Mina’s eyes were to the skies

One of the unsung astronomy greats was a Dundee woman whose claim to a spot among celestial science’s elite is fully merited.

Dundee Astronomical Society stalwart and Tay Valley Family History Society (TVFHS) member Ken Kennedy points out that the exceptional Williamina Paton Stevens Fleming “made good under difficult circumstances”, and that the city’s sons and daughters should be proud to know that she was one of their own.

He writes: “As in all areas of science, current astronomical thinking has arisen from those who have made their mark on history. When I contemplate our present day understanding of the universe I often reflect on how a Dundee lady was central to crucial developments in the early 20th Century.

“Williamina Paton Stevens was born at 86 Nethergate, Dundee, on May 15 1857, and later became better known by her married name of Fleming. Her achievements are not particularly well known or recognised in her home town but that’s probably because her work was mainly carried out in the USA.

“She married James Orr Fleming in 1877 and worked as a teacher before emigrating to Boston, Massachusetts, where her husband abandoned her and her young son.

“In desperation, she found work as a maid with Professor Edward Pickering, director of Harvard College Observatory. Pickering’s male staff failed to please him with their work and he invited Fleming to join the observatory staff to do analysis and also to employ a team of ladies to do the repetitive but essential work of measuring and analysing stars on photographic plates.”

Mr Kennedy says the Dundee-raised icon

and her colleagues’ research findings can be seen to form the basis of much of what we know about the universe to this day.

“Williamina soon proved her worth having employed a number of very capable ladies who made ground-breaking discoveries. She herself discovered 59 nebulae, 310 variable stars and 10 novae and the first-identified white dwarf star.

“Fleming also devised a system of classifying stars by their hydrogen content. She was widely acknowledged, especially

in the USA, but was also the first Scottish woman to be awarded Royal Astronomical Society honorary membership.”

Ken says time spent researching the scientist at volunteer-run TVFHS’S library premises on Princes Street in Dundee has proved an enlightening process.

He adds: “As a member, I’ve been able to print copies of Fleming’s birth and marriage certificates, which give so much background to this important Dundee-born lady.

“Given the society’s resources, it’s possible to find out a great deal about local people like Fleming, and even delve into one’s own ancestry, which can be very enlightening!

“I, for one, have discovered an unexpected skeleton in my cupboard which has changed the pathway of one major branch of my family. But that’s another story.

“If looking for your family roots appeals, TVFHS has excellent facilities with help on hand for some of the dead ends which are likely to be encountered.

“It’s on Facebook with a revised website going online soon.”