  The $^9$Be$(\gamma,n)^8$Be reaction is enhanced by a near threshold $1/2^+$
state. Contradictions between existing measurements of this reaction
cross-section affect calculations of astrophysical r-process yields, dark
matter detector calibrations, and the theory of the nuclear structure of
$^9$Be. Select well-documented radioisotope $^9$Be$(\gamma,n)$ source yield
measurements have been reanalyzed, providing a set of high-accuracy
independently measured cross sections. A Breit-Wigner fit of these corrected
measurements yields $E_R=1738.8\pm1.9$ keV, $\Gamma_\gamma=0.771\pm0.021$ eV,
and $\Gamma_n=268\pm15$ keV for the $1/2^+$ state. A virtual $1/2^+$ state is
excluded with 99.3\% confidence.
