Historical Archive at the European Southern Observatory, the History of Astronomy in Chile.
Abstract
In this presentation, we will talk about our interest as the Library, Documentation and Information Services Department at the European Southern Observatory, in developing an historical archive with the documentation available at our telescopes. In particular, those available at La Silla and Paranal observatories. This is relevant not only for our institution but also to contribute to the history of astronomy in Chile, in which ESO is one of the primary contributors. Although this concern is not new and in previous processes important files have been identified, we still need to define what materials are important to preserve and how we will structure this process.
Full text
Historical Archive at the European Southern Observatory Leslie Kiefer Uta Grothkopf, Mahmut Eren, Silvia Meakins Library, Documentation, and Information Services (LDIS) department European Southern Observatory (ESO) 1
2 Presentation •Chilean •Librarian, Master in Librarianship and Information “Diplomado” or post-graduated in: •Historical Archives •Media to Communicate Heritage Current position Librarian and Conference Logistic “Expert” at ESO Conference LISA 10, November 3-7, 2025. ESO Santiago, Chile.
3 Library Conference LISA 10, November 3-7, 2025. ESO Santiago, Chile.
4 Presentation •What is ESO •Historical Archive Project •Opportunities & challengesCan we have an archive at ESO? •Next-steps Conference LISA 10, November 3-7, 2025. ESO Santiago, Chile.
5 ESO The European Southern Observatory (ESO) is the pre-eminent intergovernmental science and technology organisation in astronomy. It carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities for astronomy. •The ESO Headquarters are located in Garching, near Munich, Germany •The ESO Offices in Chile are located in Vitacura Santiago, Chile Conference LISA 10, November 3-7, 2025. ESO Santiago, Chile. Image composition showing all the ESO observatories and the Headquarters. Credit:ESO/M. Kornmesser
6 ESO Sites
7 La Silla Credit: Gerhard Hüdepohl/ESO Conference LISA 10, November 3-7, 2025. ESO Santiago, Chile. La Silla Observatory is located on the outskirts of the Chilean Atacama Desert, 600 km north of Santiago de Chile and at an altitude of 2400 meters. Founded in 1969 its ESO’s first telescope.
8 Paranal Credit:G.Hüdepohl (atacamaphoto.com)/ESO Conference LISA 10, November 3-7, 2025. ESO Santiago, Chile. At 2635 meters above sea level in the Atacama Desert of Chile, ESO’s Paranal Observatory founded in 1996, is one of the very best astronomical observing sites in the world. House of the VLT & VISTA
9 ALMA Credit:G.Hüdepohl (atacamaphoto.com)/ESO Conference LISA 10, November 3-7, 2025. ESO Santiago, Chile. Located high on the Chajnantor plateau in the Chilean Andes. ALMA is a single telescope of revolutionary design, composed initially of 66 high-precision antennas, was founded in 2013 by ESO, NRAO y NAOJ.
16 The ESO 1-metre Schmidt telescope (1971) Conference LISA 10, November 3-7, 2025. ESO Santiago, Chile. Credit: ESO Historical Archive Project The History of Astronomy in Documents & Objects
17 Historical Archive Project What kind of problems do we face? ▪What is going to be part of the archive ▪Not a priority for the institution ▪Limited staff and time ▪Duplicates and old formats ▪Main materials at observation sites ▪Problems identifying material ▪Documents stored at personal archives Conference LISA 10, November 3-7, 2025. ESO Santiago, Chile.
18 Can we have an archive?
19 “An archive, is one or more sets of documents, whatever their date, form, and material support, accumulated in a natural process by a person or public or private institution during its management. Preserved, respecting that order, to serve as testimony and information for the person or institution that produces them, for citizens or to serve as sources of history.” (Heredia, 1991) Qualities Authenticity - Reliability - Integrity - Usability Characteristics Only retained if they have long-term historical value Archives are not consciously created as historical records Archives are diverse in form (International Council of Archives) •Respect des fonds (origin) •Define the structure previously •Define a digital preservation plan Archives, definitions & rules Conference LISA 10, November 3-7, 2025. ESO Santiago, Chile.
20 Classification ESO Historical Archive Fund Adrian Blaaw Series Institutional Foundation Series Developments in Chile Series Exploration Series Council Meetings Fund La Silla Observatory Construction of the site Cerro la Silla Telescopes ESO 3.6 NTT Schmidt Fund Paranal Observatory VLT Telescope Construction Engineering La Residencia Survey Telescopes Construction Engineering Fund ELT Construction Dome Telescope IOP ESO Institutional ESO Vitacura Construction ESO Garching Council & Member States Conference LISA 10, November 3-7, 2025. ESO Santiago, Chile.
21 Classification ESO Historical Archive Fund Adrian Blaaw Serie Institutional Foundation Subseries European Observatories in the South Subseries Convention Formation Serie Exploration Subseries Explorations in Chile Subseries Exploration in South-Africa Serie Developments in Chile Subseries Instrumentation Committee Subseries Telescope Construction Serie Council Meetings Subseries Engineering Subseries Financing Sub-fund Projects in Chile Conference LISA 10, November 3-7, 2025. ESO Santiago, Chile.
22 Record Description Data Classification: ESO CONFIDENTIAL/INTERNAL/PUBLIC, ESO-XXXXXX v.X (doc nr, version) Field Information: Reference Code: DE -AHE-BLA01-des-sil_4_10 (Germany, Adriaan Blaaw Fund, Development Series in Chile, La Silla Observatory Subseries, Box 4, Folder 10) Title: La Silla Access Map Date(s): 1964 Author(s) Creator(s): A.B. Muller Recipient(s): ESO Directorate Document Type: Map Support: Paper Format: A3 Extension: 2 sheets Language: EN Summary/Scope and Content: Map of the access roads to the territory of La Silla, in the Region of Coquimbo Keywords: La Silla, observatory Observations: Map indicating the best access routes to Cerro La Silla Location: Box 4, file 10 Digitized: No Access Restrictions: Restricted Access Conference LISA 10, November 3-7, 2025. ESO Santiago, Chile.
23 Next steps -Define definite Funds -Describe archive structure and normative according to ISAD G -Define Software and Digital Preservation Policies Define where we are going to store, and how? (Santiago, Garching?) -Begin the process of scanning material and process them Conference LISA 10, November 3-7, 2025. ESO Santiago, Chile.
24 Next steps…future ( & forever) -Look for an Intern in the areas of: archives, history, libraries -Scan and process the Historical Archives in Garching -Process the materials from La Silla -Travel to Paranal to select material -Scan and process material from Paranal -Seek expert help for identification & description of materials Conference LISA 10, November 3-7, 2025. ESO Santiago, Chile.
Thank you! 25 Leslie Kiefer [email protected]