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Photo of Albert Michelson

A.A. Michelson, Master Of Light

If you've read any physics or astronomy at all you have run into the name A.A. Michelson. Most often associated with the interferometer, it goes much deeper than that.

Born December 19, 1852 in Strzelno, German occupied Poland. Albert's parents immigrated to the United States in 1856.

Michelson's most important and well known works was on the Interferometer, The Michelson-Morley Experiment and the Speed of Light. Michelson's measurement of the speed of light is the most fascinating, exciting aspect of his work I've ever read about. When you consider when this was done and the astonishing accuracy he achieved without the aid of anything electronic, it boggles the mind.

On his first try in 1878 he achieved a value of 186,508 miles/second. In January of 1927 Michelson made his last measurement at Mount Wilson in California. A figure of 186,285 +/- 2.5 m/s was obtained. I found the speed listed in a college textbook as 186,282.4 m/s.

Photo made in 1887




Diagram of Mirror

A Drawing Of The First Rotating Mirror

Purchased with $10 of his own money while an Ensign at Annapolis Md. The mirror is the key device in the measurement. This one had only one mirror surface but the one used in the 1927 Mt.Wilson experiment had eight sides.




Photo of Michelson

Meeting Dorothy Michelson (Dody)

Albert Michelson's life as written about by his youngest daughter Dorothy in her book, THE MASTER OF LIGHT. The work is a most interesting and wonderful description of a modern man of science.

Michelson's success was largely because of his expertise in the design and construction of his instruments, and an innate sense of curiosity. He would accept nothing less than perfection from himself and from his assistants.

My personal introduction to A.A. Michelson was in Sky and Telescope magazine. His name kept popping up again and again. Finally it got the best of me and I went looking for a biography on him. The local library had one by Dorothy Michelson Livingston. I checked it out and read it cover to cover twice. Wanting a copy of my own I contacted the publisher, Chicago Press. It was still in print in paper back. I ordered it and read it again.

I guess about a year went by and I got to thinking that just possibly Dorothy might still be alive judging by rough dates in the book. So I contacted the Chicago Press and ask them to forward a letter I had sent along. They must have done so because I received a note from her in October of 1987.


You talk about something going right, well everything sure did in this case. We wrote back and forth a few times and then Dorothy said she had some friends in Tucson and would be coming to see them. Now mind you this lady is in her 80's (born 1906) and would be traveling alone to Tucson.

I met Dody face to face the first time at noon of February 20, 1989 at a local restaurant. She came with two old friends Dan and (?) Moore. After lunch Mr. and Mrs. Moore went back to their apartment and Dody and I went to her apartment and we sat by the pool and chatted for about an hour. I took her back to the Moore's to play tennis. That evening there was a paper plate dinner at the Moors and I was invited.

Now . . . you talk about being in over your head. That evening I sure was. Those folks were all much older than I was. About the same as Dody give or take a little. I remember one old gentleman speaking about playing poker with Richard Nixon and another about serving in Egypt as head of what is now the CIA. I wish I had jotted down a few names at the time but I was to stupid to realize that there was some history going on here.

Photo of Dody

On February 27 Dody's daughter Beatrice (Bay) Stevens was visiting her mother and we all had dinner together.

On March 1 I purchased tickets to ATC's production of ARMS AND THE MAN and Dody and I had an early dinner together and then went to see the play. An actor friend of mine was in the show and we all had a nice "after the show" with the cast. She enjoyed herself very much I think. Dody returned to New York a few days later. That was the last time I saw her, she passed away April 15, 1994.

During the years between March of 1989 and April 1994 we wrote or called each other periodically. I found some video of a black and white film made on Mt.Wilson of her father on a physics program from PBS and sent her a copy of the tape. It was film that she had never seen. Sure made me feel good to know that I had been able to do that for her.


The color photograph of Dody and the huge swan was taken at Dody's home on Long Island N.Y. about the same time as her trip to Tucson in 1989.

I have come to idolize Michelson as a person, a scientist and as a personal hero. To come this close to him through his daughter was quite an experience. One I'll never forget.


Photo of Dody and Albert

Dody and her Father in Canada

On summer vacation in Ontario Canada, Dody and her Father enjoy the water.

This photo is one of my prized possessions. Signed for me by Dody at our first meeting.




Photo of Edna

Dody's Mother,
Edna Stanton Michelson

and the family dog, Domino.

Edna was born in 1871 in Bristol, England. She grew up in a number of city's among them was St. Petersburg Russia when her Father, Edgar Stanton was Consul General for 12 years beginning in 1876.

Albert passed away on the morning of May 9, 1931. Edna's death came only 6 months later. I can't help but think that because of Albert's illness that possibly Edna ignored her own on-coming problem until it was too late. The very thought of that gives me a big lump in my throat and an aching in my chest.

God rest your souls Albert, Edna and Dody.



You can reach me at: dblawren@att.net

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Posted 12-18-99