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NIST Special Publication 1068
Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler (1770-1843)
A
Twenty Year Retrospective, 1987-2007
Compiled and Edited by
Harriet Hassler
Information Services Division
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Captain Charles A. Burroughs
NOAA
Corps (Retired)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Institute of Standards and Technology • Technology Administration • U.S. Department of Commerce
QC
100
.U57
No.1068
2007
NIST
Special Publication 1068
Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler (1770-1843)
A
Twenty Year Retrospective, 1987-2007
Compiled and Edited by
Harriet Hassler
Information Services Division
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Captain Charles A. Burroughs
NOAA
Corps (Retired)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
March 2007
U.S. Department of Commerce
Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary
Technology Administration
Robert Cresanti, UnderSecretary ofCommercefor Technology)
National Institute of Standards and Technology
William Jeffrey, Director
Certain commercial entities, equipment, or materials may be identified in this document in order to describe an
experimental procedure or concept adequately. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or
endorsement by the National Institute ofStandards and Technology, nor is it intended to imply that the entities,
materials, or equipment are necessarily the best available for the purpose.
National Institute ofStandards and Technology Special Publication 1068
Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 1068, 187 pages (March 2007)
CODEN: NSPUE2
1
Table of Contents
Abstract
iii
About the Editors iv
Frequently Used Abbreviations v
1. Introduction 1
2. Hassler's Legacy Recognized: 1987, Before, and After 3
2.1 Overview 3
2.2 The Bureau ofStandards and its Relation to the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, by
Samuel W. Stratton, Director, United States Bureau of Standards, 1916 5
2.3 Hassler's Legacy, by Albert A. Stanley, NOAA, 1976 23
2.4 F. R. Hassler: First Superintendent, by Captain Charles A. Burroughs, NOAA (Ret.), 1987 31
2.5 Hassler's First Chart, by Captain Charles A. Burroughs, NOAA (Ret.), 1987 37
2.6 History of Geodetic Surveying: Part 1, The Early Years, 1807-1843, by
Joseph F. Dracup, 1995 47
3. Rededication ofthe Renovated Hassler Memorial Monument, Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, September 18, 1993 53
3.1 Overview 53
3.2 Message from the Swiss Federal Office of Metrology 55
3.3 The Office of Weights and Measures, by Dr. Carroll S. Brickenkamp, Chief, Office of Weights
and Measures, NIST 57
3.4 Origin of "The Project", by Martha Coleman Bray, Author of Joseph Nicollet and His Map 59
3.5 Some Reflections on Hassler's Contributions to the Surveying and Mapping Sciences, by
Richard E. Dahlberg, President, American Congress on Surveying and Mapping 61
3.6 The Hassler Carriage, by William A. Stanley, Historian, NOAA 65
4. Hassler Memorial Park Dedication, NOAA Headquarters, Silver Spring, Maryland, November 15,
1995 67
4.1 Overview 67
4.2 Remarks, by Rear Admiral Harley Nygren, NOAA (Ret.); Coast and Geodetic Survey
Society 69
4.3 Remarks, by Dr. Hans Oser, President, Standards Alumni Association 71
4.4 Remarks, by Captain Charles A. Burroughs, NOAA (Ret.) 73
5. Hassler Memorial Tablet Dedication, NIST, Gaithersburg, Maryland, December 2, 2004 75
5.1 Overview 75
5.2 Remarks, by Dr. Albert C. Parr, Chair, NIST Museum Committee; Division Chief, NIST Optical
Technology Division 77
5.3 Remarks, by Dr. Hratch Semerjian, Acting Director, NIST 79
5.4 Remarks, by Captain Roger L. Parsons, Director, Office of the Coast Survey, NOAA 81
5.5 Remarks, by Captain Charles A. Burroughs, NOAA (Ret.) 83
5.6 Through the Years with Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler, by Ferdinand R. Hassler V 87
5.7 The HasslerFamily, by Ardoth A. Hassler 97
5.8 In Pursuit ofExactitude, by Use Genovese, Communications Director, American Congress on
Surveying and Mapping
1 1
6. Donation of Hassler's Report to the NIST Research Library, June 22, 2006 115
6.1 Overview 115
6.2 A Tale About the First Weights and Measures Intercomparison in the United States in 1832, by
Dr. Albert C. Parr, Chair, NIST Museum Committee; Division Chief, NIST Optical Technology
Division 117
7. Letters from Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler to Admiral Adam J. Von Krusenstern 129
7.1 Overview 129
7.2 Letter of January 2, 1833 131
7.3 Letter ofApril 6, 1838 139
7.4 Letter of October 28, 1838 145
7.5 Letter of May 18, 1839 151
7.6 Letter of May 1, 1841 163
8. Bibliography on Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler 169
8.1 Hassler's Published Works 169
8.2 Archival Collections Relating to Hassler 173
8.3 Other Works Related to Hassler 175
ii
Abstract
This publication compiles remarks, papers, and photographs associated with several events held over
the past twenty years honoring Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler, first Superintendent of the Survey of the
Coast and first Superintendent of Weights and Measures. These related events begin with the 180th
anniversary ofthe establishment of the "Survey of the Coast," celebrated in 1987, and continue with
the renovation the Hassler memorial monument on the outskirts of Philadelphia. Out ofthat
monument renovation, completed in 1993, came two additional memorials, one at NOAA
headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, in 1995, and another at NIST in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in
2004. This publication also presents materials previously unknown to earlier Hassler historians such
as the recently uncovered Hassler correspondence to Admiral Adam J. von Krusenstern obtained
from the Russian State Archive ofthe Navy in St. Petersburg. A comprehensive Hassler bibliography
is also included.
iii
About the Editors
Harriet Hassler is a Technical Services Librarian at the NIST Research Library, Gaithersburg, Maryland.
She has worked in federal libraries since 1997. She is a seventh-generation descendant of Ferdinand
Rudolph Hassler. Ferdinand R. Hassler V, whose presentation is included in section 5.6, is her father.
Ardoth A. Hassler, whose presentation is included in section 5.7, is her aunt.
Captain Charles A. Burroughs served in the commissioned corps ofthe U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey,
the United States Environmental Science Services Administration, and NOAAfrom 1958 to 1985,
including nine years of sea duty. He is a former President ofthe Washington Map Society, and former
editor of that Society's journal, The Portolan.
iv
