Smithsonian Institution Archives

Robert Stanton Avery Papers, 1855-1894

Summary
image
Tidal calculations document [Image no. SIA2012-1121]
Collection ID:
SIA.FARU7068
Creators:
Avery, Robert Stanton, 1808-1894
Dates:
1855-1894
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
2.93 cu. ft. (2 record storage boxes) (1 document box) (1 12x17 box) (1 oversize folder)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives
Introduction
Introduction
This finding aid was digitized with funds generously provided by the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.
Descriptive Entry
Descriptive Entry
These papers consist of correspondence with members of the United States Coast Survey chiefly concerning tide gauges; descriptions and drawings of working parts of clocks and tide gauges; mathematical equations and tables; records of data connected with Coast Survey work; office notes and vouchers; drafts for articles written and collected by Avery; USCS mathematical and scientific publications; and Avery's phonetic alphabet primers. Also included is correspondence concerning a proposal to print Avery's primers in Great Britain and an obituary of Avery.
Notations within the papers are frequently done in stenography. Knowledge of stenography will be helpful in understanding this material. Correspondents include: Robert Stanton Avery, Alexander Dallas Bache, John Batchelder, Thomas Craig, Julius Erasmus Hilgard, Samuel P. Langley, Macmillan & Co., Levi W. Meech, Benjamin Peirce, Charles Anthony Schott, William Wesley and Son, and B. Westermann & Co.
Historical Note
Historical Note
Robert Stanton Avery (1808-1894) graduated from Harvard Divinity School in 1846, but soon turned his attention to mathematics and its application to the physical sciences. Avery taught school in the South, and in 1853 joined the United States Coast Survey (USCS) where he became chief of the Tidal Division. His duties included receiving observer reports taken from tide gauges established on the coasts of the United States and computing tide estimates based on the data received. When Avery retired from the USCS in 1885, he devoted his remaining years to the development of the techniques of phonetic spelling.
Administration
Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives
Using the Collection
Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7068, Robert Stanton Avery Papers
More Information
Notes
Personal Papers
Keywords
Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Avery, Robert Stanton, 1808-1894 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bache, A. D. (Alexander Dallas), 1806-1867 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bachelder, John, 1791-1871 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Craig, Thomas, 1855-1900 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hilgard, J. E. (Julius Erasmus), 1825-1891 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Langley, S. P. (Samuel Pierpont), 1834-1906 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Meech, Levi W. (Levi Witter) Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Peirce, Benjamin, 1809-1880 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Schott, Charles A. (Charles Anthony), 1826-1901 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Harvard Divinity School Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States Coast Survey Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Macmillan & Co. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
William Wesley and Son Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
B. Westermann & Co. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mathematics Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tide-waters Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drawings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Repository Contact
Smithsonian Institution Archives
Washington, D.C.
Contact us at osiaref@si.edu