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[1.06] Using History to Teach Astronomy: The U.S. in the mid-19th Century

M. Rothenberg (Smithsonian Institution)

In the mid-nineteenth century, astronomy was usually a required subject for American college students and a popular subject for general lecturers and science writers. Professors, lecturers and writers frequently used the history of astronomy as a vehicle in their efforts to educate students and the general public about the science. This paper will explore the use of history to teach astronomy, focusing on the efforts of Denison Olmsted (1791-1859), meteor shower observer, professor at Yale, author of numerous text books and popular expositions, and lecturer.

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