In July 1985, in anticipation of the return of Halley's Comet the following year, Dr. William R. Kubinec, chairman of the Department of Physics at the College of Charleston, published a request in "Sky and Telescope" for recollections of the 1910 appearance of the comet. This collection consists of the worldwide responses he received.
Letter from the co-chairpersons of the Charleston section of the National Council of Negro Women to Mamie Fields. It invites Fields to attend a program honoring Mary McLeod Bethune.
Handwritten speech about the history of YWCA Bible Study Club and the women who started the organization. In the club they studied the Bible, and discussed personal and political matters.
Author does not remember the comet but provides the names of his siblings who may. See Letters from Mary M. Ellerbe, Greenville, S.C. and Edward M. Mullins, Columbia, S.C.
Offer to help with project. Includes secondhand account of 1910 appearance of Halley's comet. Also, letter writer apparently saw the return of Halley's comet on October 13, 1985.
Second letter from author with mother's impression of 1910 appearance of Halley's comet enclosed. Eyewitness account of 1910 appearance of Halley's comet in Newark, Ohio, by Amy B. Smith, mother of letter writer. Questions included: 1. What were the circumstances when you saw the comet? 2. Describe the appearance of the comet. 3. Did you experience any particular emotions when you saw the comet? 4. Did anything interesting, unusual or funny happen while the comet was visible? 5. What did you think a comet was in 1910? 6. What did your parents, relatives, friends or teachers tell you about the comets in 1910? 7. As you grew older did your view or understanding of the nature of comets change? 8. As you grew older did you ever think about your experience of seeing Halley's comet? If so, under what circumstances? 9. Do you feel privileged to have seen Halley's comet? 10. Do you feel that seeing Comet Halley has affected you personally in any way? If so, how?
"Offer to help with project. Author also claims to have created a computer program in 1984 that predicted Halley's 1986 appearance would be ""faint and difficult to see."""
Eyewitness account of 1910 appearance of Halley's comet in Croatia (then part of Austro-Hungarian Empire). Author mentions that the comet's appearance portended eventual war in that country and points to the later assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and the outbreak of WWI as validation.
Eyewitness account of 1910 appearance of Halley's comet in Cape Town, South Africa. Author includes detailed data on the altitude and azimuth of the comet and encloses a map and sketch of the comet over Table Bay.
Eyewitness account of 1910 appearance of Halley's comet in Tuxedo (New York?). Author responds on questionnaire created for the Halley's comet project.
Eyewitness account of 1910 appearance of Halley's comet in Marion, South Carolina. Questions included: 1. What were the circumstances when you saw the comet? 2. Describe the appearance of the comet. 3. Did you experience any particular emotions when you saw the comet? 4. Did anything interesting, unusual or funny happen while the comet was visible? 5. What did you think a comet was in 1910? 6. What did your parents, relatives, friends or teachers tell you about the comets in 1910? 7. As you grew older did your view or understanding of the nature of comets change? 8. As you grew older did you ever think about your experience of seeing Halley's comet? If so, under what circumstances? 9. Do you feel privileged to have seen Halley's comet? 10. Do you feel that seeing Comet Halley has affected you personally in any way? If so, how?
Author encloses letter from an uncle who recalls both 1910 comets. The letter points out the possible confusion some living observers might have about the two comets. (The Daylight Comet of 1910 appeared before Halley's and was considered by many to be more impressive). See letter 1, enclosure from Ewen A. Whitaker. Enclosure: "Eyewitness account of 1910 appearance of Halley's comet by Ivan Smith in Stourbridge, England. Writer also mentions the Daylight Comet of 1910 and comments that Halley's was but a ""squib"" compared to it."
Summary of an interview author had with Mrs. Frida Berggran who witnessed the 1910 appearance of Halley's comet in a small village in Sweden. The villagers were apparently unaware that the comet was coming.
Letter enclosing Turkish book for the project. Letter writer gives detailed summary of the book including its use of the 1910 appearance of Halley's comet as a backdrop.
Writer interviewed Paul Swenson about 1910 appearance of Halley's comet in Worcester, Massachusetts. Questions included: 1. What were the circumstances when you saw the comet? 2. Describe the appearance of the comet. 3. Did you experience any particular emotions when you saw the comet? 4. Did anything interesting, unusual or funny happen while the comet was visible? 5. What did you think a comet was in 1910? 6. What did your parents, relatives, friends or teachers tell you about the comets in 1910? 7. As you grew older did your view or understanding of the nature of comets change? 8. As you grew older did you ever think about your experience of seeing Halley's comet? If so, under what circumstances? 9. Do you feel privileged to have seen Halley's comet? 10. Do you feel that seeing Comet Halley has affected you personally in any way? If so, how?
Eyewitness account of 1910 appearance of Halley's comet in Amsterdam, New York. Like many accounts, the writer expresses fear and awe at the comet's arrival.
"Author mentions a similar project being conducted by Joseph Lauter who has been collecting personal accounts of Halley's comet sightings in 1910 and publishing them in ""Halley's Comet Watch Newsletter."""
Letter refers to two Babylonian tablets in the British Museum that contain one of the earliest recorded appearances of Halley's comet in 164 B.C. Clipping not included. Photocopy
Handwritten correspondence from the office of Yvonne B. Miller, Commonwealth of Virginia House of Delegates, to "Miss Lipscome" regarding 1984 General Assembly of Virginia matters.
