Papers relating to Thomas William Bush (1839-1928), astronomer; 1870-1996

The collection comprises:

Newspaper cuttings relating to Bush. c.1870-1932 (MS 1046/1);

Photographs showing Bush at work on and posed with a 24 inch telescope. n.d. [1870s] (MS 1046/2);

Letters from acquaintances of Bush and Percy Sharman, his executor, to members of University College Nottingham. Copies of letters sent by members of the college to Sharman are also present. Many of these letters relate to the gift of personal effects to the college by Bush's executor. 1928-1935 (MS 1046/3/1-2, MS 1046/4/1-20);

Official catalogue of the Workman's International Exhibition, London where Bush's 13 inch telescope was displayed. 1870 (MS 1046/3/3);

Duplicate copy of a certificate of examination of a barometer once in Bush's possession. 1874 (MS 1046/3/4);

Rough notes and sketches probably made by Bush in 1881 concerning comets 'b' and 'c'. 1881 (MS 1046/3/5);

Typed list of Bush's possessions that were donated to University College Nottingham. n.d. [1928-1935] (MS 1046/4/21);

Gold medal awarded to Bush in 1870 at the Workmen's International Exhibition in London. 1870 (MS 1046/5);

Short biography of Thomas William Bush by Patrick Fleckney accompanied by copies of contemporary documents, research correspondence and secondary sources resulting from research into the biography. 1994-1996 (MS 1046/6).

Thomas William Bush was born in Nottingham in 1839. He began his working life as a baker but taught himself aspects of mathematics, optics and languages outside work. He became a member of the Nottingham Mechanics Institute in 1861 and began designing and building telescopes. In 1870 he exhibited a 13 inch telescope at the Workman's International Exhibition in London and was presented with a gold medal by Queen Victoria and three scientific instruments by William Ewart Gladstone, the Prime Minister, and Sir George Airy, the Astronomer Royal. In 1873, Bush became a secretary of Nottingham General Hospital and began experimenting with reflecting telescopes that used copper and tin mirrors.

Bush was elected to the Royal Astronomical Society in 1873, and in 1877 he moved to a new home and observatory in Alexandra Park, Mapperley, Nottingham. In 1888, Bush accepted a post as private astronomer at the observatory in Willey Park, the Shropshire estate of Orlando Watkin, the 4th Baron Forester. In 1909, Bush left Willey Park and moved to Cornwall where he began work upon 24 inch telescopes. He later retired to East Grinstead, Sussex. Thomas William Bush died on 23 April 1928.

The collection has been divided by document type into series. Within these series, items have been arranged chronologically.

Accessible to all readers.

Copyright in all finding aids belongs to The University of Nottingham.

Online: Available on the Manuscripts Online Catalogue, accessible from the website of Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Good

Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk).

Reprographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only, depending on access status and the condition of the documents.

From 1928-35 various items relating to Thomas William Bush were given to University College Nottingham (now The University of Nottingham) by the executor of his will. Several other items relating to Bush have been added to this collection subsequently.

The University of Nottingham; Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections: Two Bibles, one dated 1613 and another dated c.1800, that belonged to Thomas William Bush. References: Special Collection BS 185.C13 Oversize X and Special Collection BS 185.E07 Oversize X

The University of Nottingham; Department of Physics: A solar eyepiece and a filar position micrometer presented by William Gladstone, the Prime Minister, to Bush for the telescope that he exhibited in London in 1870; a barometer made by Gray and Selby that was once owned by Bush; and a sidereal clock made by Cope which was presented to Bush in 1879 by friends in Nottingham in admiration of his work as a self-taught amateur astronomer, mathematician and mechanic.

Nottinghamshire Archives: Notes concerning Bush's observations on two comets in 1881 and 1882.