A surveyor’s transit is used to measure horizontal and vertical angles (The Surveyor’s Basic Tools). It was invented in 1831 by William J. Young. Designs varied throughout the 1800s, but were generally standardized by 1885. The transit was a highly versatile tool and with modifications was used not only for surveying, but also for astronomy, mining, and tunneling (Beeks). Young & Sons made this specific surveyor’s transit in the United States sometime between 1906 and 1908 (Miller). It likely came to Grinnell to be used in the class “Surveying and Plotting”, offered from 1905 to 1909, and then in the class simply titled “Surveying” from 1910 to 1923 after which the class was no longer offered. The transit was likely used directly by students and not just professors for demonstration as the course description says it is about “the theory of different instruments and practice in their use” as well as that students should expect to perform six hours of field work each week. Some of the earlier descriptions of the course explicitly mentioning using the transit during the first half of the course, and although the transit is no longer explicitly mentioned in some of the later course descriptions it is still likely that it was included in the instruments used for field work (Grinnell College Catalogs). -Andrew Lieman (2019) Probably used between 1906 and 1908 References Beeks, D. Evolution of the Transit. Retrieved from http://www.surveyhistory.org/evolution_of_the_transit1.htm Grinnell College Catalogs from 1905 to 1923. Miller, R. How Old is my Young & Sons?. Retrieved from http://www.surveyhistory.org/how_old_is_my_young_&_sons.htm The Surveyor’s Basic Tools. Retrieved from http://www.surveyhistory.org/the_surveyor%27s_basic_tools.htm

This microscope (serial number 53724) belonged to Dr. O.F. Parish, Grinnell College class of 1900. The purchase price was $60.00. With this microscope, He performed his own laboratory work, such as blood counts and urinalyses. Following graduation from medical school in 1903, he returned directly to Grinnell and practiced medicine here for 43 years. His son, Dr. John Parish, Grinnell College class of 1927, joined the practice in 1933. (Browse to te_194 to see his microscope) This microscope was donated to the Physics Museum by Dr. John Parish.

Transcontinental telephone cable containing 560 copper wires.This aerial cable required an attached steel cable for support.

Gift from Robert Noyce at Intel to Grinnell College Physics Department. Paper-tape reader for Intellec 8 8080-development system.

Gift from Robert Noyce at Intel to Grinnell College Physics Department

1979 Gift from Steve Jobs to Grinnell College

First single-board computer used in electronics course