The achievements of optical astronomy in the investigation of the sun as a typical star in connection with the study of stellar evolution are reviewed, with emphasis given to the accomplishments of George Ellery Hale. Consideration is given to the discovery of magnetic fields on the sun; measurements of temperatures in the solar corona; and the early history of observational techniques for high dispersion solar spectroscopy. The development of satellite based astronomical devices such as the IUE, the Einstein Observatory, and the Space Telescope, is also considered. The construction of automatic photoelectric telescopes (APTs) for observations of variable stars is also discussed.