GD's note: The Report below is in reference to 440-12,
Par. 22-A.
Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume 7, p. 28.
Copyright 1964 by Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.
DANA, JAMES DWIGHT (1813-1895), U.S. geologist, mineralogist
and zoologist, the author of a number of standard works in
his field, was born in Utica, N.Y., on Feb. 12, 1813. He
early displayed a taste for science and in 1830 entered Yale
college in order to study under the elder Benjamin Silliman
(q.v.). After two years as teacher of mathematics to
midshipmen in the navy, he was assistant to Silliman in the
chemical laboratory at Yale in
1836-37 and then for four
years acted as mineralogist an geologist for a United States
exploring expedition, commanded by Capt. Charles Wilks, in
the Pacific ocean. In 1844 he again became resident of New
Haven, Conn., married the daughter of Silliman and in 1849,
on the resignation of the latter, was appointed Silliman
professor of natural history and geology in Yale college, a
position which he held till 1892. He died April 14, 1895.
A bibliographical list of Dana's writings shows 214 titles of
books and papers, beginning in 1835 with a paper on the
conditions of Vesuvius in 1834, and ending with the fourth
revised edition (finished in Feb. 1895) of his MANUAL OF
GEOLOGY. His reports on ZOOPHYTES, on the GEOLOGY OF THE
PACIFIC AREA and on CRUSTACEA, summarizing his work on the
Wilkes expedition, appeared in 1846, 1849 and
1852-54, in
quarto volumes, with copiously illustrated atlases; but as
these were issued in small numbers, his reputation more
largely rests on his SYSTEM OF MINERALOGY (1837; subsequent
ed. rev. by his son, E. S. Dana; 7th ed. rewritten by
C. Palache et al., 1944-51); MANUAL OF GEOLOGY (1862; 4th
ed., 1895); MANUAL OF MINERALOGY (1848; subsequent ed. rev.
by E. S. Dana; 17th ed. rev. by C. S. Hurlbut, 1959); and
CORALS AND CORAL ISLANDS (1872; 2nd ed., 1890).
His son, EDWARD SALISBURY DANA, born at New Haven on Nov. 16,
1849, was also a distinguished mineralogist. In addition to
his revisions of his father's works he wrote A TEXTBOOK OF
MINERALOGY (1877; 4th ed., 1932) and MINERALS AND HOW TO
STUDY THEM (1895; 3rd ed. rev. by C. S. Hurlbut, 1949). From
1879 to 1890 he was professor of natural philosophy at Yale
and then was professor of physics until his retirement in
1917. He died June 16, 1935.
See D. C. Gilman, Life of James Dwight Dana (1899).
10/15/81 Letter:
1390 Everett Ct.
Lakewood, Co. 80215
Dear Gladys:
I enjoyed visiting with you when I was there at Va. Beach to
attend the two July conferences this year. Wish we could
have had more time, especially to talk about the Aurascope.
As you know Lester and I have been working on the Aurascope.
The last day I was there he told me his experience about
getting the "lenses" made to fit in the end of the Aurascope.
I hope he's told you about it. He was quite elated and happy
about getting the last "piece" of equipment to at least make
a working model of the Aurascope. If he hasn't told you
about that, have him do so, it's quite interesting.
I was wondering if you'd have time to write up for me sort of
a resume, or history of the Aurascope construction. Sort of
a chronological sequence of events, or you might say, the
evolution of the Aurascope, starting with Frank Moeser and I
working on it back about 1948 or 1949. (I guess we were the
first to work on the [
440] readings). The reason is that I
wish to present to the Colo. Council and various Colo. Study
Groups something concerning the Aurascope at the time I give
my Kirlian demonstrations. The Council has tenatively set
the time for me to do that next Feb. or possibly in Jan.
1982.
Sincerely,
Avery D. Jeffers
10/26/81 GD's ans. to Dr. Avery Jeffers in re Aurascope
Dear Avery -
So far as I know, Lester Babcoke is the only one who has
worked on the Aurascope since you and Frank Moeser did, and
before that all I know is what was given in the [
440] series.
You two know more about it than anyone else.
Blessings, Gladys
P.S. If possible I'd like a copy of what you present on the
Aurascope so I can add it to this supplement. GD.