This biography of Ida E. Woods was sourced from the Harvard Plate Stacks website on January 14, 2024. Please note that this information may have been updated since it was added to our database; for the most current information, check their website at https://platestacks.cfa.harvard.edu.
Born: 18 September 1870, United States
Died: 4 October 1940
Country most active: United States
Also known as: NA
Ida Elisabeth Woods (September 18, 1870 – October 4, 1940) worked at the Harvard College Observatory from 1893 until around 1930, a span of about 37 years.
While at the Observatory, Woods worked with Johanna Mackie and Henrietta S. Leavitt to search for new stars, including variable stars. In this effort, she observed and measured stars on the glass plate negatives.1 She discovered many new ones, and calculated their variability and other important information.2 In 1912, she received the Sarah F. Whitin fellowship for astronomical research.3 Woods attended the annual meetings of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) from 1916 to 1931.4
Woods was born in Natick to Oliver and Martha Jane Woods (née Wright).5 She was the third of three children, with two older brothers; Austin and Frank.6 Her father was a Lumber dealer. She attended Wellesley College, and graduated in 1893. She began work at the Observatory shortly after and remained there her whole career. In 1922, Woods traveled to several countries in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Her middle brother Austin provided the confirmation of her birthdate and place for the passport.7 Woods passed away after an illness on October 4th, 1940 at the age of 71.8 She is buried at the Dell Park Cemetery in Natick Mass.9
Works cited
1-Solon I. Bailey, “Globular Clusters,” Harvard College Observatory Circular. Circular vol. 211. Accessed via Hathitrust, July 2023 ; Edward C. Pickering “Twenty-One New Variable Stars,” Harvard College Observatory Circular. Circular vol. 201. Accessed via Hathitrust, July 2023
2-Annie Jump Cannon, “Stars Having Peculiar Spectra. Eight New Variable Stars,” Harvard College Observatory Circular. Circular vol. 231. Accessed via Hathitrust, July 2023
3- “Going to Harvard : Miss Ida E Woods of Natick wins Sarah F Whitin fellowship for astronomical research,” The Boston Globe. June 6th, 1912.
4- “Group Photographs from AAVSO Meetings” AAVSO, AAVSO. Accessed July 2023. https://www.aavso.org/group-photographs
5-New Hampshire Department of Health; Concord, New Hampshire; New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1700-1969. Accessed via Ancestrylibrary.com, 2023.
6-1880 United States Census, Characteristics of Population. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. digital images. Ancestrylibrary.com. Accessed 2023.
7-Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 – March 31, 1925; Roll #: 1811; Volume #: Roll 1811 – Certificates: 110476-110849, 11 Jan 1922-13 Jan 1922 National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C. Accessed via Ancestrylibrary.com, 2023.
8-“Miss Ida E. Woods Dead in Natick,” The Boston Globe. October 5th, 1940.
9-U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current. Ancestrylibrary.com. Accessed 2023