Manuscript letters between Francis Galton and Charles Chree, primarily regarding the Observatory at Kew. This extensive collection is split across three folders, arranged by date.
Folder 1: June 1893 - December 1894
June 1893-June 1894. Letters primarily concerning the building of an extension to the observatory at Kew and asking Galton to sign cheques. Letter dated 5 Aug 1893 has a rough sketch of the extension. Letter dated 8 December 1893 concerns the gate leading to the Observatory (with diagram). Letters concerning an audit by the Royal Society. Letter dated 29 May 1894 discusses reasons for not changing the name to 'Richmond'. Letter dated 28 June 1894 concerns tests on clinical thermometers and influx of German-made ones.
July - December 1894. Letters concerning the appointment of a boy clerk. Letters discussing the name of the Committee and observatory (copy of Galton's letter dated 3 Jul 1894). Letter dated 8 September 1894 provides details of the observatory at Glasgow. Letters concerning aneroid apparatus. Letter dated 15 October 1894 has a proposed agenda for a meeting of the Committee. Letters discussing paths, proposed fences at the Kew observatory, and golf club house. Letters concerning General Strachey's suggestions regarding the auditor's report. Letter dated 10 December 1894 concerns the 'extension fund'. Letters concerning the form the cheques should take.
Folder 2: September 1896 - December 1897
September 1896-April 1987. Letters regarding a National Physical Laboratory report; money owed to the Royal Society; the golf club and grazing in the enclosure; magnetic instrument comparison study between Kew and Parc St Maur led by Professor Rucker (who became secretary of the Royal Society) and Professor Moureaux; azimuth compasses; discussion on Kew thermometers, mercury and platinum thermometers; applications of spherical trigometry; Gaussian constants; Dover's compass testing apparatus; alterations in compass testing regulations; payments and expediture and the Gassiot Trust (letter dated 2 Feb 1897); meetings; buying new apparatus (particularly letter dated 3 April 1897).
April 1897-December 1897. Letters concerning a 'Jubilee watch' for the Queen to be presented by the town of Coventry (12 May 1897). Letters concerning new compass regulations; Cambridge Instrument Company altering two platinum thermometers and about Jena glass thermometers; instrument makers; Kew watch certificates; comparison of high range thermometers. Encloses a page of printed biographical details about Charles Chree, superintendent of Kew Observatory, with a list of publications.
Folder 3: January 1898-27 Jun 1900; 15 March 1902
Letters concerning an audit on the Cambridge resistance box; the Gassiot Trust; Captain Abney and the photographic test; letter dated 24 Nov 1898 with enclosures showing Houdaille's apparatus and lens testing; Lord Kelvin's ships' compasses; boom in testing magnetic instruments; transfer to National Physical Laboratory. Letter dated 21 December 1899 encloses list of staff and description of rooms at observatory. Letter dated 15 March 1902 includes medical exam marks from Aberdeen.
