Series 5 - Research and Publications

4.78m of textual records

Series consists of records related to Bolton’s research and published work throughout his career. Records document most of his major investigations, including, but not limited to, his studies on Cygnus X-1; λ Eridani; the Algol System; the binary frequency of runaway OB stars; photospheres and magnetospheres of He-strong spectrum variables; and the fundamental properties of β and δ Cephids and other variable stars. Many of the files also consist of records related to the thesis projects of students under Bolton’s supervision, including Michel Fieldus and AST 425 undergraduate research projects. Intermixed with Bolton’s records are files created and used by Ron Lyons, a telescope operator at the DOO, who assisted Bolton with his research. Records include correspondence with colleagues, collaborators, and publishers; observing cards; observing sheets; observation logs; line profiles; graphs of spectra; plate reductions; and other research documentation.

Included near the end of the series are files Bolton had inherited from John Heard, the director of the DDO from 1952 – 1965. These files are generally indicated by his last name in the original file title or in square brackets at the end of the title.

Series documents Bolton’s publications written for peer-reviewed academic journals, for astronomical association work, as well as for general sources such as encyclopedias. Records also include other writing such as obituaries he wrote for Karl Kamper (former astronomer who worked at the DDO) and Michael Fieldus. The files at the very end of the series consist of collected sources and publications, including multiple issues of The Hot Star Newsletter and the Be Star Newsletter, and a copy of Sidney van der Bergh’s The Classification of Galaxies.

For a file list, see Series 5: Research and Publications in Appendix I.

Files are arranged loosely and inconsistently based on project or HD star number. Files inherited by Heard are located near the end of the series, followed by collected sources.

All files in this series are open, with the exception of the following:

• B2023-0003/012(07), (09)
• B2023-0003/014(02), (06);
• B2023-0003/021(40);
• B2023-0003/024(18)

These have been restricted in order to protect third-party privacy. Please contact the University Archivist for additional information.

Additional records related to Bolton’s research and publications are located in Series 2: Correspondence and Series 4: David Dunlap Observatory.

Additional records documenting Michael Fieldus’ research projects is located in Sous-fonds 2, Series 2: DDO and Research.