Cora Gertrude Burwell (June 25, 1883 – June 20, 1982) was an American astronomical researcher specialized in stellar spectroscopy. She was based at Mount Wilson Observatory from 1907 to 1949.
Cora G. Burwell | |
---|---|
Born | Massachusetts, US | June 25, 1883
Died | June 20, 1982 Los Angeles, California, US | (aged 98)
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Mount Holyoke College (BA) |
Known for | Interpretation of stellar spectral data |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Astronomy |
Institutions | Mount Wilson Observatory |
Cora Gertrude Burwell was born in Massachusetts and raised in Stafford Springs, Connecticut.[1] She graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1906[2][3] and was active in Holyoke alumnae activities in the Los Angeles area.[4][5]
In July, 1907,[6] Burwell was appointed to a "human computer" position at Mount Wilson Observatory.[7][8] In 1910, she attended the fourth conference of the International Union for Cooperation in Solar Research, when it was held at Mount Wilson.[9]
Burwell specialized in stellar spectroscopy.[2] She was solo author on some scientific publications,[10][11][12][13][14] and co-authored several others (some of which she was lead author), with notable collaborators including Dorrit Hoffleit,[15] Henrietta Swope,[16] Walter S. Adams,[17] and Paul W. Merrill.[18] With Merrill she compiled several catalogs of Be stars,[19] in 1933, 1943, 1949, and 1950.[20] She also helped to tend the Mount Wilson Observatory Library.[21] She retired from the observatory in 1949,[2] but continued speaking about astronomy to community groups. She also published a book of poetry, Neatly Packed.[22]
Cora Burwell lived in Pasadena, and later in Monrovia with her sister, Priscilla Burwell.[2] She died in 1982, two days before her 99th birthday, in Los Angeles.