Lewis Swift discovered NGC 6381 = Sw. I-59, along with NGC 6390, on 7 Jul 1885 and recorded "vF; pL; E; DM +60°1754 much interferes with visibility. His position and description matches UGC 10871, though the bright star is 12' distant

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/18/88): fairly faint, fairly large, diffuse oval SW-NE, even surface brightness. A mag 15 star is at the WSW edge 30" from center. Located 12' ESE of mag 5.7 HD 158460.

600/800mm - 24" (7/2/16): at 225x and 375x; moderately bright and large, elongated 4:3 SSW-NNE, 1.0'x0.75', irregular surface brightness. A mag 15-15.5 star is at the southwest edge. Forms a close pair with UGC 10870 1.2' SW. The companion appeared faint, small, elongated 3:2 E-W, 0.3'x0.2', low even surface brightness.

24" (7/15/15): moderately bright to fairly bright, slightly elongated SSW-NNE, 1.0'x0.8', broad concentration. A mag 15 star is at the southwest edge [30" from center]. Located 12' ESE of mag 5.7 SAO 17472 = HD 158460.

Brightest in a group (WBL 641) with UGC 10870 1.3' NW. UGC 10870 appeared faint to fairly faint, elongated 2:1 E-W, 0.4'x0.2', fairly low even surface brightness. NGC 6390 (and two companions in an east-west string) lies 10' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb