Peter van de Kamp Telescope Dedication

Swarthmore's new 24"-telescope is named for Peter van de Kamp, a beloved astronomy professor who influenced generations of students during his 35 years on the faculty. A native of Holland, van de Kamp was known as much for his weekly campus screenings of Charlie Chaplin movies as he was for his devotion to his students. At the telescope's dedication earlier this month, President Bloom introduced Ed Dennison '49, a former student of "PVDK" who spoke about that devotion and the "clear picture of astronomy and the life of an astronomer" that van de Kamp provided. Watch the observatory dome's installation last fall.