Subseries 4.1 - Administration and Committees

0.48m of textual records

Sub-series consists of records documenting Bolton’s role as the DDO’s Associate Director (1978 – 1994), Light Pollution Officer (1972 – 1997), supervisor of the 74-inch telescope (1974 – 1984) and darkroom (1976 – 1983), and Faculty Advisor to the DDO Librarian (1978 – 1979). Several files also pertain to Bolton’s involvement in the DDO’s Safety Committee, Shop Committee, Science/Instrumentation Committee, and DDO Review Committee. Records document the day-to-day administration of the DDO, including the hiring and management of staff, in addition to special projects and events, including summer tours, the Sir Gay Awards, and the Fiftieth Anniversary of the David Dunlap Observatory.

Sub-series is subdivided into three sections beginning with correspondence and employment-related records. Materials within these sections include correspondence and memoranda, position descriptions, letters of employment, and performance reviews.

The third section includes all remaining records. Records primarily include correspondence and memoranda, agendas and minutes, annual reports, progress reports, committee reports, a staff directory, and a logbook of weather conditions from 1935 – 1965. One file relates to the Dedication of the University of Toronto’s Helen Sawyer Hogg Telescope and Helen Hogg’s Memorial Tribute which contains correspondence, including letters belonging to Dr. Helen Hogg; programmes; speech drafts; obituaries; and materials related to Dr. Hogg’s career.

Files related to the DDO’s 50th Anniversary include proposals, celebration plans, a promotional poster, programmes for the ceremonies and special convocation associated with the opening of the DDO in 1935, and records related to the Local Organizing Committee for the 1985 Canadian Astronomical Society Meeting in Toronto 1985. There is also one file relating to the Dedication of the University of Toronto’s Helen Sawyer Hogg Telescope and Helen Hogg’s Memorial Tribute which contains correspondence, including letters belonging to Dr. Helen Hogg; programmes; speech drafts; obituaries; and materials related to Dr. Hogg’s career.

Files related to light pollution are located at the end of the third section. The records document Bolton’s light pollution in Richmond Hill as well as the work he has done with J.G. Laframboise and P.A. Delaney at the Petrie Observatory at York University. Records include correspondence, new clippings, International Dark Sky Association Newsletters, light fixture test reports, technical drawings, and a copy of the Richmond Hill light pollution by-law.

Sub-series is organized into 3 sections; files in the first two sections are arranged chronologically. Files in the third section are arranged chronologically followed by 8 files related to light pollution.

Open with the exception of:

• B2023-0003/005(19), (21), (23), (25), (28).

These files have been restricted to protect the privacy of third parties. Please contact the University Archivist for additional information.

Additional correspondence with DDO staff or related to the administration of the DDO is located in Series 2: Correspondence.
Additional records related to Bolton’s light pollution work with the RASC are located in Sub-series 7.1: Committees and Conferences.

Several records in B2023-0003/ include outdated language that has historically been used in relation to Indigenous peoples. While these records do not discuss or relate to Indigenous peoples, the language used is based off inappropriate and offensive stereotypes of Indigenous people.