National Anthropological Archives

Portraits of Samuel Pierpont Langley, circa 1890-1906

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.PhotoLot.73-26E
Dates:
circa 1890-1906
Languages:
Undetermined
.
Physical Description:
5 Negatives
glass
Repository:

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
Portraits of Samuel Pierpont Langley, probably made by a Smithsonian photographer.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
Samuel Pierpont Langley (1834-1906) was an astronomer, physicist, and inventor and served as secretary of the Smithsonian from 1887-1906. Born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, Langley graduated from Boston High School in 1851 and sought a career in astronomy. After touring observatories and laboratories in Europe, he was hired as an assistant at the Harvard Observatory. Over the next two decades, Langley worked to reestablish the US Naval Academy Observatory, taught at the Western University of Pennsylvania, and acted as director of the Allegheny Observatory. In 1886, Langley was appointed the Smithsonian's assistant secretary in charge of international exchanges, the library, and publications, under then-secretary Spencer Fullerton Baird. Upon Baird's death, Langley succeeded him as secretary. During his tenure, Langley helped establish the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, National Zoo, and Freer Gallery of Art.

Administration

Author
Sarah Ganderup
Custodial History note
Transferred from the Smithsonian's central photographic laboratory in 1973.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Conditions Governing Use note
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Preferred Citation note
Photo lot 73-26E, Portraits of Samuel Pierpont Langley, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Location of Other Archival Materials

Location of Other Archival Materials
The Smithsonian Institution Archives holds records relating to Langley's time at the Smithsonian as well as the Samuel P. Langley papers (SIA RU007003).
Location of Other Archival Materials
Additional photographs of Langley held by the National Anthropological Archives can be found in Photo Lot 70 and Photo Lot 99-41.

More Information

Local Call Number(s)

Local Call Number(s)
NAA Photo Lot 73-26E


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Langley, S. P. (Samuel Pierpont), 1834-1906 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

National Anthropological Archives
Museum Support Center
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Suitland, Maryland 20746
naa@si.edu