GB 0103 HALDANE - Haldane Papers

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0103 HALDANE

Title

Haldane Papers

Date(s)

  • 1935-1957 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

43 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

John Burdon Sanderson Haldane was born on 5 November 1892. He was educated at Eton and at New College Oxford where he attained his MA. During the First World War he served in the Black Watch in France and Iraq, 1914-1919. From 1919 to 1922 he was a Fellow of New College Oxford; then moving to Cambridge University to be a Reader in Biochemistry until 1932. He was also the Fullerian Professor of Physiology at the Royal Institution from 1930 to 1932. Then he went to University College London to become Professor of Genetics (1933-1937) and later Professor of Biometry (1937-1957). After this, Haldane became Research Professor at the Indian Statistical Institute until 1961. In 1962 he was Head of the Genetics and Biometry Laboratory for the Government of Orissa. He received medals for scientific excellence during his career, and also published many scientific articles and writings. Haldane died on 1 December 1964.

Charlotte Haldane (née Franken), formerly Charlotte Burghes, married John Burdon Sanderson Haldane in 1926; they were divorced in 1945. A journalist and author, her publications included two volumes of autobiography. She died in 1969.

Archival history

GB 0103 HALDANE 1935-1957 Collection (fonds) 43 boxes Haldane , John Burdon Sanderson , 1892-1964 , scientist
Haldane , Charlotte , d 1969 , née Franken , formerly Burghes , journalist and author , first wife of John Burdon Sanderson Haldane

John Burdon Sanderson Haldane was born on 5 November 1892. He was educated at Eton and at New College Oxford where he attained his MA. During the First World War he served in the Black Watch in France and Iraq, 1914-1919. From 1919 to 1922 he was a Fellow of New College Oxford; then moving to Cambridge University to be a Reader in Biochemistry until 1932. He was also the Fullerian Professor of Physiology at the Royal Institution from 1930 to 1932. Then he went to University College London to become Professor of Genetics (1933-1937) and later Professor of Biometry (1937-1957). After this, Haldane became Research Professor at the Indian Statistical Institute until 1961. In 1962 he was Head of the Genetics and Biometry Laboratory for the Government of Orissa. He received medals for scientific excellence during his career, and also published many scientific articles and writings. Haldane died on 1 December 1964.

Charlotte Haldane (née Franken), formerly Charlotte Burghes, married John Burdon Sanderson Haldane in 1926; they were divorced in 1945. A journalist and author, her publications included two volumes of autobiography. She died in 1969.

Transferred from the Kennedy-Galton Centre, Harperbury Hospital, in October 1974. One box of papers of Haldane and his first wife Charlotte sent by Mr A V Simcock, Librarian of the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford, in March 1985.

Papers of John Burdon Sanderson Haldane, comprising scientific notes and papers; correspondence with publishers; scientific correspondence; general correspondence; University College London departmental files, wartime committees, and other societies; and some personal financial and domestic papers. There are also some papers of Charlotte Haldane which consist of correspondence, including letters about Women Today magazine, and bills.

Certain restrictions apply. Some items in this collection are not available for general access due to data protection and confidentiality restrictions. Specific restrictions are explained in the description for each item.

Normal copyright restrictions apply. Copies of items in this collection may be supplied for the purposes of private research only. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner. Items that are closed for data protection and confidentiality reasons cannot be copied until the closure period has ended.
English

Summary list.

University College London Special Collections also holds correspondence between John Burdon Sanderson Haldane and Benjamin Ifor Evans, Provost of University College London, on the resignations of Haldane and his second wife Helen (née Spurway), 1956-1957 (Ref: MS ADD 256); six letters to D M S Watson, 1958-1963, and one to J O Wisdom, 1954 (Ref: MS ADD 112); correspondence and book reviews relating to India, 1959-1963 (Ref: MS ADD 277); copies of correspondence with Arthur C Clarke, 1951, 1962-1964 (Ref: MS ADD 379); letters to Lionel Sharples Penrose, 1934-1968 (Ref: PENROSE); five letters to his sister Naomi (later Mitchison) [1907], [1915] and undated (Ref: MS MISC 4H); an undated poem and manuscript notes (Ref: MS MISC 5H).

The National Library of Scotland, Manuscripts Division, holds correspondence, notebooks and papers of Haldane, 1907-1964 (Ref: MSS 20534-660; Ch 15521-24) and letters to his family, essays, etc, 1898-1908, including six letters to his sister, 1920-1928 (Ref: Acc 4549, 9186). The Imperial War Museum, Department of Documents, holds twelve letters to his sister whilst serving in the Black Watch, 1914-1917. Oxford University, Bodleian Library, Special Collections and Western Manuscripts, holds correspondence with Cyril Darlington, 1915-1968 (Ref: CSAC103/3/85) and correspondence relating to the Society for the Protection of Science and Learning, 1933-1935 (Ref: Index). Oxford University, Wolfson College Library, holds correspondence with H B D Kettlewell, 1952-1966. Oxford University, Edward Grey Institute, holds correspondence with David Lack. King's College London, Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, holds correspondence with Sir B H Liddell Hart, 1937-1939 (Ref: KCLMA Liddell Hart B H). Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, holds correspondence with Joseph Needham, 1960-1965 (Ref: MSS A.828; H.186; H.203 passim). Cambridge University, King's College Archive Centre, holds ten letters. Rice University, Woodson Research Center, Houston, Texas, USA, holds 28 items of correspondence with Sir Julian Huxley, 1920-1964 (Ref: Julian S Huxley papers).

Sources: Dictionary of National Biography; National Register of Archives. 1999, revised Aug 2001 Biology Biometrics Genetics Haldane , Charlotte , d 1969 , née Franken , formerly Burghes , journalist and author , first wife of John Burdon Sanderson Haldane x Franken , Charlotte x Burghes , Charlotte Haldane , John Burdon Sanderson , 1892-1964 , scientist Publishing Publishing industry University College London , Department of Eugenics, Biometry and Genetics Women Today , magazine

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Transferred from the Kennedy-Galton Centre, Harperbury Hospital, in October 1974. One box of papers of Haldane and his first wife Charlotte sent by Mr A V Simcock, Librarian of the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford, in March 1985.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of John Burdon Sanderson Haldane, comprising scientific notes and papers; correspondence with publishers; scientific correspondence; general correspondence; University College London departmental files, wartime committees, and other societies; and some personal financial and domestic papers. There are also some papers of Charlotte Haldane which consist of correspondence, including letters about Women Today magazine, and bills.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Certain restrictions apply. Some items in this collection are not available for general access due to data protection and confidentiality restrictions. Specific restrictions are explained in the description for each item.

Conditions governing reproduction

Normal copyright restrictions apply. Copies of items in this collection may be supplied for the purposes of private research only. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner. Items that are closed for data protection and confidentiality reasons cannot be copied until the closure period has ended.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

University College London Special Collections also holds correspondence between John Burdon Sanderson Haldane and Benjamin Ifor Evans, Provost of University College London, on the resignations of Haldane and his second wife Helen (née Spurway), 1956-1957 (Ref: MS ADD 256); six letters to D M S Watson, 1958-1963, and one to J O Wisdom, 1954 (Ref: MS ADD 112); correspondence and book reviews relating to India, 1959-1963 (Ref: MS ADD 277); copies of correspondence with Arthur C Clarke, 1951, 1962-1964 (Ref: MS ADD 379); letters to Lionel Sharples Penrose, 1934-1968 (Ref: PENROSE); five letters to his sister Naomi (later Mitchison) [1907], [1915] and undated (Ref: MS MISC 4H); an undated poem and manuscript notes (Ref: MS MISC 5H).

Finding aids

Summary list.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

The National Library of Scotland, Manuscripts Division, holds correspondence, notebooks and papers of Haldane, 1907-1964 (Ref: MSS 20534-660; Ch 15521-24) and letters to his family, essays, etc, 1898-1908, including six letters to his sister, 1920-1928 (Ref: Acc 4549, 9186). The Imperial War Museum, Department of Documents, holds twelve letters to his sister whilst serving in the Black Watch, 1914-1917. Oxford University, Bodleian Library, Special Collections and Western Manuscripts, holds correspondence with Cyril Darlington, 1915-1968 (Ref: CSAC103/3/85) and correspondence relating to the Society for the Protection of Science and Learning, 1933-1935 (Ref: Index). Oxford University, Wolfson College Library, holds correspondence with H B D Kettlewell, 1952-1966. Oxford University, Edward Grey Institute, holds correspondence with David Lack. King's College London, Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, holds correspondence with Sir B H Liddell Hart, 1937-1939 (Ref: KCLMA Liddell Hart B H). Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, holds correspondence with Joseph Needham, 1960-1965 (Ref: MSS A.828; H.186; H.203 passim). Cambridge University, King's College Archive Centre, holds ten letters. Rice University, Woodson Research Center, Houston, Texas, USA, holds 28 items of correspondence with Sir Julian Huxley, 1920-1964 (Ref: Julian S Huxley papers).

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

University College London

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area