A total solar eclipse is safe to view directly during totality, when the Moon completely covers the Sun and only the corona is visible. However, before and after totality or during partial or annular phases of the eclipse, the visible sun is almost a million times brighter than the corona; eye protection is necessary for safe viewing of the eclipse. Luke Cole amassed a collection of eclipse viewers–special glasses with filters specifically for viewing the eclipsed Sun–from eclipses since 1793.
The collection was donated by Nancy Shelby of San Francisco, CA in memory of her late husband, Luke Cole, who collected the eclipse viewers. The liaison with Williams College’s Hopkins Observatory was arranged by Skip Cole, Williams College class of 1957.
The display below includes the eclipse viewers, as well as many historical eclipse postcards and various publications. Please select an image for a larger view.
5 September 1793
5 September 1793
5 September 1793
5 September 1793
12 February 1831
12 February 1831
12 February 1831
12 February 1831
22 December 1870
22 December 1870
30 August 1905
30 August 1905
30 August 1905
30 August 1905
30 August 1905
30 August 1905
30 August 1905
30 August 1905
30 August 1905
30 August 1905
30 August 1905
30 August 1905
17 June 1909
17 June 1909
17 June 1909
17 June 1909
17 April 1912
17 April 1912
17 April 1912
17 April 1912
21 September 1922
21 September 1922
21 September 1922
21 September 1922
10 September 1923
10 September 1923
10 September 1923
10 September 1923
24 January 1925
24 January 1925
24 January 1925
24 January 1925
24 January 1925
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24 January 1925
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24 January 1925
24 January 1925
24 January 1925
24 January 1925
24 January 1925
24 January 1925
24 January 1925
24 January 1925
24 January 1925
24 January 1925
24 January 1925
22 November 1925
22 November 1925
22 November 1925
22 November 1925
24 January 1925
24 January 1925
24 January 1925
24 January 1925
29 June 1927
29 June 1927
9 May 1929
9 May 1929
9 May 1929
9 May 1929
28 April 1930
28 April 1930
28 April 1930
28 April 1930
28 April 1930
28 April 1930
28 April 1930
28 April 1930
31 August 1932
31 August 1932
31 August 1932
31 August 1932
31 August 1932
31 August 1932
31 August 1932
31 August 1932
31 August 1932
31 August 1932
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31 August 1932
31 August 1932
31 August 1932
31 August 1932
31 August 1932
7 August 1940
7 August 1940
7 August 1940
7 August 1940
7 April 1940
7 April 1940
20 July 1963
20 July 1963
20 July 1963
20 July 1963
20 July 1963
20 July 1963
20 July 1963
20 July 1963
20 July 1963
20 July 1963
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20 July 1963
20 July 1963
20 July 1963
20 July 1963
20 July 1963
1970
1970
1970
1970
1970
1970
1970
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1970
1970
1970
7 March 1970
7 March 1970
10 July 1972
10 July 1972
10 July 1972
10 July 1972
10 July 1972
10 July 1972
23 October 1976
23 October 1976
23 October 1976
23 October 1976
31 July 1981
31 July 1981
31 July 1981
31 July 1981
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
11 July 1991
1994
1994
1994
1994
10 May 1994
10 May 1994
10 May 1994
10 May 1994
11 August 1999
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1999
1999
1999
1999
11 August 1999
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11 August 1999
11 August 1999
11 August 1999
21 June 2001
21 June 2001
21 June 2001
21 June 2001
4 December 2002
4 December 2002
4 December 2002
4 December 2002
16 May 2003
16 May 2003
16 May 2003
16 May 2003
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