Finding Aid
Submit Reference Request Print Download PDF

Reference Request

* required
Please succinctly provide us with any information pertinent to your inquiry. If you are writing to us about a research request, provide as much detail as possible about the collections in which you are interested (including collection numbers, box numbers, and folder titles).
(if known)

The Smithsonian Institution Archives is using Constant Contact, a third-party contact management software vendor, to manage contacts and send eNewsletters. Please be advised that Constant Contact's Privacy Statement and Terms and Conditions apply to your use of these services. The Smithsonian Institution Archives has access to your name and email address which is subject to our privacy statement.

Finding Aids to Personal Papers and Special Collections in the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 7003

Langley, S. P. (Samuel Pierpont), 1834-1906

Samuel P. Langley Papers, 1866-1906, 1909, 1914, 1942
Repository: Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator: Langley, S. P. (Samuel Pierpont), 1834-1906
Title: Samuel P. Langley Papers
Dates: 1866-1906, 1909, 1914, 1942
Quantity: 19.67 cu. ft. (22 document boxes) (2 half document boxes) (11 12x17 boxes) (4 16x20 boxes) (8 microfilm reels) (6 oversize folders)
Collection: Record Unit 7003
Language of Materials: English
Summary:

These papers document important aspects of Langley's scientific and administrative career. Most of the material documents the progress of his aeronautical research from his first flying model of 1891 through the failure of his Aerodrome A of 1903. Also, information files housed in the National Air and Space Museum Library include secondary accounts and photographs relating to Langley's aeronautical studies. Related materials in the NASM Library include the Stephen M. Balzer papers, 1898-1902, which consist of correspondence with Langley and his associate, Charles M. Manly, regarding Balzer's aerodrome engines.

Descriptive Entry

Samuel P. Langley (1834-1906) was the third Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Apparently, many of Langley's papers were accidentally burned after his death. Langley papers in the Smithsonian are housed in the Smithsonian Archives and the National Air and Space Museum (NASM). The Allegheny Observatory holds papers from Langley's years there, from which copies of Langley's correspondence, 1867-1887, have been made for this collection.

These papers document important aspects of Langley's scientific and administrative career. Most of the material documents the progress of his aeronautical research from his first flying model of 1891 through the failure of his Aerodrome A of 1903. Also, information files housed in the National Air and Space Museum Library include secondary accounts and photographs relating to Langley's aeronautical studies. Related materials in the NASM Library include the Stephen M. Balzer papers, 1898-1902, which consist of correspondence with Langley and his associate, Charles M. Manly, regarding Balzer's aerodrome engines.

Materials in this collection consist of publications, including a bound collection of writings, and original manuscripts of many of Langley's publications, 1869-1905; diaries and shorthand notebooks, mostly kept by Langley's secretary, 1889-1905; bolograph curve and line spectrum readings; microfilm and photocopies of Langley's outgoing correspondence from the Allegheny Observatory, 1867-1887; astrophysical research correspondence; scrapbooks, 1890-1903; aeronautical research, including correspondence, wastebooks, and notes of Langley and Manly and their assistants, E. C. Huffaker, L. C. Maltby, B. L. Rhinehart, and R. L. Reed; and oversize aerodrome drawings and bolometer readings.

Top of Page

This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.

Name

Subject

Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection

Top of Page

Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7003, Samuel P. Langley Papers

Top of Page

Container List

Box 1

Folder 1 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, [Volume 4], 1891-1901:

Box 1 of 39
Table of Contents
116. "Experiences d'Aerodynamique," Revue de l'Aeronautique, Paris, 1891
117. "Smithsonian Standards for Physical Apparatus," letter to the editor of Nature, December 31, 1891, p. 197
118. Address at the Celebration of the Beginning of the Second Century of the American Patent System, Washington, D.C., April 8-9, 1891, published by the Executive Committee, 1892
119. "Mechanical Flight," The Cosmopolitan, May 1892, pp. 55-58
120. "The Internal Work of the Wind," Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, Number 884, Washington, D.C., 1893

Folder 2 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, [Volume 4], 1891-1901:

Box 1 of 39
121. "Le Travail Interieur du Vent," Revue de l'Aeronautique, Paris, 1893
122. "The Meterological Work of the Smithsonian Institution," extract from the papers of the Chicago Meteorological Congress, August 1893
123. "The Internal Work of the Wind," from the American Journal of Science, Volume XLVII, January 1894
124. "Mr. Langley's Recent Progress in Bolometer Work at the Smithsonian Astro-physical Observatory," abstract of a communication made to the Philosophical Society of Washington, May 27, 1893, Astronomy and Astro-physics, January 1894
125. "The Meteorological Work of the Smithsonian Institution," abstract prepared for the Chicago Congress of Meteorology, The American Meteorological Journal, January 1894
126. "On the Recent Solar Spectrum Work at the Smithsonian Observatory," abstract of a paper read to the National Academy of Sciences, April 18, 1894, from Le memorie della Societa degli spettroscopisti italiani, Volume XXIII, 1894
127. "On Recent Researches in the Infra-red Spectrum, Read to Section A of the British Association, at the Oxford Meeting, on August 11, 1894," Nature, November 1, 1894, pp. 12-16
128. "On Recent Researches in the Infra-red Spectrum," from the Report of the Oxford Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1894
129. "Nouvelles recherches sur la infra-rouge du spectre solaire," Comptes rendus des Seances de l'Academie des Sciences, Paris, Volume CXIX, Number 7, 13 August 1894
130. "Nouvelles recherches sur la region infra-rouge du spectre solaire," Comptes rendus des Seances de l'Academie des Sciences, Volume CXIX, 13 August 1894
131. Obituary notice of Montgomery Cunningham Meigs, read before the Society, March 26, 1891, Philosophical Society of Washington Bulletin, Volume XIII, March 1895
132. "More Recent Observations in the Infra-red Spectrum," summary of a paper read before the Philosophical Society of Washington, April 11, 1896, Science, Volume III, Number 69, April 24, 1896
133. "Description du vol mecanique," Institut de France, Comptes rendus des Seances de l'Academie des Sciences, Volume CXXII, 26 May 1896

Folder 3 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, [Volume 4], 1891-1901:

Box 1 of 39
134. "A Successful Trial of the Aerodrome," Science, Friday, May 22, 1896, p. 753
135. "Experiments in Mechanical Flight," Nature, May 28, 1896, p. 80
136. "L'Aeroplane de M. Samuel Pierpont Langley," L'Aeronaute, 29e Annee, Number 7, July 1896
137. Biographical Sketch of William Crawford Winlock, Astronomische Nachrichten, Number 3401, December 8, 1896
138. George Brown Goode biographical notice, reprinted from Science, Volume IV, November 6, 1896, pp. 661-668
139. Biographical Sketch of William Crawford Winlock, Popular Astronomy, January 1897, pp. 351-352
140. Memoir of George Brown Goode, 1851-1896, read before the National Academy, April 21, 1897
141. "The New Flying Machine," The Strand Magazine, Volume IX, Number 2, June 1897, pp. 701-718
142. "The 'Flying Machine'," McClure's Magazine, June 1897, pp. 647-660
143. "George Brown Goode," Science, Volume 5, Number 114, March 5, 1897, pp. 369-372
144. "The Bolometer," from the American Journal of Science, Volume V, April 1898, pp. 241-245
145. "The Bolometer," reprinted from the American Journal of Science, April 1898, Nature, April 28, 1898
146. "The Structure of the Inner Corona," letter to the editor of Nature, March 8, 1900, p. 443
147. "A Preliminary Account of the Solar Eclipse of May 28, 1900, as Observed by the Smithsonian Expedition," Science, June 22, 1900, pp. 974-980
148. "A Preliminary Account of the Solar Eclipse of May 28, 1900, as Observed by the Smithsonian Expedition," The Popular Science Monthly, July 1900, pp. 302-309
149. "The Total Solar Eclipse as Observed by the Smithsonian Expedition," Nature, July 12, 1900, pp. 246-248

Folder 4 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, [Volume 4], 1891-1901:

Box 1 of 39
150. Annals of the Astrophysical Observatory of the Smithsonian Institution, Volume I

Folder 5 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, [Volume 4], 1891-1901:

Box 1 of 39
151. "Note on the Aerodrome of Mr. Langley," prepared for the Conversazione of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, 1901
152. "The New Spectrum," from the Philosophical Magazine for July 1901, abstract of a paper read before the National Academy of Science, April 18, 1901
153. "The Fire Walk Ceremony in Tahiti," letter to the editor of Nature, August 22, 1901, pp. 397-399
154. "The Children's Room at the Smithsonian," St. Nicholas, Volume XXVIII, Number 11, September 1901, pp. 963-964
155. "The New Spectrum," from the Smithsonian Report for 1900, pp. 683-692
156. "The Langley Aerodrome," from the Smithsonian Report for 1900, pp. 197-216
157. "A Preliminary Account of the Solar Eclipse of May 28, 1900, as Observed by the Smithsonian Expedition," from the Smithsonian Report for 1900, pp. 149-156
158. "Diary of a Voyage from San Francisco to Tahiti and Return, 1901," The National Geographic Magazine, December 1901, pp. 413-429
159. "The New Spectrum," reprinted from the American Journal of Science, Fourth Series, Volume XI, Number 66, June 1901
160. "On the Cheapest Form of Light," Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Number 1258, 1901

Box 2

Folder 1 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, Volume 5, 1897-1905:

Box 2 of 39
Table of Contents
161. "James Smithson," from The Smithsonian Institution: The History of its First Half Century, pp. 1-24
162. "The Benefactors," from The Smithsonian Institution: The History of its First Half Century, pp. 235-246
163. "The Astrophysical Observatory," from The Smithsonian Institution: The History of its First Half Century, pp. 419-442

Folder 2 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, Volume 5, 1897-1905:

Box 2 of 39
164. "Report on the Astrophysical Observatory," Senate Document Number 20, 57th Congress, 1st Session, 1901

Folder 3 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, Volume 5, 1897-1905:

Box 2 of 39
165. Annals of the Astrophysical Observatory, Volume I, reprinted from Senate Document Number 20

Folder 4 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, Volume 5, 1897-1905:

Box 2 of 39
166. "Memoir of George Brown Goode, 1851-1896," from the Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume IV, pp. 145-174
167. Annals of the Astrophysical Observatory, Volume I, reprinted from the Monthly Weather Review for May 1902
168. "The Fire Walk Ceremony in Tahiti," Smithsonian Publication Number 1348
169. "The Laws of Nature," Smithsonian Publication Number 1349
170. "The Laws of Nature," reprinted from Science, Volume XV, Number 369, June 13, 1902, pp. 921-927
171. "The Greatest Flying Creature: Introducing a Paper on the Pterodactyl Ornithostoma," by F. A. Lucas, Smithsonian Publication Number 1358
172. "Notes on the Fire-Ordeal: Professor Langley's Narrative; its differentiation from others," from Realization for July-August 1902, Volume II, Number 4, pp. 113-119
173. "In Memory of John Wesley Powell," reprinted from Science, Volume XVI, Number 411, November 14, 1902, pp. 782-790

Folder 5 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, Volume 5, 1897-1905:

Box 2 of 39
[Items 174-175 removed to box 39, folder 6-7]
176. "Good Seeing," from the American Journal of Science, Volume XV, February 1903
177. "The 'Solar Constant' and Related Problems," from the Astrophysical Journal, Volume XVII, Number 2, March 1903, pp. 89-99
178. "The 'Solar Constant' and Related Problems," reprinted from the Astrophysical Journal, Volume XVII, Number 2, March 1903, University of Chicago Press
179. "Powell as a Man, from the Proceedings of a Meeting Commemorative of his Distinguished Services," Proceedings of the Washington Academy of Sciences, Volume V, July 18, 1903, pp. 99-187
180. "Good Seeing," Smithsonian Publication Number 1385
181. "The Scientific Work of the Government," from Scribner's Magazine, New York, Volume XXXV, Number 1, January 1904
182. "James Smithson," reprinted from The Smithsonian Institution, 1846-1896: The History of its First Half Century

Folder 6 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, Volume 5, 1897-1905:

Box 2 of 39
183. "The 1900 Solar Eclipse Expedition of the Astrophysical Observatory of the Smithsonian Institution," Smithsonian Publication Number 1439
184. "A Method of Avoiding Personal Equation in Transit Observations," Smithsonian Publication Number 1446, reprinted from Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections (Quarterly Issue), Volume 45
185. "The Removal of the Remains of James Smithson," Smithsonian Publication Number 1449, reprinted from Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections (Quarterly Issue), Volume 45
186. "The Exhibit of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory," printed for distribution at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
187. "On a Possible Variation of the Solar Radiation and Its Probable Effect on Terrestrial Temperatures," from The Astrophysical Journal, Volume XIX, Number 5, June 1904
188. "On the Possible Variation of the Solar Radiation and Its Probable Effect on Terrestrial Temperatures," reprinted from The Astrophysical Journal, Volume XIX, Number 5, June 1904
189. "On the Comparative Luminosity and Total Radiation of the Solar Corona," reprinted from The Astrophysical Journal, Volume XXI, Number 2, March 1905
190. "Experiments with the Langley Aerodrome," Smithsonian Publication Number 1597

Box 3

Folder 1 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, Volume 3, 1888-1891:

Box 3 of 39
Table of Contents
105. "The History of a Doctrine," address by S. P. Langley, President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; delivered at the Cleveland meeting, August 1888
106. "The Temperature of the Moon, from Studies at the Allegheny Observatory by S. P. Langley, with the Assistance of F. W. Very," from the American Journal of Science, Volume XXXVIII, December 1889
107. "The Solar and Lunar Spectrum," National Academy of Sciences, Volume IV, Second Memoir
108. "The Temperature of the Moon, from Researches Made at the Allegheny Observatory by S. P. Langley, Assisted by J. W. Very," read November 1887, National Academy of Sciences, Volume IV, Part 2, Third Memoir

Folder 2 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, Volume 3, 1888-1891:

Box 3 of 39
109. "The Temperature of the Moon," by S. P. Langley, read November 1887, National Academy of Sciences, Volume IV, Ninth Memoir
110. "On the Observation of Sudden Phenomena," by S. P. Langley, Philosophical Society of Washington Bulletin, Volume XI, pp. 41-50
111. "On the Observation of Sudden Phenomena," by S. P. Langley, from the American Journal of Science, Volume XXXVIII, August 1889
112. "On the Cheapest Form of Light, from Studies at the Allegheny Observatory," by S. P. Langley and F. W. Very
113. "Recherches experimentales aerodynamiques donnees d'experience," Comptes rendus des Seances de l'Academie des Sciences, Volume CXIII, 13 July 1891

Folder 3 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, Volume 3, 1888-1891:

Box 3 of 39
114. "Experiments in Aerodynamics," Smithsonian Contributions to Science, Volume XXVII, 1891
115. "The Possibility of Mechanical Flight"

Box 4

Folder 1 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley - Reports, Volume 6, 1888-1905:

Box 4 of 39
Table of Contents
Report of Samuel P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year 1887-1888
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1889

Folder 2 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley - Reports, Volume 6, 1888-1905:

Box 4 of 39
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1890
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1891
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1892

Folder 3 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley - Reports, Volume 6, 1888-1905:

Box 4 of 39
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1893
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1894
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1895

Folder 4 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley - Reports, Volume 6, 1888-1905:

Box 4 of 39
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1896
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1897
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1898

Folder 5 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley - Reports, Volume 6, 1888-1905:

Box 4 of 39
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1899
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1900

Folder 6 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley - Reports, Volume 6, 1888-1905

Box 4 of 39
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1901
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1902

Folder 7 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley - Reports, Volume 6, 1888-1905

Box 4 of 39
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1903
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1904
Report of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Year Ending June 30, 1905

Box 5

Folder 1 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, 1869-1882

Box 5 of 39

Folder 2 1900 Solar Eclipse Expedition of APO [Astrophysical Observatory], 1904

Box 5 of 39

Folder 3 Total Solar Eclipse of July 29, 1878, Observations at Pike's Peak, Colorado, and Experiments in Aerodynamics by Samuel P. Langley, 1891

Box 5 of 39

Folder 4 The Internal Work of the Wind, by Samuel P. Langley, 1893

Box 5 of 39

Folder 5 Samuel P. Langley's Private Copy of Experiments in Aerodynamics, 1891

Box 5 of 39

Box 6

Folder 1 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, Volume 2, 1883-1889:

Box 6 of 39
69. "Note on the Transit of Venus, 1882," The Sidereal Messenger
70. "The Distribution of Solar Energy," Proceedings of the Society of Arts, Meeting 297
71. "The Selective Absorption of Solar Energy," from the American Journal of Science, Volume XXV, March 1883
72. Die auswahlende Absorption der Energie der Sonne," Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 1883
73. "Venus and the Transit of 1882," Science for All
74. "The Spectrum of an Argand Burner," Science
75. "Sur l'absorption selective de l'energie solaire"
76. "Astonishing results in late lunar researches," The Sidereal Messenger, August 1883
77. "A Vast Dust Envelope," The Sidereal Messenger, February 1884
78. Extract from the Annual Report of the Director, Allegheny Observatory, 1884
79. "Experimental Determination of Wave-lengths in the Invisible Prismatic Spectrum," from the American Journal of Science, Volume XXVII, March 1884
80. "Experimentelle Bestimmung der Wellenlangen im unsichtbaren prismatischen Spectrum," Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 1884
81. "Memoir on the Experimental Determination of Wave-lengths in the Invisible Prismatic Spectrum," a communication to the National Academy of Sciences, April 1883
82. "On the Amount of Atmospheric Absorption," from the American Journal of Science, Volume XXVIII, September 1884

Folder 2 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, Volume 2, 1883-1889:

Box 6 of 39
83. "Researches on Solar Heat and its Absorption by the Earth's Atmosphere: A Report on the Mount Whitney Expedition,"Professional Papers of the Signal Service, Number XV, 1884

Folder 3 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, Volume 2, 1883-1889:

Box 6 of 39
84. "The New Astronomy," Century Magazine, September 1884/December 1884
84. "Sunlight and the Earth's Atmosphere," Royal Institution of Great Britain, Weekly Evening Meeting, Friday, April 17, 1885
86. "Sunlight and the Earth's Atmosphere," Numbers I and II, Nature, May 7/14, 1885
87. Detroit Free Press, August 29, 1885
88. "On the Temperature of the Surface of the Moon, from Researches Made at the Allegheny Observatory"
89. "Transmission of Light by Wire Gauze Screens," from the American Journal of Science, Volume XXX, September 1885
90. "Observations on the Invisible Heat-spectra and the Recognition of Hitherto Unmeasured Wave-lengths Made at the Allegheny Observatory," from the Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Volume XXXIV
91. "Note on Optical Properties of Rock-salt," American Journal of Science, Volume XXX, December 1885
92. "Observations on Invisible Heat-spectra and the Recognition of Hitherto Unmeasured Wave-lengths Made at the Allegheny Observatory," from the American Journal of Science, Volume XXXI, January 1886
93. "The Temperature of the Moon," letter to the editor of Science, January 1, 1886
94. "Longueurs d'onde jusqu'ici non reconnues," Comptes rendus, January 18, 1886
95. "The Temperature of the Moon," letter to the editor of Science, January 22, 1886

Folder 4 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, Volume 2, 1883-1889:

Box 6 of 39
96. "On Hitherto Unrecognized Wave-lengths," Philosophical Magazine, August 1, 1886
97. "On Hitherto Unrecognized Wave-lengths," from the American Journal of Science, Volume XXXII, August 1886
98. "Pritchard's Wedge Thermometer," Investigations on Light and Heat
99. "Sur les spectres invisibles," Annales de chimie et physique, December 1886
100. "Sunlight colours," letter to the editor of Nature, May 26, 1887
101. Opening remarks of the President of the American Association, New York, 1887, Science, August 12, 1887
102. "Energy and Vision," from the American Journal of Science, Volume XXXVI, November 1888
103. "The Invisible Solar and Lunar Spectrum," American Journal of Science, Third Series, Volume XXXVI, Number 216, December 1888
104. "The History of a Doctrine," address by S. P. Langley, retiring President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Journal of Science, Volume XXXVII, January 1889

Box 7

Folder 1 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, Volume 1, 1869-1882:

Box 7 of 39
Table of Contents
1. "Of the total eclipse of August 7, 1869," report by Professor S. P. Langley of observations at Oakland, Kentucky
2. Allegheny Observatory, Proposal for regulating the clocks of railroads, December 1, 1869
3. "Recent discoveries in astronomy," report of the Teachers' Institute of Allegheny County, Tenth Annual Session, April 4-8, 1870
4. Letter concerning the eclipse of 1870, December 23, 1870, from the Journal of the Franklin Institute
5. "The American eclipse expedition, 1870," Nature, January 19, 1871
6. "A new form of solar eye-piece," from Mechanics, Physics, and Chenistry
7. "Reports of observations upon the total solar eclipse of December 22, 1870," Appendix Number 16 from the United States Coast Survey Report for 1870
8. Pittsburgh Gazette, April 27, 1872
9. "On the Allegheny System of Electric Time Signals," article XLIV from the American Journal of Science, Third Series, Volume IV, Number 23, November 1872
70. Pittsburgh Gazette, April 16, 1873
11. Report of the Director of the Allegheny Observatory to the Committee of the Board of the Western University of Pennsylvania, 1873
12. "The Solar Photosphere," from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Volume XXII
13. "A Spot of Unusual Magnitude and Brilliancy Visible," Pittsburgh Gazette, December 27, 1873
14. "On the minute structure of the solar photosphere," from the American Journal of Science and Arts, Volume VII, February 1874

Folder 2 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, Volume 1, 1869-1882:

Box 7 of 39
15. "Uniform railway time," from the American Exchange and Review, Volume XXIV, Number 5, January 1874
16. London Times
17. "Strange - if true," The College Journal, February 26, 1874
18. "The Sun," Pittsburgh Telegraph, April 22, 1874
19. Pittsburgh Gazette, July 17, 1874
20. "Coggia's comet," Pittsburgh Gazette, July 18, 1874
21. "The external aspects of the sun," Journal of the Franklin Institute, Volume LXVIII, Number 2, August 1874
22. "The photosphere and sunspots," The Popular Science Monthly, September 1874
23. "The transit of Venus," The Popular Science Monthly, December 1874
24. "Sources of solar heat," The New York Daily Tribune, March 10, 1875
25. "On the comparison of certain theories of solar structure with observation," from Memorie degli Spettoscopisti Italiani, Volume IV, December 29, 1874
26. "On the comparison of certain theories of solar structure with observation," with a plate, from the American Journal of Science and Arts, Volume IX, March 1875
27. "Sur la temperature relative des diverses regions du soleil, premiere partie: Les noyaux noirs des taches," Comptes rendus, March 22, 1875
28. "Sur la temperature relative des diverses regions du soleil, deuxieme partie: Region equatoriale et regions polaires," Comptes rendus, March 29, 1875
29. "Etude des radiations superficielles du soleil," Comptes rendus, September 6, 1875
30. "Man dependent on the solar atmosphere," in Science at Detroit Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
31. "The solar atmosphere," from the American Journal of Science and Arts, Volume X, 1875
32. New York Tribune, October 3, 1876
33. "Measurement of the direct effect of sun-spots on terrestrial climates," from the Astronomical Society's Monthly Notices, November 1876
34. New York Tribune, April 27, 1877
35. "The first 'popular scientific treatise,'" The Popular Science Monthly, 1877
36. "Nouvelle methode spectroscopique," Comptes rendus, May 21, 1877
37. "On the possibility of transit observations without personal error," from the American Journal of Science and Arts, Volume XIV, July 1877
38. "A proposed new method in solar spectrum analysis," from the American Journal of Science and Arts, Volume XIV, August 1877
39. "The electric time service," Harper's, April 1878
40. "New solar photographs," The Popular Science Monthly, April 1878
41. "On the Janssen solar photograph and optical studies," from the American Journal of Science and Arts, Volume XV, April 1878
42. "The other side: What Professor Langley says about the 'observatory time' contract," Pittsburgh Gazette, April 13, 1878
43. "Transit of Mercury of May 6th, 1878," from the American Journal of Science and Arts, Volume XV, June 1878
[Item 44 removed to box 39, folder 4]
"An Astronomical Letter," August 6, 1878
45. Pittsburgh Gazette, August 7, 1878
[Item 46 removed to box 39, folder 5]
47. "Observations at Pike's Peak, Colorado," October 1878
48. "On certain remarkable groups in the lower spectrum," Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, October 7, 1878
49. "Electric time service," from the Journal of the American Electrical Society, Volume II, Number 4, 1879

Folder 3 Collected Writings of Samuel P. Langley, Volume 1, 1869-1882:

Box 7 of 39
50. Pittsburgh Post, January 5, 1879
51. "The recent progress of solar physics," The Popular Science Monthly, November 1879
52. "Observations on Mount Etna," American Journal of Science, Volume XIX, July 1880
53. "Wintering on Aetna," Atlantic Monthly, July 1880
54. "The bolometer," Proceedings of the American Meteorological Society, December 23, 1880
55. "The bolometer and radiant energy," reprinted from the Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Volume XVI, 1881
56. "The Actinic balance," from the American Journal of Science, Third Series, Volume XXI, Number 123, March 1881
57. "Sur la distribution de l'energie dans le spectre solaire normal," Comptes rendus, March 21, 1881; "Sur la distribution de l'energie dans le spectre solaire normal," Comptes rendus, July 18, 1881
58. Annual report of the Director, Allegheny Observatory, 1882
59. "Observations on Mt. Whitney," The Penn Monthly, February 1882
60. "La distribution de l'energie dans le spectre normal"
61. Pittsburgh Dispatch, June 17, 1882
62. "The Mount Whitney expedition," Nature, August 3, 1882
63. "Observations du spectre solaire," Comptes rendus, September 11, 1882
64. "Sunlight and skylight at high altitudes," Nature, October 12, 1882
65. "Sunlight and skylight at high altitudes," from the American Journal of Science, Volume XXIV, November 1882
66. "Observation of the transit of Venus 1882, December 6, made at the Allegheny Observatory," reprinted from the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume XLIII, Number 3
67. Pittsburgh Dispatch, December 5, 1882
68. Letter to the editor of Astronomische Nachricten, concerning the transit of Venus 1882, December 6

Box 8

Photocopies of Letterpress Book from Allegheny Observatory, pages 1-352

Box 8 of 39

Box 9

Photocopies of Letterpress Book from Allegheny Observatory, pages 353-479

Box 9 of 39

Box 10

Miscellaneous correspondence, reports, articles and ephemera. Mostly concerns Langley's appointment as Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian in 1887, but also includes materials on his aerodynamics research.

Box 10 of 39

Notices and Reviews of Works by Langley

Box 10 of 39

Material relating to Langley as made available to Mr. White for preparation of his "tribute" published in Smithsonian publications

Box 10 of 39

Publications by Langley and List of Books Read by Langley

Box 10 of 39

Lecture on Air by Langley

Box 10 of 39

The Internal Work of the Wind by Langley

Box 10 of 39

Box 11

Publications and Articles (3 folders)

Box 11 of 39

Newspaper Clippings

Box 11 of 39

Publications and Articles (4 folders)

Box 11 of 39

Box 12

Publications and Articles (4 folders)

Box 12 of 39

Newspaper Clippings Concerning Langley

Box 12 of 39

Box 13

Program for Dinner given by the American Railway Guild in Honor of the Permanent Commission of the International Railway Congress, 1905

Box 13 of 39

Constitution and By-Laws of the Metropolitan Club, 1904

Box 13 of 39

Diary of "O & F" Work for Smithsonian, 1899

Box 13 of 39

Diary of "O & F" Work for Smithsonian, 1900

Box 13 of 39

Diary of "O & F" Work for Smithsonian, 1901-1902

Box 13 of 39

Box 14

Notebooks. Includes G. B. Wells, "O & F" Account, 1900; Address Book for Langley (kept by G. B. Wells), 1900; and Notebook of Expenses, 1900; Appointment Book, 1905.

Box 14 of 39

The Strollers Constitution and By-Laws

Box 14 of 39

Diary, 1889-1891

Box 14 of 39

Diary, 1891-1892

Box 14 of 39

Diary, 1893

Box 14 of 39

Diary, 1893-1894

Box 14 of 39

Diary, 1895

Box 14 of 39

Diary, 1900

Box 14 of 39

Box 15

Diary, 1893

Box 15 of 39

Diary, 1897

Box 15 of 39

Diary, 1899

Box 15 of 39

Diary, 1900

Box 15 of 39

Diary, 1898

Box 15 of 39

Box 16

Diary, 1901

Box 16 of 39

Diary, 1902

Box 16 of 39

Diary, 1903

Box 16 of 39

Diary, 1904

Box 16 of 39

Diary, 1905

Box 16 of 39

Box 17

Newspaper Clippings Regarding Langley's Death, 1906

Box 17 of 39

Correspondence, 1906. Some of these letters were written by Samuel P. Langley shortly before his death. Most correspondence is between John W. Langley with the Smithsonian concerning Langley's effects.

Box 17 of 39

Langley Memorial Remarks and Correspondence

Box 17 of 39

Langley Memorial Remarks and Lists of Invited Guests

Box 17 of 39

Box 18

Spectrum Reports, 1898 (4 folders)

Box 18 of 39

Box 19

Personal correspondence, 1889-1897

Box 19 of 39

Personal correspondence, 1890

Box 19 of 39

Personal correspondence, 1882-1898. Much of this concerns Langley's experiments.

Box 19 of 39

Personal correspondence, 1886-1889

Box 19 of 39

Correspondence concerning the Estate of William Thaw, 1891

Box 19 of 39

Personal correspondence, 1895. Copy book of outgoing correspondence.

Box 19 of 39

Account Book, 1888-1906

Box 19 of 39

Personal correspondence, 1866-1869

Box 19 of 39

Box 20

Outgoing correspondence, 1904-1906

Box 20 of 39

Outgoing correspondence, 1886-1893

Box 20 of 39

Outgoing correspondence, 1893-1900

Box 20 of 39

Box 21

Card Index of People Langley Knew (3 folders)

Box 21 of 39

Invitations to Langley Memorial

Box 21 of 39

Box 22

Unidentified Correspondence, 1889-1904

Box 22 of 39

Receipts and Experiment Charts. Appear to concern velocity and aerodynamic studies.

Box 22 of 39

Correspondence Regarding Solar Eclipse, January 1, 1889

Box 22 of 39

Private Letters on Samuel P. Langley Matters, 1906

Box 22 of 39

Box 23

Langley Bird Research and Aeronautics Correspondence and Notes

Box 23 of 39

Langley Correspondence in reference to Aerodrome

Box 23 of 39

Langley - Data on his Aerodrome (3 folders)

Box 23 of 39

Box 24

Solar Eclipse Images (3 folders)

Box 24 of 39

Smithsonian Institution Fire (1865). Annotated envelope.

Box 24 of 39

Article on Aeronautics by O. Chanute

Box 24 of 39

1900 Solar Eclipse Expedition of the Astrophysical Observatory, 1904

Box 24 of 39

The Astrophysical Observatory by Samuel Langley, 1897

Box 24 of 39

Box 25

Yearly Time Book - Aerodrome Work, 1902

Box 25 of 39

Yearly Time Book - Aerodrome Work, 1903

Box 25 of 39

Notes and Correspondence Regarding Aerodrome Work

Box 25 of 39

Scrapbook Containing a Summary of Principal Events relating to Langley's Aerodromic Work in the Order of Dates Beginning with 1897

Box 25 of 39

Associations to which Langley Belonged

Box 25 of 39

Receipts for Letters Sent by the Secretary

Box 25 of 39

Box 26

Letters about Langley's Illness

Box 26 of 39

Letters Regarding Cyrus Adler's Biographical Sketch of Langley

Box 26 of 39

Langley's Memoirs (incomplete)

Box 26 of 39

Langley Biography

Box 26 of 39

Newspaper Clippings. Includes photographic portrait of Langley.

Box 26 of 39

Time-Service Matter

Box 26 of 39

Publication of New Astronomy

Box 26 of 39

Letters to Langley

Box 26 of 39

Cyrus Adler Correspondence Regarding Langley

Box 26 of 39

Subscriptions for Langley Portrait

Box 26 of 39

Box 27

Photocopies of Allegheny Observatory Letterpress Book, pages 329-479

Box 27 of 39

Box 28

Photocopies of Allegheny Observatory Letterpress Book, Volume I, pages 1-328

Box 28 of 39

Box 29

Photocopies of Allegheny Observatory Letterpress Book, Volume I, c. 1887-1891

Box 29 of 39

Box 30

Photocopies of Allegheny Observatory Letterpress Book, Volume II, c. 1884-1898

Box 30 of 39

Box 31

Photocopies of Allegheny Observatory Letterpress Book, Volume III, pages 2-417

Box 31 of 39

Box 32

Photocopies of Allegheny Observatory Letterpress Book, Volume II, c. 1885-1887

Box 32 of 39

Box 33

Photocopies of Allegheny Observatory Letterpress Book, Volume III, c. 1886-1887

Box 33 of 39

Box 34

Drawings and Tables Regarding Pressure Recorder

Box 34 of 39

Box 35

Langley Correspondence, 1895-1897 (Accession 91-008)

Box 35 of 39

Huffaker's Report on Whirling Table, 1895

Box 35 of 39

Experiments on Soaring Speed

Box 35 of 39

Drawing of Langley Aerodrome

Box 35 of 39

Box 36

Langley Aerodrome Photographs

Box 36 of 39

Eclipse Photographs, Wadesboro, North Carolina, May 28, 1900

Box 36 of 39

Allegheny Observatory Photographs

Box 36 of 39

Box 37

"Wastebook" (5-512). Contains photographs (signed by T. W. [Thomas William] Smillie) and technical descriptions of Aerodromes.

Box 37 of 39

Box 38

Wind Tunnel Data from Allegheny Observatory, 1888-1890

Box 38 of 39

Wind Tunnel Data Disks, 1888

Box 38 of 39

Wind Velocity Tests, c. 1890

Box 38 of 39

Box 39

Folder 1 Scientific American, Volume XC, Number 10, March 5, 1904 [removed from box 10, folder 5]

Box 39 of 39

Folder 2 Harper's Weekly, August 13, 1887, pp. 581-584 [removed from box 10, folder 1]

Box 39 of 39

Folder 3 Aerodrome Diagram [removed from box 25, folder 3]

Box 39 of 39

Folder 4 44. Scientific American, July 20, 1878, pp. 33-34, 49-50; Scientific American, Volume XXXIX, Number 6, August 10, 1878, pp. 79-82 [removed from box 7, folder 2]

Box 39 of 39

Folder 5 46. Scientific American, October 19, 1878, pp. 241-244 [removed from box 7, folder 2]

Box 39 of 39

Folder 6 174. "The Langley Aerodrome," note prepared for the Conversazione of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, New York City, April 12, 1901, from Scientific American, Supplement, Volume LIV, Number 1404, November 29, 1902 [removed from box 2, folder 5]

Box 39 of 39

Folder 7 175. "The Langley Aerodrome," from Scientific American, Supplement, Volume LIV, Number 1405, December 6, 1902 [removed from box 2, folder 5]

Box 39 of 39

Folder 8 Newspaper Clippings, 1903-1904, 1909 [removed from box 11, folder 4]

Box 39 of 39

Folder 9 "Langley Aeroplane, Ten Years, Buried, Flies; May Contest Wright Priority," New York Herald, May 29, 1914 [removed from box 11]

Box 39 of 39
Oversize

Folder 1 Propeller Hub Technical Drawing

Oversize
Balloon Experiment Drawing
O&F Account Cyanotype
Aerodrome Exhibition Poster

Folder 2 Placard Describing Langley's Aircraft (possibly used in an exhibit)

Oversize
Mechanical Drawings (4 on linen, 1 cyanotype, 1 paper)
Chalk Drawing of Sun/Eclipse/Solar Corona (possibly by Langley)
Gouache Drawings of Sunspots (?)
"Official Secretarial Portrait (photographic) of Langley"

Folder 3 Charts Showing Location of Houseboat, Flight Paths

Oversize

Folder 4 "Lunar Halo and Meteor Observed at Fort Dodge, Iowa," January 20, 1885

Oversize
"Configuration of the Heavens at the Death of President James A. Garfield," September 19, 1881
"Nativity Chart of James A. Garfield" and "Configuration of the Heavens at the Birth of Howard B. Hess," 1882

Folder 5 "Annual Eclipse of the Sun," June 15, 1885

Oversize

Folder 6 "Graphs on Linen Draft Paper - Plate II," c. 1880s

Oversize

Folder 7 "Sifting Train," 1888

Oversize

Folder 8 Diagram of Screen Used in Spectrometer - "Energy and Vision"

Oversize

Folder 9 "Birthplace of the Airplane in Washington," The Sunday Star, August 30, 1942 [removed from box 11, folder 4]

Oversize

Folder 10 "Will Read Our Future in Sun Spots," The World, March 15, 1903 [removed from box 11, folder 4]

Oversize

Folder 11 "Curtiss Flies in Langley's Airship," The Washington Times, May 28, 1914 [removed from box 11, folder 4]

Oversize

Folder 12 "Langley's Progress Towards Human Flight," The Philadelphia Press, December 13, 1896 [removed from box 11, folder 4]

Oversize

Top of Page