Manuscript Division Cornell H. Mayer Papers

Cornell H. Mayer Papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS85500

Scope and Content Note

The papers of Cornell H. Mayer (1921-2005) span the years 1940-2005, with the bulk of the material dated 1943-1990. Mayer was a pioneering radio astonomer working for the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D. C., who first measured the surface temperature of the planet Venus in 1958. He determined that Venus had a surface temperature too hot to sustain life on Earth. He installed a maser, a laser foreunner, invented by his collaborator Charles H. Townes on a radio telescope to greatly improve the range and accuracy of the instrument.

Scientific notebooks in the collection document his measuring the surface temperature of Venus and other planets, his efforts toward improving the radio telescope, and other scientific work. Other files include general correspondence, biographical material, printed matter, photographs, and topical files. Some of the topical files document Mayer's participation in expeditions to observe solar eclipses from Attu in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, and Sweden.

Dates

Creation: 1940-2005
Creation: Majority of material found within ( 1943-1990)

Language of Materials

Collection material in English

Access and Restrictions

The papers of Cornell H. Mayer are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.

Copyright Status

The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Cornell H. Mayer is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).

Biographical Note

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1921, Dec. 10: Born, Ossian, Iowa
1943: B.S., State University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
1944 - 1945: Served in navy, stationed at the Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C.
1945 - 1947: Electronic engineer, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D. C.
1946: Married Carey Whitehead
1947 - 1956: Electronic scientist, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D. C.
1951: Masters degree in electrical engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Md.
1958: Promoted to supervising electronic scientist, Naval Research Laboratory, and measured the surface temperature of Venus with radio telescope
1959: Collaborated with Charles H. Townes in applying Townes's maser invention to radio astonomy
1970 - 1980: Head of radio astronomy, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D. C.
1980: Retired from Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D. C.
2005, Nov. 19: Died, Alexandria, Va.

Extent

450 items
6 containers
2 oversize
2.4 linear feet

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Additional Description

Abstract

Electrical engineer and radio astronomer. Scientific notebooks, biographical material, correspondence, topical files, writings, printed matter, scrapbooks, photographs, and miscellaneous material documenting Mayer's career with the Naval Reseach Laboratory during which he improved radio telescope technology and measured the surface temperatures of Venus and other planets.

Arrangement of the Papers

This collection is arranged alphabetically by type of material or subject.

Catalog Record

https://lccn.loc.gov/mm2009085500

Provenance

The papers of Cornell H. Mayer, electrical engineer and radio astonomer, were given to the Library of Congress by his wife, Carey W. Mayer, in 2009. Additional material was transferred from the Naval Research Laboratory in 2010.