John M. Pierce
Encyclopedia
John M. Pierce was an American teacher and amateur astronomer
.
Pierce worked with Russell W. Porter
to organize Stellafane
, the observatory near Springfield, Vermont
where amateur telescope makers
still meet annually for the Stellafane convention. He was one of the earliest members of the Springfield Telescope Makers and served as its vice president.
Pierce contributed many articles to the telescope making column conducted by Albert G. Ingalls in Scientific American
, and wrote several chapters in the Amateur Telescope Making
series of books, including "Motor Drives", "Making Astronomical Flats", and "A Telescope Anyone Can Make" (the latter appeared only in the earliest printings). When the hobby was new and supplies were hard to come by, Pierce set up a small business to provide kits and parts for amateur astronomers.
In 1933 and 1934 he published a series of 14 articles on telescope making in Hugo Gernsback
's Everyday Science and Mechanics called "Hobbygrafs" (or sometimes "Hobbygraphs").
Robert E. Cox
, in an obituary for Sky and Telescope magazine in 1958, considered John M. Pierce on a par with Ingalls and Porter, describing him as one of "the big three behind the amateur telescope making movement in America."
in 1910. He spent most of his life as a teacher; from 1919 to 1956 he was director of the Springfield High School
co-operative course, which included training in machine-tool work, cabinet making, sheet-metal work and auto repair. He was also active in civic affairs and well known as a musician and amateur geologist.
Amateur astronomy
Amateur astronomy, also called backyard astronomy and stargazing, is a hobby whose participants enjoy watching the night sky , and the plethora of objects found in it, mainly with portable telescopes and binoculars...
.
Pierce worked with Russell W. Porter
Russell W. Porter
Russell Williams Porter was an American artist, engineer, amateur astronomer and explorer. He was a pioneer in the field of “cutaway illustration" and is sometimes referred to as the "founder" or one of the "founders" of amateur telescope making."-Biography:Russell W...
to organize Stellafane
Stellafane
Stellafane is the name of the clubhouse built by the Springfield Telescope Makers club of Springfield, Vermont in the early 1920s, and has since come to refer to the club's land and buildings on the summit of Breezy Hill...
, the observatory near Springfield, Vermont
Springfield, Vermont
Springfield is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 9,373 at the 2010 census.-History:One of the New Hampshire grants, the township was chartered on August 20, 1761 by Governor Benning Wentworth and awarded to Gideon Lyman and 61 others...
where amateur telescope makers
Amateur telescope making
Amateur telescope making is the activity of building telescopes as a hobby, as opposed to being a paid professional. Amateur telescope makers build their instruments for personal enjoyment of a technical challenge, as a way to obtain an inexpensive or personally customized telescope, or as a...
still meet annually for the Stellafane convention. He was one of the earliest members of the Springfield Telescope Makers and served as its vice president.
Pierce contributed many articles to the telescope making column conducted by Albert G. Ingalls in Scientific American
Scientific American
Scientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
, and wrote several chapters in the Amateur Telescope Making
Amateur Telescope Making
Amateur Telescope Making is a series of three books edited by Albert G. Ingalls between 1926 and 1953 while he was an associate editor at Scientific American. The books cover various aspects of telescope construction and observational technique, sometimes at quite an advanced level, but always in...
series of books, including "Motor Drives", "Making Astronomical Flats", and "A Telescope Anyone Can Make" (the latter appeared only in the earliest printings). When the hobby was new and supplies were hard to come by, Pierce set up a small business to provide kits and parts for amateur astronomers.
In 1933 and 1934 he published a series of 14 articles on telescope making in Hugo Gernsback
Hugo Gernsback
Hugo Gernsback , born Hugo Gernsbacher, was a Luxembourgian American inventor, writer, editor, and magazine publisher, best remembered for publications that included the first science fiction magazine. His contributions to the genre as publisher were so significant that, along with H. G...
's Everyday Science and Mechanics called "Hobbygrafs" (or sometimes "Hobbygraphs").
Robert E. Cox
Robert E. Cox
-Career:Cox worked briefly at Perkin Elmer in 1939. Shortly thereafter he was inducted into the Army Air Corps and served for two years in the South Pacific as a weather specialist. After the war, Cox accepted part-time positions as photographic technician at Harvard Observatory and as staff...
, in an obituary for Sky and Telescope magazine in 1958, considered John M. Pierce on a par with Ingalls and Porter, describing him as one of "the big three behind the amateur telescope making movement in America."
Biography
Pierce graduated in architectural engineering from Pratt InstitutePratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
in 1910. He spent most of his life as a teacher; from 1919 to 1956 he was director of the Springfield High School
Springfield High School (Vermont)
Springfield High School is a public high school in the southern Vermont town of Springfield. Springfield High School is part of the Springfield School District and serves students from Springfield and neighboring Weathersfield, Vermont...
co-operative course, which included training in machine-tool work, cabinet making, sheet-metal work and auto repair. He was also active in civic affairs and well known as a musician and amateur geologist.