Milton Updegraff

  General Notes:

MILTON UPDEGRAFF, ASTRONOMER

by Darwin Christy, Buffalo Astronomical Association

Milton Updegraff, a little-known American astronomer, was born
on February 20, 1861, in Decorah, Iowa. After graduating from the
University of Wisconsin in 1884, Updegraff was employed as an aid
on the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey until 1887. He became
an Astronomo Segundo (assistant) Observatorio Nacional in Cordoba,
Argentina, from 1887 to 1890.

Updegraff taught astronomy at the University of Missouri from 1890
to 1899, after which he was selected for the position of Professor of
Mathematics for the United States Navy (USN). Updegraff subsequently
became an astronomer in the U.S. Naval Observatory until 1902. While
there, he was placed in charge of the U.S. Naval Observatory's May
1900 Eclipse Party at Barnesville and Griffin in Georgia. In 1902,
Updegraff accepted the appointment as Instructor in the U.S. Naval
Academy, which he held until 1907.

Being an experienced astronomer, Updegraff was designated as
director of the Nautical Almanac in Washington from 1907 to 1910.
During the last two years of his time as director, Updegraff was
also assigned to the fifteen-centimeter (six-inch) transit circle
of the Naval Academy. A transit circle is a special telescope that
only moves north-south, fixed in hour-angle (that is, it sweeps the
meridian). When a star passes through its crosshairs, a timing
measure can measure the star's right ascension very accurately.
Also, by examining stars of known right ascension, the local time
can be ascertained very accurately. This method was used to keep
inaccurate clocks properly set until atomic clocks were developed.
Now it is used to measure Earth's variation in its rate of rotation.

From 1913 to 1915, Updegraff headed the geodetic and other
scientific work in the American Survey of Samoa. From 1915 to 1917,
he was stationed at the Mare Island Navy Yard, at the north end of
San Francisco Bay, California, and was also a meteorological observer
in Arizona, retiring in July of 1920 with the rank of Commander. He
was elector of the New York University Hall of Fame in 1925, 1930,
and 1935, and also served as a Fellow of the American Association
for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

It is difficult to find biographical material on Updegraff, as his
contributions to astronomy were relatively minimal. Updegraff did,
however, hold a number of significant positions as an astronomer and
teacher of astronomy and mathematics, and wrote several articles on
professional subjects. Living at his home in Prescott, Arizona in his
later years, Updegraff passed away on September 12, 1938, at the age
of seventy-seven years.
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Astronomer who received his Masters of Science degree 1886 from the University of Wisconsin. Worked in Argentina before becoming Professor of Astronomy at the University of Missouri 1890-1899. Subsequently Professor of Mathematics in the U.S. Navy with service at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. (1899-1902). After retirement lived in Prescott, Arizona.
June (Shaull) Lutz 1988, History of the Op den Graef/Updegraff Family, p. U-192.

  Research Notes:

PUBLICATIONS OF THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC
BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF PROFESSOR MILTON UPDEGRAFF, 1861-1938
By T. J. J. SEE
On September 12, 1938, there expired at the Naval Hospital, Mare Island, Commander Milton Updegraff, Professor of Mathematics, United States Navy, since 1899, who for over half a century had been occupied with scientific researches in several lines, culminating especially in the practical astronon1Y of the meridian circle and the improvement of the star places of both hemispheres, at length systemized by Auwers in the celebrated Geschichte des Fixstern Himmels. Professor Updegraff was born at Decorah, Iowa, February 20, 1861, son of William B. and Lydia Maria (Shear) Updegraff, a Quaker fatnily originally from Pennsylvania, which had settled in the West. Under such preliminary education as the country afforded, he entered the University of Wisconsin, at Madison, in 1880, and graduated as Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1884, receiving the degree of Master of Science in 1886. After serving as Aid, United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, 1882-1883, and graduating at the university, he became Assistant Astronomer at the Washburn Observatory, 1884-1887, then under Professor Holden, who in this period became Director of Lick Observatory in California. On September 8, 1887, Professor Updegraff married Miss Alice M. Lamb, of Madison, likewise a graduate and an observer at the Washburn Observatory; he was in1mediately appointed Astronomo Segundo at the Argentine National Observatory, Cordoba, where he served three years, with Director Thome and Professor R. H. Tucker, who worthily continued the star place observations initiated by the celebrated Dr. Gould ( 1870-1885)., This Southern star place work of Updegraff at Cordoba was given a high rating by Dr. Auwers in his comprehensive survey, the Geschichte des Fixstern Himmels. After three years in the Southern Hemisphere, 1887-1890, Updegraff became Professor of Astronomy and Director of the Astronomical Observatory at the University of Missouri, where he served with distinction for nine years, till appointed Professor of Mathematics, United States Navy, by President McKinley, June 1899. Professor Updegraff was selected for the Naval Observatory, with a view to improving the meridian circle observations of the fundamental stars; and while on this duty at Washington, 1899-1902, 1908-1910, introduced much greater accuracy under improved clocks and instrumental tests and refinen1ents, so that his researches on the 6-inch transit circle were distinguished and are continued by his successors. In the period of the expansion of the United States Naval Academy, Professor Updegraff was on duty at Annapolis, 1902-1907, and left a record of distinction as a professor of mathematics. Recalled to duty at the Naval Observatory in 1907, he became Director of the Nautical Almanac) and also had charge of the 6-inch transit circle, 1908-1910., His improvements in the Nautical Almanac were considerable, and had in view the modernization of the list of stars north and south. In the years 1913-1914 he was assigned to geodetic and surveying work in American Samoa, but the clin1ate proved too severe and after less than a year in the tropics he was invalided back to Mare Island, threatened with tuberculosis. Gradually recovering in the dry climate of Las Animas, Colorado, he was given meteorological duty at Whipple Barracks, Prescott, Arizona, 1918-1920." Retiring in July, 1920, he continued his residence and carried, on his studies at Prescott, Arizona, till brought to Mare Island Hospital, July 21, 1938, under an emaciating weakness, which proved to be cancer of the pancreas. He passed away, without great suffering, September 12, at the age of 77 years, 6 months, and 20 days. By his marriage Professor Updegraff had three daughters, but now is survived only by his widow, one daughter, and four grandchildren. His mind had an eminently practical turn for research work of high order, which appealed to many colleagues in astronomy and related sciences. These and the large officer personnel of the Navy mourn the loss of one of the most eminent practical astronomers of the age, who rejoiced in following in the footsteps of Bessel, Argelander, and Gould for the improvement of our knowledge of the fixed-star heavens.
VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA
September 22, 1938

Milton married Alice Maxwell Lamb on 8 Sep 1887 in Wisconsin. (Alice Maxwell Lamb was born on 7 Mar 1863 in Madison, Dane, Wisconsin, USA and died in 1952.)