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TABLE OF CONTENTS


Descriptive Summary

Biographical Note

Scope and Contents

Restrictions

Administrative Information

Description of Series

Inventory

University of Texas, Center for American History

A Guide to the David S. Evans Papers



Descriptive Summary

Creator:Evans, David S.
Title:David S. Evans Papers
Dates:ca. 1940s - 2004
Abstract:Professional papers of University of Texas astronomy professor Dr. David S. Evans.
Extent3.5 ft.
Language Materials are in English.
RepositoryCenter for American History, The University of Texas at Austin

Biographical Note

Dr. David Stanley Evans was born in Wales in 1916, and earned his B.A. in mathematics from Kings College, Cambridge. He was one of Sir Arthur Eddington's students at Cambridge Observatory and earned his Ph.D. in 1941. As a conscientious objector during World War II, Evans worked with Kurt Mendelssohn on medical research during the war years, as well as serving as editor of The Observatory and scientific editor of Discovery.

Evans left England in 1946 to work at Radcliffe Observatory in Pretoria, South Africa. Among his many accomplishments was his work using lunar occultations to measure stellar angular diameters. In 1968 he moved to the University of Texas at Austin to become professor of astronomy and associate director of the UT McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis, Texas. Over the next 20 years he worked with students and others to produce the major part of the angular diameters of late-type stars. Evans also collaborated in the writing of Herschel at the Cape and made important observations involving gravitational deflections in star light as it passed near the sun during a solar eclipse in 1973. The latter formed the basis of his unpublished manuscript Harlan's Globetrotters: The Story of an Eclipse which is found in these papers.

Evans retired from the University of Texas in 1986 but remained active in his field. He was author of eight books including Teach Yourself Astronomy(1966), an introduction to astronomy which inspired many young astronomers to pursue a career in the field. Evans died in Austin on November 14, 2004.

[from the UT General Faculty memorial resolution honoring Evans, June 28, 2005]

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Scope and Contents

Includes material related to the University of Texas Astronomy Department, faculty members, McDonald Observatory, Lacaille, Asaph Hall, Haley's Comet, Cape Town, South Africa. Types of material include correspondence, photographs, transparencies, and publications.

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Restrictions

Restriction

This collection is stored remotely. Advance notice required for retrieval.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

David S. Evans Papers, Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Inventory

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2007-137/1Papers, ca. 1940s-2004
box
2007-137/2Papers, ca. 1940s-2004
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2007-137/3Papers, ca. 1940s-2004
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2007-137/4Papers, ca. 1940s-2004

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