Harlow Shapley: Measurement of Galaxies of Vast Distances, 1945

Early Education

Harlow Shapley was born in Nashville, Missouri, on November 2, 1885. A twin, both Harlow and his brother Horace were named after their grandfathers. Shapley's father was a successful hay producer and dealer, and his childhood was spent on the family farm; he received much of his early education in a one-room schoolhouse. At the age of 16, Harlow took a course at a business school and became a newspaper reporter and city editor for the Daily Sun in Chanute, Kansas. He resolved to save his money and get an education. After attending the Carthage Collegiate Institute in Missouri, Shapley graduated as valedictorian of his class.

Franklin Institute Awards certificate awarded to Harlow Shapley "in consideration of his many valuable contributions to the science of astronomy and especially of his work in the measurement of the vast distances necessary for the determination of the nature and extent of our galaxy, as well as those of other galaxies external to ours." 4/18/1945 (269k)

Franklin Institute Honorary membership certificate to Harlow Shapley "in consideration of his many valuable contributions to the science of astronomy..." 4/18/1945 (281k)