Astronomer, Educator, and Maker of Telescopes and Precise Scientific Instruments

Dr. John A. Brashear (1840 to 1920)

Walsh, Glenn A. " Centennial: Death of Telescope-Maker & Astronomer John Brashear." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2020 April 8. First retrieved 2020 April 8.
Pittsburgh telescope-maker, astronomer, and educator John Brashear was an adviser to Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick.
John Brashear accompanied Andrew Carnegie to the official 1902 dedication of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall in Carnegie, Pennsylvania.

Walsh, Glenn A. "Astronomical Calendar: 2019 Dec. / Centennial: Death of Astronomy Philanthropist H.C. Frick." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2019 Dec. 1. First retrieved 2019 Dec. 1.
December 2 marks the Centennial Anniversary of the death of industrialist and education and astronomical philanthropist Henry Clay Frick, who provided much of the funding for construction of the second, three-dome Allegheny Observatory, dedicated in 1912. He asked astronomer John A. Brashear to organize the Henry Clay Frick Educational Commission.

She. "Quote of the Day: Worlds Beyond Earth."
Ricochet.com 2019 Nov. 24. First retrieved 2019 Nov. 27.
Short biography of astronomer, educator, and telescope-maker John A. Brashear, along with the Sarah Williams poem stanza that Dr. Brashear and his wife loved: “I have loved the stars too truly to be fearful of the night”– Sarah Williams (consequently, a paraphrased version of this stanza appears on the the Brashears' crypt, in the basement of the Allegheny Observatory).
One of nine comments following the article:
James Gawron
She,
When I was about 5 years old we got a 99-year lease on a star in the constellation Pisces from Buhl Planetarium in Pittsburgh. I’ve been thinking of renting the star out but I’d rather not pay the back taxes.
Regards,
Jim

Benningfield, Damond. "Abandoned Observatories" Radio Feature.
StarDate Radio Program, University of Texas McDonald Observatory 2018 Oct 31.
Regarding abandoned Warner and Swasey Observatory, of Cleveland's Case Western University in East Cleveland; John Brashear worked closely with the Warner and Swasey Company on several telescope projects.

Benningfield, Damond. "Visiting Astronomers" Radio Feature.
StarDate Radio Program, University of Texas McDonald Observatory 2018 July 22.
One of the few on the list is Mount Langley, a 14,000-foot summit in California. It’s named for Samuel Pierpont Langley, who was a long-time director of the Allegheny Observatory.

Walsh, Glenn A. "Centennial: U.S. Daylight Saving Time Commences." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2018 March 31.
The American and Canadian railroads had established five unofficial time zones for the North American continent on 1883 November 18, precisely at 12:00 Noon from a time signal issued by telegraph from Pittsburgh's Allegheny Observatory. This was possible after Allegheny Observatory, under the supervision of the Western University of Pennsylvania Astronomy Professor Samuel Pierpont Langley, started determining and disseminating precise time in 1869. The Allegheny Observatory's time service is considered the first regular and systematic system of time distribution to railroads and cities, as well as the origin of the modern Standard Time system.

Walsh, Glenn A. "Centennial: Official Enactment of U.S. Time Zones & Daylight Saving Time." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2018 March 19.
The Allegheny Observatory's time service is considered the first regular and systematic system of time distribution to railroads and cities, as well as the origin of the modern Standard Time system.

Eustis, Nick. "From social club to research lab, the history of Allegheny Observatory."
The Northside Chronicle, Pittsburgh 2018 Feb. 3.

Sutherland, Megan. "Earth and Sky headquarter details released for Tekapo development."
The Timaru Herald, New Zealand 2017 July 9.
Tekapo will be one of only a few places in the world to house historical astronomical equipment come 2018.
The Earth and Sky headquarters will be one of only a few in the world to house a historical astronomy optical telescope, the Brashear​ telescope, Munro said.
Named after american astronomer Dr John Brashear​ the telescope is more than 125 years old, is 18 inches in width, weighs over 7 tonne, and has an 8 metre long tube, she said.

Senko, Joe. "Brashear Association has come a long way, baby." Series: Brashear Memories | Story 3.
South Pittsburgh Reporter 2017 April 18.

Dunik-Surdick, Linda. "Growing up in South Side, Brashear was the place for kids to go." Series: Brashear Memories | Story 2.
South Pittsburgh Reporter 2017 March 14.

Pankowski, John. "When Tony Pankowski went to camp." Series: Brashear Memories | Story 1.
South Pittsburgh Reporter 2017 Jan. 31.

Graham, Francis G. "155th Anniversary of Allegheny Observatory: The Very 1st Director." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2016 Nov. 27.

Barcousky, Len. "Eyewitness 1916: Pittsburgh honors ‘Uncle John’." Occasional Historical Column: Eyewitness.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2016 Nov. 20.

Berger, Larry. Radio Interview Regarding 75th Anniversary of Buhl Planetarium Observatory. Audio: Radio Interview.
Saturday Light Brigade Radio Program: NeighborhoodVoices.org 2016 November 19.
Larry Berger, host of the Saturday Light Brigade children's / family radio program, interviewed Glenn A. Walsh on the
75th anniversary of the Astronomical Observatory of Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of
Popular Science, which was dedicated on 1941 November 19.

Walsh, Glenn A. "75th Anniversary: America's 5th Public Observatory." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2016 Nov. 19.
75th anniversary of The People's Observatory of Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and
Institute of Popular Science, including the rather unique 10-inch Siderostat-Type Refractor Telescope.

Giammarise, Kate. "Allegheny Observatory work ‘putting back missing pieces’."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2016 Aug 15.
Lou Coban, who manages the observatory, said he sees the work and restoration of the names on the wall as staying true to the building’s original mission of public education about astronomy.
“This place was actually built with the public in mind,” Mr. Coban said. “So [early interim director] John Brashear long ago said, ‘… The Allegheny Observatory shall remain forever free to the people,’ ” The tour program remains free, as well as a public lecture series and the annual open house.

Brashear, Jeff. "The teaching Brashears."
Hazard (Kentucky) Herald 2016 Feb. 2.
Another Brashear family of educators.

Surmacz, Lindsay. "Let's talk about science: John Brashear — from steel to stars."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2016 Jan. 28.
By Lindsay Surmacz, Henry Buhl, Jr. Planetarium & Observatory

Walsh, Glenn A. "Allegheny Observatory Bus Stop Restoration Sought." Blog Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2015 Sept. 26.
In 1912, famous astronomer and telescope-maker John Brashear sited the new Allegheny Observatory away from the center of Pittsburgh on a high hill in a new city park, just one block from a major streetcar line, for easy public access.

Walsh, Glenn A. "Brashear: Time Capsule Unveiled; Telescope Retired ." Blog Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2015 July 9.

Walsh, Glenn A. "Update: Historic Brashear Time Capsule." Blog Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2015 April 9.
Also includes information regarding the 37th Brashear telescope produced at the historic Brashear Telescope Factory,
which was donated to Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science in 1972.

Walsh, Glenn A. "Dispute: Ownership of Brashear Time Capsule ." Blog Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2015 March 26.

Walsh, Glenn A. "Historic Brashear Telescope Factory Time Capsule Found & Opened ." Blog Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2015 March 25.
Special Note: SpaceWatchtower blog broke this story a day before the Pittsburgh newspapers reported it.

Walsh, Glenn A. "Historic Brashear Telescope Factory Wall Collapses." Blog Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2015 March 18.

Conte, Andrew. "Under Observation." Audio Segment (10 minutes).
"Essential Pittsburgh." Weekday Magazine Radio Program.
WESA-FM 90.5 Pittsburgh 2014 Aug. 28.
Guest host Andy Conte, of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review takes his microphone on a tour of Pittsburgh's historic Allegheny Observatory, with the Observatory's Administrator Lou Coban, broadcast on the 102nd anniversary of the new Allegheny Observatory building.

Schmitt, Ben. "The awe of night."
Pittsburgh Quarterly 2014 Fall.
Magazine article on the history of Pittsburgh's Allegheny Observatory.
Photos by David Aschkenas; also see slide show of 18 Allegheny Observatory photographs.

Walsh, Glenn A. "Brashear House & Factory: Nomination to National Register of Historic Places ." Blog Posting.
SpaceWatchtower 2012 Oct. 11.
Comments of Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director of Friends of the Zeiss, in support of nomination.
Both Henry Clay Frick and Andrew Carnegie were good friends of John Brashear.
John Brashear accompanied Andrew Carnegie to the dedication of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall,
in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, on 1902 April 22.

Kopke, Megan. "Historic status sought for Brashear's home and factory in Perry Hilltop."
The Northside Chronicle 2012 October 4.

Bauder, Bob. "Historical status sought for Brashear's North Side home, factory."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2012 Sept. 23.

Walsh, Glenn A. "Historic Nomination: John Brashear House & Factory, Pittsburgh ." Blog Posting.
SpaceWatchtower 2012 Sept. 13.
Both Henry Clay Frick and Andrew Carnegie were good friends of John Brashear.
John Brashear accompanied Andrew Carnegie to the dedication of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall,
in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, on 1902 April 22.

Walsh, Glenn A. "Centennial: New Allegheny Observatory Dedication ." Blog Posting.
SpaceWatchtower 2012 Aug. 28.
Both Henry Clay Frick and Andrew Carnegie made large contributions toward the construction of the new Allegheny Observatory.
Also, John Brashear accompanied Andrew Carnegie to the dedication of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall,
in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, on 1902 April 22.

Walsh, Glenn A. "Mystery: Brashear Telescope Donated by Frick to Pittsburgh Suburb Missing for Decades." Blog Posting.
SpaceWatchtower 2012 May 7.
John Brashear telescope donated to Mount Pleasant PA, by industrialist Henry Clay Frick (then an executive with the
Carnegie Steel Company), has been missing for decades after being removed for restoration.

Walsh, Glenn A. "Pittsburgh's Allegheny Observatory: New History Film." Blog Posting.
SpaceWatchtower 2012 April 19.
New film documentary regarding the largest astronomical observatory located within the city limits of a major American city. Henry Clay Frick and Andrew Carnegie helped John Brashear construct the new Allegheny Observatory building. Samuel Pierpont Langley, James E. Keeler, and John Brashear were Directors of the original Allegheny Observatory.

Chute, Eleanor. "Brashear physics teacher earns Milken award."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2011 Oct. 5.

Mackin, Mike. "Let's Learn From the Past: John Brashear." Column.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2010 June 17.

Young, Chris. "Down the Test Tubes."
Pittsburgh City Paper 2010 April 21, 22.
Students in five high schools in the Pittsburgh School District scored very poor in the 2009 State assessment test for science, including two high schools named for prominent Pittsburgh scientists of the past: Westinghouse High School (George Westinghouse) and Brashear High School (John Brashear).

Chute, Eleanor. "Magazine cites more than a dozen top high schools in W. Pa."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette On-Line 2009 Dec. 10.
Includes Pittsburgh's Brashear High School.

Nelson Jones, Diana. "Afoot in a place of consequence." Blog: City Walkabout.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette On-Line 2009 Aug. 7.
Regarding fundraising effort to preserve and restore historic North Side home and factory of John A. Brashear.

Miles, Lisa A. Fundraising Letter: Historic North Side Home and Factory of John Brashear 2009 March 11.

Howell, Donna. "John Brashear Kept His Goals In Sharp Focus."
Investor's Business Daily 2009 March 5: A3.
(Reprint of 2006 Oct. 18 article)
Howell, Donna. "John Brashear Kept His Goals In Sharp Focus."
Investor's Business Daily 2006 Oct. 18: A3.
(Donna Howell, Technology Reporter, Investor's Business Daily)
Friends of the Zeiss Project Director Glenn A. Walsh is extensively
quoted in this national business newspaper article, regarding the life of
famous 19th century astronomer and lens maker John A. Brashear,
who was a confidant of Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick.

Lowry, Patricia. "Places: Bring an open mind to open house at the Brashears' Perry Hilltop home."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2008 Nov. 28.
Also talks about home's proximity to the original Allegheny Observatory run by S.P. Langley, and where Professor Langley did early experiments in heavier-than-air flight.

"Where to go ... Riverview Park."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2008 Nov. 23.
Brief history of Riverview Park, which was donted to the City of Allegheny in 1894. During the process to have this land donated as a public park, John Brashear had land set-aside in the park for construction of a new Allegheny Observatory, two miles north of the then-existing Allegheny Observatory, a site which would be further away from the industrial air emmisions of that era.

Nelson Jones, Diana. "Grant could unlock history of Allegheny."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2008 Oct. 8.

Boren, Jeremy. "Historian focuses on telescope pioneer Brashear."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2008 Sept. 29.
Also reprinted --
Boren, Jeremy. "Historian Focuses on Telescope Pioneer Brashear."
Sky and Telescope Magazine On-Line 2008 Sept. 29.

Heinrichs, Allison M. "City's parks offer urban relief."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2008 Sept. 21.
Highlights, with photos, Frick Park, Allegheny Observatory in Riverview Park, and Carnegie Lake in Schenley Park.

Boren, Jeremy. "Pittsburgh filmmaker focuses on observatory."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2008 Aug. 19.
Film on history of Allegheny Observatory. John A. Brashear was Acting Director of Allegheny Observatory, in addition to providing new Allegheny Observatory with two telescopes and other scientific apparatus.
Internet web site for Allegheny Observatory movie: < http://www.aothemovie.com >.

Smydo, Joe. "Wife finally laid to rest near husband."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2007 April 15. The remains of Cora Matthews Keeler, wife of famous astronomer James E. Keeler, were transferred to a crypt at Pittsburgh's Allegheny Observatory which holds the cremated remains of James Keeler and also those of famous astronomer and lensmaker John A. Brashear.

Howell, Donna. "John Brashear Kept His Goals In Sharp Focus."
Investor's Business Daily 2006 Oct. 18: A3.
Howell, Donna. "John Brashear Kept His Goals In Sharp Focus."
Investor's Business Daily 2009 March 5: A3.
(Reprint of 2006 Oct. 18 article)
(Donna Howell, Technology Reporter, Investor's Business Daily)
Friends of the Zeiss Project Director Glenn A. Walsh is extensively
quoted in this national business newspaper article, regarding the life of
famous 19th century astronomer and lens maker John A. Brashear,
who was a confidant of Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick.

Wevers, Henk. "The Restoration of the Historic Steam Launch Phoebe."
Magazine of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, Toronto Chapter 2002 March.
Henk Wevers, P.Eng.: Coordinator Phoebe Restoration Group, Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston.

Potter, Chris. You Had to Ask:
The Naming of Asteroids in Honor of Pittsburgh and Allegheny City Actually Honors John Brashear.
Pittsburgh City Paper 1999 June 9.

Spice, Byron. Pittsburgh "Astronomer is Saluted as an Asteroid is Named for Him."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 1996 Feb.

Carlin, Karen. "Astronomical: 1908 Brashear Telescope Aimed at the Stars Again."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 1995 Oct. 22

"Star Study Newest Fad." Photographs (3) Caption.
Pittsburgh Gazette Times 1925 Sept. 29: 7.
Pittsburgh Gazette Times Photographs (3) Caption: 6-inch John A. Brashear Refractor Telescope at Sterrett Elementary School, Pittsburgh. Obituary: "Dr. J.A. Brashear Dead Following Long Sickness."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 1920 April 8.

Brewster, Edwin Tenney. "John A. Brashear of Pittsburgh
Whose Instruments of Precision Have Made Possible Many Important Discoveries in Physics and Astronomy."
McClure's Magazine 1911 April.

Keeler, J. E. "Note on Repolishing Surfaces of Rock-Salt."
The Sidereal Messenger 5.7 (1886): 222-223.

Brashear, John A. "A Practical Method of Working Rock Salt Surfaces for Optical Purposes."
The Sidereal Messenger 5.5 (1886): 149-151.

* 6-inch Brashear Refractor Telescope - Built for the School District of Pittsburgh around 1901 and installed in a new observatory atop the Sterrett Elementary School in the city's Point Breeze neighborhood in 1902 or 1903. This observatory was dismantled around the 1950s; the fate of this telescope is unknown. More information.

* 11-inch Brashear Refractor Telescope, commissioned by Andrew Carnegie for the students of the Carnegie Technical Schools/Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) to view Halley's Comet in 1910. Now operated for public star parties at the Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory in Deer Lakes Park about 20 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, by the Amateur Astronomers' Association of Pittsburgh. More info.

* The Ralph Mueller Observatory of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History - 10 1/2-inch refracting telescope built by the Warner & Swasey Co. of Cleveland in 1899. The renowned J.A. Brashear Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ground the telescope’s optics.

* Irving Porter Church Telescope (12-inch refractor telescope) at the Fuertes Observatory of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. The Fuertes Observatory was built in 1917, while the lenses for the 12-inch refractor were commissioned in 1919 and delivered to Cornell University in 1920, the year of Dr. Brashear's death. The mounting and telescope body were produced by the Warner & Swasey Company of Cleveland; there are several casses of Brashear optics being commissioned for Warner and Swasey telescopes. More information:
** Cornell University: Fuertes Observatory *** Observatory History
** Cornell Astronomical Society: Fuertes Observatory *** Photo Tour

* Bunyan Observatory Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum in Berthoud, Colorado (45 miles north of Denver) use s a Brashear 140mm (51/2-inch) multi-element refractor telescope mounted in a bras tube. Public observing with this telescope is free-of-charge on the third Friday of every month (weather-permitting).

* In an electronic mail message to the author on 2010 August 5, Marc Kendis of Palo Cedro California stated that he owns a 4-inch Brashear refractor telescope (serial number 14), which includes two objective lenses, unpolished brass tube with spotting scope and premordial sun filter, and two eye pieces and a 90" angle prism for the lenses, "all in great shape." He has owned this telescope for 20 years; the telescope was previously in San Francisco. Engraved on a rectangular brass plate mounted by two screws at the forward end of the large brass barrel of the main telescope:

Related Links

Henry Buhl, Jr. Planetarium and Observatory of The Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, Chicago, Illinois

Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory, Russelton, Pennsylvania, of the
Amateur Astronomers' Association of Pittsburgh<.a> -

Deer Lakes Regional Park of the County of Allegheny, Russelton, Pennsylvania
(home of the Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory)

Amateur Astronomers' Association of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Brashear Association, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

L-3 Brashear, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
(formerly Contraves Brashear Systems, L.P.)
Current successor to John Brashear's optical company L-3 Brashear prepared the mirror of the 8.2-meter flagship telescope of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, the Subaru Telescope, which started astronomical research in January of 1999 on Mauna Kea in Hawaii: