Martha Betz Shapley (1890 - 1981) was the wife of Harlow Shapley (1885 - 1972). Deborah Shapley, a granddaughter of Martha and Harlow, recently spoke with Ron Voller on his podcast Bang! Goes the Universe.
Martha Shapley - Astronomer
Martha Betz Shapley was known as First Lady of the Harvard College Observatory during the 32 years her husband Harlow was its Director. “The friendship and hospitality she extended to members of the Harvard astronomical family…was one of the highest experiences of my younger days,” wrote Leo Goldberg on her death in 1981.
Postcard From Stockholm: Nobel Surprises
Arriving in Stockholm at night in early December, I was struck by the rows of lights in the windows of the lovely old buildings. It was Advent season, so most windows had sets of white candles – traditional symbols of hope in mid-winter. Gleaming snowy streets wound like trails through dark town. Stockholm is laced with canals whose inky edges were fringed with brightly lit white boats.