Frank Kelley Edmondson

Background

Edmondson, Frank Kelley was born on August 1, 1912 in Milwaukee. Son of Clarence Edward and Marie (Kelley) Edmondson.

Education

AB, Indiana University, 1933. A.M., Indiana University, 1934. Doctor of Philosophy, Harvard University, 1937.

Career

Lawrence fellow, Lowell Observatory, 1933-1934; research assistant, Lowell Observatory, 1934-1935; Agassiz fellow, Harvard Observatory, 1935-1936; assistant, Harvard Observatory, 1936-1937; instructor astronomy, Indiana U., Bloomington, 1937-1934O; assistant professor, Indiana U., 1940-1945; associate professor, Indiana U., 1945-1948; professor, Indiana U., 1949-1983; professor emeritus, Indiana U., since 1983; director Kirkwood Observatory, Indiana U., 1945-1978; director, Goethe Link Observatory, 1948-1978; chairman astronomy department, Goethe Link Observatory, 1944-1978; research associate, McDonald Observatory, 1944-1983. Observations of asteroids in cooperation with International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center. Statistical adviser to Professor Alfred Kinsey for gall wasp and human sex behaviour research, 1939-1956.

Program director for astronomy National Science Foundation, 1956-1957. Acting director Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, 1966. Lecturer astronomical societies.

Member of advisory board Lowell Observatory, since 1988.

Achievements

• Frank Kelley Edmondson has been listed as a noteworthy astronomer by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science (chairman section D, vice president 1962). Member Association Universities Research in Astronomy (vice president 1957-1961, president 1962-1965, director 1957-1983, consultant/historian 1983–2003, historian emeritus 2003^), Canada Astronomical Society, American Astronomical Society (treasurer 1954-1975, 70 year attendence award 2001), Astronomical Society Pacific, International Astronomical Union (chairman United States national committee 1963-1964, vice president commission minor planets, comets and satellites 1967-1970, president 1970-1973), Indiana Academy of Sciences (named Distinguished Scholar 2004), American Museum Natural History (correspondent member), Friends of Center for History of Physics (executive committee since 2001), Explorers Club, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi.

Connections

Married Margaret Russell, November 24, 1934 (deceased January 1999). Children: Margaret Jean Olson, Frank K. Junior.