist" in the Wellesley College News article "The experiences of a woman physicist"
Jobs/Positions:
Education:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
and 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...
, was the instructor to several astronomers, including Annie Jump Cannon
Annie Jump Cannon
Annie Jump Cannon was an American astronomer whose cataloging work was instrumental in the development of contemporary stellar classification. With Edward C...
.
Biography
Whiting graduated from Ingham UniversityIngham University
Ingham University in Le Roy, New York, was the first women's college in New York State and the first chartered women's university in the United States. It was originally founded in 1835 as the Le Roy Female Seminary by Mariette and Emily E. Ingham. The school was chartered on April 6, 1852 as the...
in 1865.
Whiting was appointed by Wellesley College president Henry Fowle Durant
Henry Fowle Durant
Henry Fowle Durant was an American lawyer and philanthropist. Durant was born in Hanover, New Hampshire.He graduated from Harvard in 1841, studied law, and subsequently practiced in Boston...
, one year after the College's 1875 opening, as its first professor of physics. She established its physics department and the undergraduate experimental physics lab at Wellesley, the second of its kind to be started in the country.
At the request of Durant, she attended lectures at MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
given by Edward Charles Pickering
Edward Charles Pickering
Edward Charles Pickering was an American astronomer and physicist, brother of William Henry Pickering.Along with Carl Vogel, Pickering discovered the first spectroscopic binary stars. He wrote Elements of Physical Manipulations .Pickering attended Boston Latin School, and received his B.S. from...
. He invited Whiting to observe some of the new techniques being applied to astronomy, such as spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
.
In 1880, Whiting started teaching a course on Practical Astronomy at Wellesley.
In 1895, as told by biographer Annie Jump Cannon
Annie Jump Cannon
Annie Jump Cannon was an American astronomer whose cataloging work was instrumental in the development of contemporary stellar classification. With Edward C...
,
An especially exciting moment came when the Boston morning papers reported the discovery of the Rontgen or X-rays in 1895. The advanced students in physics of those days will always remember the zeal with which Miss Whiting immediately set up an old Crookes tubeCrookes tubeA Crookes tube is an early experimental electrical discharge tube, invented by English physicist William Crookes and others around 1869-1875, in which cathode rays, that is electrons, were discovered....
and the delight when she actually obtained some of the very first photographs taken in this country of coins within a purse and bones within the flesh.
Between 1896 and 1900, Whiting helped Wellesley College trustee Sarah Elizabeth Whitin to establish the Whitin Observatory
Whitin Observatory
Whitin Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by Wellesley College. Built in 1900, with additions in 1906, 1967, and 2010-2011, it is located in Wellesley, Massachusetts and named after Wellesley College trustee Mrs. of Whitinsville, who donated the funds for the...
, of which Whiting became the first director.
Tufts College bestowed an honorary doctorate on Whiting in 1905. She was also known for supporting prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
.
Whiting retired from Wellesley in 1916 and was a Professor Emeritus until her death in 1927. She is buried in Machpelah Cemetery
Machpelah Cemetery (Le Roy, New York)
Machpelah Cemetery is located on North Street in Le Roy, New York, United States. It was opened in the mid-19th century and expanded since then. Graves from other, smaller burial grounds around Le Roy have been added...
in Le Roy, New York
Le Roy (village), New York
Le Roy is a village in Genesee County, New York, United States. The population was 4,462 at the 2000 census.The Village of Le Roy lies in the center of the Town of Le Roy at the intersection of Routes 5 and 19.- History :...
, near her now-defunct alma mater.
Writings
Whiting wrote textbookDaytime and evening exercises in astronomy, for schools and colleges.
She was also author of several articles in Popular Astronomy, including:
"Use of Graphs in Teaching Astronomy",
"Use of Drawings in Orthographic Projection and of Globes in Teaching Astronomy",
"Spectroscopic Work for Classes in Astronomy","The Use of Photographs in Teaching Astronomy",
"Partial Solar Eclipse, June 28, 1908",
Solar Halos,
"A Pedagogical Suggestion for Teachers of Astronomy",
"Priceless Accessions to Whitin Observatory Wellesley College",
"The Tulse Hill observatory diaries (abstract)",
and "The Tulse Hill observatory diaries",
as well as the obituary for Margaret Lindsay Huggins
Margaret Lindsay Huggins
Margaret Lindsay, Lady Huggins , born Margaret Lindsay Murray, was an Irish scientific investigator and amateur astronomer. With her husband William Huggins she was a pioneer in the field of spectroscopy....
, "Lady Huggins".
She described her experience as a "woman physicist" in the Wellesley College News article "The experiences of a woman physicist"
Achievements
Honors:- 1883 Member, American Association for the Advancement of ScienceAmerican Association for the Advancement of ScienceThe American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
(AAAS) - 1905 Honorary doctorate, Tufts College
Jobs/Positions:
- 1876-1912 Professor of Physics, Wellesley College
- 1900-1916 Director, Whitin Observatory, Wellesley College
- 1916-1927 Professor Emeritus, Wellesley College
Education:
- AB Ingham UniversityIngham UniversityIngham University in Le Roy, New York, was the first women's college in New York State and the first chartered women's university in the United States. It was originally founded in 1835 as the Le Roy Female Seminary by Mariette and Emily E. Ingham. The school was chartered on April 6, 1852 as the...
1865