"Comparative Accounts of such Phenomena I know are agreeable to your Excellency, and, in your possession, may tend to some improvement in Natural Philosophy. From these considerations therefore, I have taken it upon me to communicate"
Observations on the Aurora Borealis from Academy Archives
The Archives contains several accounts of the Aurora Borealis from the Academy’s beginnings when it sought accounts of scientific observation from members and nonmembers alike. Accounts were read at Stated Meetings of the Academy, and referred to a publishing committee for approval. Approved accounts were later published in Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences beginning in 1785. Memoirs featured a wide range of topics, including, of course, the Aurora Borealis. However the Academy Archives continues to hold the unpublished manuscripts, a selection of which can be found below.
"You will be, perhaps, led to inquire why these appearances have never, except once, that I know of, of, & that about 4 months past, extended farther than the Zenith or to the Southward of East or West. [text loss due to seal removal]
The only answer that occurs is that it is highly probable so many of the nitrous particles as wou’d be sufficient to produce visible effects were destroy’d, by the forementioned cause, before they could escape so far.
The Author of this being an Obscure person & of no Education, it must be his Excuse, that his Tho’ts are not deliver’d in terms more philosophical.”
For more information regarding this letter, see here
"1. My own Letter to James Boyson Esq. dated Flmouth March 24, 1786
‘On the Evening before last being the 22d Inst. there was in this Town an unusual Appearance in the Heavens. At the beginning of the Evening there appeared in several parts of the Northern and Eastern Quarter, an illuminating collection of Vapours somewhat like the Aurora Borealis & mostly of a deep red colour. They spread more and [strike][ill.][end strike] more until between nine and ten o Clock when they appeared to stream from a Center nearly in the Zenith to [alight] every part of the Horizon. East West North & South. This Phenomenon appeared at the same time in Boston, and as it may answer some purpose to know how far it extended, I think proper to inform you of it and to request the favour of you to let me know if there was any such appearance at Philadelphia and if so to trace it further.’
I am etc."
For more information regarding this letter, see here.
“One thing more is worthy of remark for your consideration; and that is this, that upon the height of these Lands, that Phaenomenon called the Aurora Borealis sometimes makes its appearance, more generally where the hard pan lies nigh the Surface of the earth, its [sic] not to be doubted you are sensible the uropean [sic] astronomery [sic] and some sea fairing [sic] gentlemen with their tubes, have taken great pains in sarch [sic] after the cause, Qualities or Effects of this Phaenomena, also to measure their Distant [sic] and Height to Little advantage.
I can assure you gentlemen I have walked in the midst of this Nubulous [sic] [Harl], seen its spiral and various sensible [Ervitability] and other motions; made strict examination from observation as I was able to do with my Naked Eye, and am able to give my canded [sic] thoughts of its motion, causes and effects, would opportunity permit. I am sensible it would be difficult to satisfy the curious in every perticular [sic] circumstance in this Phaenomenon; however, so far as we can have a clear view with our Naked Eye, we meet with no Dception [sic] from the Use of Glasses, besides this, we have the advantage of admiting [sic] the sense of smeling [sic] and feeling [sic] the substance matter of which it is compounded of make such reflections as opportunity may serve for the benefit of the Publick.”
For more information regarding this letter, see here.
“The first instance on which the Aurora Borealis particularly [ill. due to ink spot]cted my attention, and led me more particularly to observe its appearance and operations occurred more than two years since. The singular appearance it then made, owing as I have reason now to believe, to my local situation, gave rise to the following positions on the Subject.
One-evening past after I had called on a friend in Hanford, a shower passed over, as is common after a very warm day; this was succeeded by a clear sky, except a thin mist, such as usually arise in a summer evening after a rain. The house of my friend was situated nearby on the height of land on the South Side of White River; the mist which arose asscended[sic] as near as we could judge two third the distance to the height of the land on the opposite side of the River; there it nested on a level; The light of the Aurora Borealis first appeared to be at some distance beyond the opposite height, it appeared to approach nearer, and arise over the hill, and settle down to the surface of the mist; there it remained continuously shooting up red streams in varying places with great velocity, the River commanded a light because of wind up the Stream, which moved the light slowly; [We viewed] it perhaps an hour and an half, till the winding of the river presented any farther observation of importance.
For more information regarding this letter, see here.
Digitization and Transcription
Digitization and transcription of these handwritten manuscripts in archives is essential in providing increased access and findability. The American Academy Archives works to digitize and transcribe its collection. You can read more about our current digitization efforts here.
While the Archives continues to transcribe these materials and provides transcriptions wherever possible, it remains a time and resource-intensive effort. Crowdsourcing efforts and Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR) technologies exist to address the problem however each solution has issues. While it is anticipated that AI models may eventually assist with the effort, there is an incalculable amount of manuscripts in archives that are not machine-readable -- not able to be searched by search engines, and not able to be found by people. Even when they are found they may not be able to be read, not least due to changes in script over the centuries. This means that the vast history of scientific research in particular remains inaccessible, the ability to use historical observation and data sets limited.