28-inch terrestrial globe
Date: 1757
Inventory Number: 0071b
Classification: Globe
Subject:
Maker: Benjamin Martin (1704 - 1782)
Maker: John Senex (English, 1678 - 1740)
Supplier: Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
121 x 65 x 98 cm (47 5/8 x 25 9/16 x 38 9/16 in.)
globe diam.: 71 cm (27 15/16 in.)
Material:
Accessories: surviving leg of original stand, given number 0071c
Bibliography:
The Apparatus of Science at Harvard, 1765-1800
Description:
The stand on wheels was probably built in the early 1930s. The globe has been painted black and used for pedagogical purposes (to teach positional astronomy or spherical geometry). The globe still has its graduated brass meridian and hour circle. The globe itself is supported by three wheels, which also makes it rotate.
Signedunsigned
Historical AttributesBenjamin Martin sent a pair of globes to Harvard in 1765 thus described: "a pair of 28 Inch Globes in Mahogany carv'd frames Silver'd & Lacquer'd Meredians &c... £35"
Benjamin Franklin helped to select the globes in London for purchase by Harvard to replace instruments lost in the fire of 1764.
The globle was repaired and painted black by Billy Kenlly in 1931 at the request of Prof. Edwin C. Kemble of the physics department. To understand why this happened, it is interesting to quote at length a letter written in 1804 to the Harvard Corporation by Parker Cleaveland (1750-1858), Tutor of Natural Philosophy and Mathematics, about 40 years after this globe was acquired by Harvard: "Gentlemen, the subscriber begs leave to state to you, that there are belonging to the department of Nat. Philosophy &c, in which he is employed, three globes, one terrestrial & two celestials; all of which are entirely unfit for use, & can afford the pupil no assistance, excepting what may arise from simple inspection. One of the celestial globes is very old ... [t]he surface of the other celestial is a little soiled ... [and the] terrestrial globe is entirely worn out. Its surface is very much soiled, in many parts torn off; and some of its circles appear in furrows, made by pins & nails... The subscriber believes that one of the celestial globes may be repaired and rendered fit for use. The others are not worth repair."
A surviving leg of the original mount exists and is kept with the globe.
Benjamin Franklin helped to select the globes in London for purchase by Harvard to replace instruments lost in the fire of 1764.
The globle was repaired and painted black by Billy Kenlly in 1931 at the request of Prof. Edwin C. Kemble of the physics department. To understand why this happened, it is interesting to quote at length a letter written in 1804 to the Harvard Corporation by Parker Cleaveland (1750-1858), Tutor of Natural Philosophy and Mathematics, about 40 years after this globe was acquired by Harvard: "Gentlemen, the subscriber begs leave to state to you, that there are belonging to the department of Nat. Philosophy &c, in which he is employed, three globes, one terrestrial & two celestials; all of which are entirely unfit for use, & can afford the pupil no assistance, excepting what may arise from simple inspection. One of the celestial globes is very old ... [t]he surface of the other celestial is a little soiled ... [and the] terrestrial globe is entirely worn out. Its surface is very much soiled, in many parts torn off; and some of its circles appear in furrows, made by pins & nails... The subscriber believes that one of the celestial globes may be repaired and rendered fit for use. The others are not worth repair."
A surviving leg of the original mount exists and is kept with the globe.
Published ReferencesDavid P. Wheatland, The Apparatus of Science at Harvard, 1765-1800 (Cambridge, MA: CHSI, 1968), pp. 63-64.
