Isaac W. Ward (1834-1916), also known as Belfastiensis, was a ‘versatile genius’ whose astronomical research was widely recognised during his life. He discovered two important stars and wrote a paper on “The Two Outer Satellites of Uranus” which received much praise when sent to the Royal Astronomical Society. Many astronomers knew his work on ‘faint specks of light’. Moreover, he was heavily involved in the linen industry and an overall polymath. This archive contains documents from Ward and his family surrounding his studies, newspaper clippings, his son’s attendance at the Royal Academical Institution, and his love for dogs. Contents: a newspaper page of The Belfast Evening Telegraph with the story of his death, additional clippings of stories from other newspapers are also attached (Oct. 1916); a newspaper scrapbook entitled C-E-E Barnes containing more stories on Ward’s death and the previous accident that induced it (1916); newspaper clippings concerning John Rea, a solicitor, his life, and death (1870, 1910, 1915); a handwritten note from 1796 on ‘The Northern Star’; listings on the circulation of “Belfast Corporation Assembly Book” from 1750-1842 (1908); appreciation notes on Isaac Ward, a printed picture of him (likely 1916); Belfast Municipal Art Gallery and Museum Quarterly Notes cover on Ward and his work (Dec. 1916); a sheet drawing of Alexander Gardiner’s tombstone (late 19th century); miscellaneous newspaper clippings (early 20th century); miscellaneous obituaries and newspaper clippings of stories on the deaths of notable persons (early 20th century); a note on the Belfast Homing Pigeon Society with timelines (1894); handwritten Belfast Post Office notes; timeline notes on history; letter correspondence from The Weekly Northern Whig regarding the Ulster Times (1914); a partially filled in copybook for improved handwriting (late 19th century); Royal Belfast Academical Institution specimens of penmanship for handwriting (1880s); many handwriting practice documents (1880s); a photograph of Ward; a diagram concerning storms in Bangor (1880s); fifty four Edinburgh circulars concerning comet discoveries and other information 1889-90; notes on astronomical observations; a drawn diagram of Jupiter (1888); a telescope printed diagram; a diagram of Mercury’s orbit, potentially on the perihelion of Mercury (1891); notes on parallax; correspondence from the observatory at Dunecht, Aberdeen (1879); a note on Neptune; large pages of notes and diagram on the observations of planets and stars; notice about signs of madness in dogs; a letter to all stockholders in ‘The Linen Thread Co. Ltd.’ (1959); a sketch of a man; filled in kennel club registration form and subsequent certificate (1933); a page of the Belfast Telegraph from January 1930; Pearson’s Antiseptic pedigree form; Belfast White Linen-Hall lists of proprietors containing Ward’s name (1876, 1887); Ulster Hall Monday Popular Concerts Programming (Nov. 1864); Belfast Classical Harmonists Society First Dress Concert advertisement (Feb. 1853); more miscellaneous concert advertisements from the mid 1880s; a Northern Whig Newspaper page from 1909; watercolour paintings of Santa Claus (early 20th century); reports from the Royal Belfast Academical Institution from January 1887 until 1889 for G. Ward, presumably Ward’s son; Royal Belfast Academical Institution’s School News, contains a principal’s note on a loan (June 1890); a proof to Mr. Darragh on ‘Sunspots and Magnetic Storms’ (1907); sellotaped post office telegraphs from 1916; typescript information on John Kirker; a letter from ‘the Savoy Hotel Limited’ concerning the death of Ward’s son [?] to his other son (1929); a typescript letter on Russian money exchange; an appreciation of Ward and a two posthumous articles; a sugar registration card from the Ministry of Food (1917); two postcards accompanied with a happy birthday card in Irish; two postcards from holidays to Ward (1913); a UK flag and a ribbon inscribed to be a ‘gift of affection to Auntie,’; a letter from the Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast (1913).
HOYFM.ACL2024.35
