The content of this site was generated automatically using Claude Code and Mnemotron-R, based on OCR data from Spectator (1947–2025) and other college archival materials hosted at the Internet Archive. It it intended as a proof of concept for the Mnemotron-R project, and has not been reviewed for completeness or accuracy by a human reviewer.
Contact Hamilton College Archives for authoratiative access to College history.
Overview
Edward Skinner King (1861–1931) was a Hamilton College alumnus of the Class of 1888 who became a prominent astronomer at Harvard College Observatory. Born in Liverpool, New York, he enrolled at Hamilton in the early 1880s and graduated in 1888. He spent his career at Harvard, where he worked in astrophotography and stellar photometry, earning recognition as an authority in observational astronomy.
Hamilton awarded King an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1927, acknowledging his distinguished career at Harvard. He appears in the 1927-28 catalog as a recipient of that degree, listed as Edward Skinner King of Cambridge, Massachusetts — the city where Harvard Observatory is located.
Relevance to Research
King represents the tradition of Hamilton alumni achieving national distinction in science. His presence in the student catalogs of the 1880s documents his undergraduate years at Hamilton, and his honorary degree in 1927 marks the college’s formal recognition of his career in astronomy. The Hamilton Life retrospective reference in 1932 confirms continued alumni memory of King after his death in 1931.
Notes
- Class of 1888 (listed in 1883-84, 1884-85, 1887-88, and 1890-91 catalogs as an enrolled student or recent alumnus)
- Home listed as Liverpool, New York in the 1884-85 catalog
- Born 1861; died 1931
- Career at Harvard College Observatory in Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Hamilton College awarded him an honorary Doctor of Science degree, recorded in the 1927-28 catalog: “Doctor of Science — Edward Skinner King, Cambridge, Mass.”
- Listed in a Hamilton Life retrospective roll of distinguished alumni (Hamilton Life, June 11, 1932): “Edward Skinner King, ‘88”
- The 1890-91 catalog still lists him by name, suggesting ongoing alumni tracking after graduation
Related Sources
- yhm-arc-pub-cat-1883-84 — listed as enrolled student
- yhm-arc-pub-cat-1884-85 — listed as enrolled student; home: Liverpool, NY
- yhm-arc-pub-cat-1887-88 — listed as member of the Class of 1888
- yhm-arc-pub-cat-1890-91 — listed among recent alumni
- yhm-arc-pub-cat-1927-28 — honorary Doctor of Science degree conferred
- hamilton-life-1932-06-11 — retrospective alumni listing; “Edward Skinner King, ‘88”
Related Topics
- alumni-distinction — recipient of honorary degree; noted scientist alumnus