The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13

Up to date astronomical work is largely in the hands of women, in the field or astro physics. The Harvard observatory owes its high standing in the scientific world to the excellence of It's astro pny- sical department, and this is altogether a womans enterprise. The lamented Pro- lessor Henry Draper of New York was one of the pioneers of astro photography and his star pictures first showed clearly defined the lines of stellar spectra. But he died all too early, leaving the vast field of star spectrum analysis still uneX- plored. His wife, who was the sister of Cortland Palmer, had been his sympathi- ger in scientific work. She desired that the photographing of star spectra which he had commenced should go on.
 Mrs. Draper turned over to Harvard her husbands s photographic telescope and other instruments, donating likewise fund for the permanent continuing of his work. This meant that she paid the sail aries of the star photographers. branch of the Harvard astro physical department was also established at Arequipa, Peru. The South American station, Fl Misti, is nearly four miles above sea level. The photographs of stars taken at Arequtpa are forwarded to Harvard for examina- ton.
 In this analysis of stella photographs a woman, Mrs. Nina Fleming, is beyond question one of the leading experts of the world. She is now the official curator of the Harvard star photograph observatory. After Mrs. Draper had given to Harvard her husbands stellar photographic tele- scope another lady. Miss Catherine Bruce, gave to the Arequipa Observatory it's twin. so That similar work is done by both instruments.
 In recognition of the fact that the as- tro physical observatory at Harvard was the gift of woman, women observers and computers were employed in it from the beginning. They were already at work in the Harvard observatory and had shown their skill and reliability. Among these ladies was a young Scotch woman, Mrs. Nina Fleming. She was born in Dundee in 1857 Her maiden name was Stevens. The early death of her father sent her on the world to earn her living, which was fortunate for science. The girl was a mathematician naturally and by training and an uncommonly neat pen man as well.
 When very young she taught school In her native land and at the age of twenty was married Two years later she came to America with her husband and settled in Boston. She had an infant and a de- pendent mother. On the strength of her neat penmanship and her mathematical attachments she got employment as conquer in the Harvard observatory In 1885. when Mrs. Draper made 1t possible to establish the astro physical depart ment. Mrs. Fleming was transferred 10 1t. All the staff of this division were women, Mrs. Fleming being at first an as- slstant Miss N. A. Farrar was the head of the stan. Miss Farrar was, however removed from her sphere of labors by the hand of matrimony a year later. Mrs Fleming was thereupon put in her place In 1897 because of Mrs. Fleming's dis l tinguished ability and faithful service the | Harvard corporation appointed her cura- tor of the astronomical photographs for the university. The post carries with it much or both honor and responsibility
 The department has been greatly en- larSed since 1885. A fireproof building stores not less than 10000 stellar photo graphs upon plates. Mrs. Fleming has 1 the executive management of the whole | department.
 l Mrs. Fleming personally prepares arti- cles for the astronomical press on her discoveries. These monographs, signed