Early 20th-Century Women Computers at the Smithsonian

Early 20th-Century Women Computers at the Smithsonian

This post originally appeared on the
Smithsonian Institution Archives’ blog.
Nell MacCarty’s internship was part of the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives’ 50th Anniversary Internship program, with funding provided by the Secretary of the Smithsonian and the Smithsonian National Board.
Some of the earliest women in science at the Smithsonian Institution worked for the
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
(SAO). These women, often called computers, contributed immensely to SAO’s research by performing mathematical calculations on solar observations collected around the world. Through their mathematical prowess, these women greatly contributed to solar research.
SAO Staff, including Nancy Prichard, then referenced to as Miss McCandlish, and Gladys T. Bond, referred to as Mrs. Bond, 1941, by Earl S Johnston, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7005, Image no. 94-4430.
The earliest women computers worked with the astrophysicist
Charles G. Abbot
, fifth Smithsonian Secretary and director of SAO. Abbot adamantly believed variation in solar radiation caused the weather. Under this theory, Abbot thought trends in solar radiation could be used for long-term forecasting. Women computers contributed to the mathematical analysis to prove his theories. However, many scientists historically disputed SAO’s solar research and today, Abbot’s theories are considered mostly erroneous. Despite this, the work of these women still contributed to astrophysicists’ understanding of solar radiation.
Observatory at Mt. Montezuma, Chile, 1920, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Image no. MNH-33668.
In 1906, SAO hired the first woman computer,
Florence A. Graves’
(1872-1938). Graves’ career with the Smithsonian Institution is detailed in volumes 2-5 of the
Annals of the Astrophysical Observatory of the Smithsonian Institution
, yearly reports on the research and personnel of SAO. Graves is credited by Abbot for her work reducing solar observations from the Mount Wilson Observatory. Her computations specifically aided in research about the sun’s energy spectrum and temperature. Volumes 3 and 4 of the
annals
included her calculations. World War II put a year-long pause in Grave’s career when the Smithsonian furloughed her so
she could serve as a nurse in France for the Red Cross
. She returned in 1919 and worked for another year before retiring in 1920.
Gladys T. Bond
(1896-1951) worked for over 30 years at SAO, from 1918 until her death in 1951. As detailed in volumes 6 and 7 of the
annals
, her colleagues appreciated her devotion to the work and comprehension of solar research.
A figure from Periodicity in Solar Variation, 1932, by C. G. Abbot and Gladys T. Bond,
Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collection
vol. 87 (1934),
Biodiversity Heritage Library
.
In 1920 Gladys married Albin Bond. At this time in the scientific field, it was unusual for married women to continue working, so much so t…