Sky & Telescope - April 2025 - 31

Indeed, by that time, many of the new society's other officers
and members had private observatories and telescopes.
Among the largest was the 9-inch f/12 refractor owned by
dedicated variable-star observer Henry M. Parkhurst, who
quickly responded to Pickering's 1882 request for observations.
Another serious amateur was Brooklyn AAS treasurer
Arthur C. Perry, who designed and distributed star maps for
other variable-star observers for decades (including ultimately
for the American Association of Variable Star Observers after
it was founded in 1911).
Many of the Brooklyn AAS's core members had some
long-standing professional connection to astronomy, either as
commercial makers of astronomical and surveying instruments
or as academics in the area's private schools and
colleges. Still others wrote regularly on astronomy for wellknown
publications (notably George M. Hopkins for Scientific
American and Garrett P. Serviss for The Sun in New York City).
Last, most AAS core members were prominent Brooklyn
residents who had political and cultural ambitions for their
city. Until 1898, the term " New York City " referred only to
the island of Manhattan. Nearby Brooklyn was one of four
neighboring jurisdictions (later becoming " boroughs " of the
consolidated city), each with its own identity. Indeed, Brooklyn
was a wealthy, fast-growing manufacturing center that
aspired to become a major cultural center and was rapidly
establishing elite schools, colleges, and museums.
Amateurs Versus Professionals
During its inaugural five years, the Brooklyn AAS met the
first Monday evening of each month from October through
June. Because the group had no dedicated meeting space, it
was a movable feast. Each month AAS secretary Serviss sent
members a postcard informing them of the current month's
venue, which rotated among several Brooklyn educational
institutions or members' homes. Newspaper reporters were
always invited.
From the outset, the Brooklyn AAS's constitution specified
three classes of membership: active, associate, and corresponding.
Active members were " those who are engaged
in the actual study of astronomy, theoretic or practical. "
Associate members were those simply " interested in advancing
the science of astronomy. " Dues for both were $5 per year
(equivalent to more than $150 today), but only active members
were eligible for office. By 1885, there were 50 active and
associate members, including seven women (see the sidebar
on page 29).
Corresponding members, exempt from dues, were invited
professional astronomical practitioners who consented to
have some connection with the group. One eminent early
supporter was Princeton solar astronomer Charles A. Young,
who attended several meetings. Others included such
luminaries as Harvard's Pickering, Lick Observatory founding
director Edward S. Holden, and U.S. Naval Observatory
astronomer Asaph Hall (famous for discovering the two small
moons of Mars).
Careers and Telescopes of
Brooklyn AAS Members (as of 1885)
Name
Stephen Van Culen White*
Henry M. Parkhurst*
William T. Gregg*
William T. Gregg, Jr.*
Charles E. West*
Darwin G. Eaton*
Asahel K. Eaton*
Gardner D. Hiscox*
Rev. Dr. John M. Ferris*
George D. Mackay*
Arthur C. Perry*
Garrett P. Serviss*
Wallace Goold Levison*
George M. Hopkins*
William C. Peckham*
D. W. Edgecomb
William Meikleham
John A. Eadie
Profession
stockbroker; NY
Congressman
court reporter for
NY Supreme Court
telescope maker
(father)
telescope maker
(son)
principal of private
girls' school
professor at Packer
Collegiate Institute
telescope/
microscope maker
professional
mechanical
engineer
pastor and
missionary
New York banker
(not known)
popular astronomy
writer/lecturer
professor at
Cooper Union
editor for Scientific
American
professor of math
and sciences at
Adelphi Academy
lawyer
VP of New York
Life and Trust Co.
(not known)
* Founding member of Brooklyn AAS
** Instrument housed in an observatory
CELESTIAL STATUS Of the AAS's members as of 1885, 14 owned
telescopes, many predating the group's 1883 formation. Four were dedicated
to specific observing programs or optical testing; the others were
used for education, public outreach, or personal enjoyment.
sk yand tele scope .o r g * APRIL 2025 31
Telescope
12-inch Fitz/
Clark refractor**
9-inch Fitz/Gregg
refractor**
6¼-inch refractor
" of my own
make " **
-
6¼-inch Byrne/
Gregg refractor**
61/8
-inch Fitz
refractor (at
Packer)**
was building a
6-inch refractor
in 1882
6-inch self-made
reflector
5-inch Clark
refractor**
4½-inch
refractor
4-inch refractor
3¾-inch Byrne
refractor
-
3-inch refractor
planning a
telescope for the
Academy
9.4-inch Clark/
Young refractor**
4.3-inch Byrne
refractor**
3¼-inch Byrne
refractor
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