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.
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5 September 1793 -
5 September 1793 -
Transmission measurements made by Kevin Forkey, Williams College Physics Department. -
12 February 1831 -
12 February 1831 -
Transmission measurements made by Kevin Forkey, Williams College Physics Department. -
22 December 1870 -
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 April 1912 -
17 April 1912 -
21 September 1922 -
21 September 1922 -
10 September 1923 -
10 September 1923 -
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 -
24 January 1925 -
24 January 1925 -
29 June 1927 -
9 May 1929 -
9 May 1929 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
31 August 1932 -
31 August 1932 -
7 August 1940 -
7 August 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 -
1970 -
1970 -
1970 -
1970 -
1970 -
1970 -
7 March 1970 -
10 July 1972 -
10 July 1972 -
10 July 1972 -
23 October 1976 -
23 October 1976 -
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 -
1994 -
1994 -
10 May 1994 -
10 May 1994 -
11 August 1999 -
1999 -
1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
11 August 1999 -
21 June 2001 -
21 June 2001 -
4 December 2002 -
4 December 2002 -
16 May 2003 -
16 May 2003 -
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11 August 1999 (obverse) -
11 August 1999 (reverse) -
4 December 2002 (obverse) -
4 December 2002 (reverse) -
2001, 2002 (obverse) -
4 December 2002 (obverse) -
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4 December 2002 (obverse) -
4 December 2002 (reverse) -
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1999 (obverse) -
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1999 (obverse) -
1999 (obverse) -
1999 (obverse) -
1999 (reverse) -
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11 August 1999 (obverse) -
11 August 1999 (reverse) -
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11 August 1999 (obverse) -
11 August 1999 (obverse) -
11 August 1999 (reverse) -
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Great American Eclipse 21 August 2017 -
SEC 2014 -
Great American Eclipse 21 August 2017 -
Sun-Earth Day 2012 -
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Great American Eclipse 21 August 2017 (obverse) -
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21 August 2017 -
21 August 2017 -
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6 January 2019, Tokyo -
6 January 2019, Tokyo -
6 January 2019, Tokyo -
6 January 2019, Tokyo -
Kodaikanal December 26, 2019 -
Kodaikanal December 26, 2019
