Alice Porter (1851-1901)
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Nova Scotian Alice Porter published two letters concerning astronomy in 1893.
10 January 1851, Port Maitland, NS
1901, Port Maitland, NS
Name at birth:
Mary Alice Parry
Note
This entry is brief, as writing was only a minor aspect of this woman’s life.
Entry written by Karyn Huenemann and Lindsey Bannister
Alice Porter (1851-1901)
On 2 June 1893, astronomer Alice Porter, of Yarmouth, NS, published two letters to the editor of
Science Magazine, a publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The first of these letters (The Mean Distance of the Earth ) contained a critique of Sir Robert Ball’s assertions in The Cause of an Ice Age (1891), complete with calculations to refute his astronomical speculations. The second letter (A Beautiful Spectacle) reported an anomaly in the evening sky over Yarmouth on 9 May 1893, providing a scientific record of the event and asking other readers to speculate on its causes.
Published Texts
Periodical Contributions
Science Magazine (New York)
Family and Relationships
Father: Clement Parry (1822 – 1900)
Mother: Mary Ann Parry (1830 – 1874)
Spouse: Titus Hurlbert Porter (24 May 1846 – 25 October 1932)
Children
Georgia Porter (daughter) (b. c1872)
Eugene L. Porter (son) (12 August 1877 – 1953)
Annie Porter (daughter) (6 September 1878 – 1963)
Helena W. Porter (daughter) (23 February 1880 – 17 September 1960)
Evelyn H. Porter (son) (26 October 1882 – 15 October 1944)
Published Resources
1891 Census of Canada.
1901 Census of Canada.
Mary Alice Parry Porter. Find a Grave. Web. 9 March 2016.