#  Helen Spence Federer 

 



 **Helen Spence Federer** (1911-1983) was an astronomer who worked at the Harvard College Observatory in various capacities from approximately 1941-1962.[1](#fn1) During her time at the HCO, she worked in administrative roles and as the co-founder and managing editor of Sky & Telescope magazine.

 From 1941-1942, Spence Federer worked as the assistant to Leon Campbell, the first recording secretary of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, which at the time was housed at the HCO.[2](#fn2) She brought her “quiet reserve and a great deal of editorial know-how” to the role.[3](#fn3)

 In 1941, Spence Federer and her husband, Charles A. Federer Jr., founded the astronomy magazine Sky & Telescope, which continues to be published today.[4](#fn4) They created the magazine by joining two existing publications: The Sky, published by the American Museum of Natural History, and The Telescope, published by the Harvard College Observatory.[5](#fn5) Charles served as the Editor in Chief and Helen served as the Managing Editor,[6](#fn6) and the magazine was headquartered at the HCO.[7](#fn7)

 From 1948-1949, Spence Federer served as president of the National Astronomical League.[8](#fn8) In 1954, Spence Federer and her husband published a book of astronomical photos entitled Splendors of the Sky.[9](#fn9) From at least 1961-1962, Spence Federer served as the administrative assistant to Donald Menzel, the director of the HCO.[10](#fn10)

 Spence Federer was born in New York City and graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University.[11](#fn11) She died in Cambridge, Massachusetts on April 11, 1983 at the age of 71, leaving behind a son, a daughter, and two grandchildren.[12](#fn12)

 *Written by Elizabeth Coquillette, 2022*

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 **Citations:**

 [1](#ref1)- Lindsay Smith Zrull, “Women in Glass: Women at the Harvard Observatory during the Era of Astronomical Glass Plate Photography, 1875-1975,” Journal of the History of Astronomy, vol. 52, no. 2 (2021), p. 135.[↩](#ref1)  
[2](#ref2)-Dorrit Hoffleit, “Four Helens,” in “70th Anniversary of the AAVSO,” Journal of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, vol. 10 (1981), p. 103-104. Bibcode: 1981JAVSO..10…98M[↩](#ref2)  
[3](#ref3)- Ibid.[↩](#ref3)  
[4](#ref4)- “Meet the Staff of Sky &amp; Telescope,” Sky &amp; Telescope, retrieved July 21, 2022, <https://skyandtelescope.org/about/meet-the-staff/>.[↩](#ref4)  
[5](#ref1)- Dennis Overbye, “When Sky &amp; Telescope Had No Limit,” The New York Times, March 26, 2019.[↩](#ref5)  
[6](#ref6)- Hoffleit, “Four Helens”.[↩](#ref6)  
[7](#ref7)-Zrull, “Women in Glass,” 135.[↩](#ref7)  
[8](#ref1)- “Cambridge Woman Heads National Astronomical League,” The Boston Globe, July 6, 1948; “Astronomical League Presidents,” The Astronomical League, <https://www.astroleague.org/content/astronomical-league-presidents>.[↩](#ref8)  
[9](#ref9)- Charles Federer and Helen Federer, Splendors of the Sky. Cambridge: Sky Publishing Corporation, 1954.[↩](#ref9)  
[10](#ref10)-“Letter dated September 19, 1961 to Tombaugh from Helen S. Federer”; “Letter dated March 19, 1962 to Tombaugh from Helen S. Federer” in Clyde W. Tombaugh Papers, New Mexico State University Department of Astronomy/Library Digital Collections, [https://nmsu.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/Ms0407/id/20813/rec/…](https://nmsu.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/Ms0407/id/20813/rec/18).[↩](#ref10)  
[11](#ref11)-“Helen Federer, 71: Astronomer, Belmont resident,” The Boston Globe, April 20, 1983.[↩](#ref11)  
[12](#ref12)- Ibid.[↩](#ref12)