Theodore Dunham, Jr, (1897-1984) was an American astronomer, physicist, and physician. Throughout his career, Dr. Dunham pioneered research on interstellar cosmic rays, the development of telescopes, stellar spectrophotometry, the study of interstellar material and the spectrophotometry of cells.

Born and raised in New York City, he received his bachelor's degree from Harvard University in 1921, an M.D. from Cornell University in 1925, and graduate degrees in astronomy from Princeton University in 1926 and 1927. He married Miriam Phillips Thompson in 1926, and the couple would have two children.

In 1928, he joined the staff of Mount Wilson Observatory, near Pasadena, California, where he remained until 1947. It was here, in 1932, with his colleague Walter S. Adams, that they discovered the atmosphere of Venus contained carbon dioxide under pressure. Later, in 1934, the two found that the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere of Mars was less than one percent of the amount over a comparable area of Earth.

In 1936, he became the Scientific Director of the Fund for Astrophysical Research, and would hold that position for the remainder of his life. During World War II, he served in the Office of Scientific Research and Development, as chief of the Optical Instrument Section.

From 1946 to 1957, he held research posts in medicine and surgery at Harvard University and the University of Rochester, where he developed optical methods to study the chemical makeup of cells.

In 1957, he joined the faculty of the Australian National University in Canberra, where he designed and installed a spectrograph at the Mount Stromlo Observatory for use with its 74-inch telescope in studying the composition of the stars of the Southern Hemisphere. From 1965-1970, he was Senior Research Fellow at the University of Tasmania, Australia.

After returning to the United States in 1970, he resumed his earlier association with the Harvard College Observatory.

Dr. Dunham's principle research activities include the development of Coude spectrographs, introduction of the Schmidt camera in spectroscopy, studies of stellar atmospheres and interstellar material, studies of planetary atmospheres, development of photoelectric detectors for spectroscopy, and application of physical methods for research in medicine and surgery.

The Theodore Dunham, Jr. Papers (1921-1984) contain professional correspondence, research notes, published and unpublished works by Dunham and others, detailed photographs and oversize sketches of astronomical observations, and administrative details of the Mount Desert Island Astronomical Association and of a career-long association with the Fund for Astrophysical Research. Includes some medical research, but primarily contains astrophysical research conducted at Mount Wilson Observatory, California and Mount Stromlo Observatory, Australia.

The papers, 54 boxes, 27 lin. ft., are divided into eight series: Series I. Correspondence, 1927-1984, 17 boxes, 8.5 lin. ft.; Series II. Organizations, Foundations, Conferences, 1928-1984, 4 boxes, 2 lin. ft., Series III. Universities, Laboratories, Institutions, 1921-1983, 6 boxes, 3 lin. ft.; Series IV. Fund for Astrophysical Research, 1922-1984, 7 boxes, 3 lin. ft.; Series V. Works by Dunham, 1917-1981, 7 boxes, 3.5 lin. ft.; Series VI. Works by Others, 1910-1981, 2 boxes, 1 lin. ft.; Series VII. Printed Materials, 1940-1983, 2 boxes, 1 lin. ft.; Series VIII. Graphics, undated, 11 boxes, 5 lin. ft.

Physical description

27 linear feet.

Provenance

Presented by Polly Dunham and accessioned, 1985.

• Harvard College Observatory
• Mount Desert Island Astronomical Association
• Mount Stromlo Observatory
• Mount Wilson Observatory.
• United States. Office of Naval Research
• United States. Office of Scientific Research and Development

• University of Tasmania

• Adams, Walter S. (Walter Sydney), 1876-1956
• Aller, L. H. (Lawrence Hugh), 1913-2003
• Appell, George N., 1926-2020
• Bok, Bart J. (Bart Jan), 1906-1983
• Dunham, Theodore J., 1897-1984
• Dunham, Wolcott B.
• Kron, Gerald E.
• Russell, Henry Norris, 1877-1957
• Struve, Otto, 1897-1963
• Thompson, Charles

• Astronomical spectroscopy.
• Astronomy.
• Astrophysics.
• Interstellar matter
• Learned institutions and societies -- Australia.
• Mars (Planet)
• Optical instruments
• Planets--Atmospheres
• Spectrograph
• Spectrophotometry
• Stars--Atmospheres
• Telescopes
• Venus (Planet)