GB 0098 B/RUNCORN - RUNCORN, Stanley Keith (1922 - 1995)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0098 B/RUNCORN

Title

RUNCORN, Stanley Keith (1922 - 1995)

Date(s)

  • 1936 - 1995 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

100 boxes, [2800] items

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Born Southport, Lancashire, 1922; educated at King George V School Southport; studied Mechanical Sciences Tripos at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, 1941 (graduated BA 1944, MA 1948); joined Radar Research and Development Establishment during war, 1943 - 1946; Assistant Lecturer in Physics, Manchester University, 1946 - 1948; Lecturer in Physics, Manchester University, 1948 - 1949; research under Blackett on Earth's magnetic field, awarded Ph.D 1949; Assistant Director of Research, Department of Geodesy and Geophysics, Cambridge University, 1950, working on palaeomagnetism; Chair of Physics, Kings College, University of Durham (later University of Newcastle upon Tyne), 1956 - 1988; Sydney Chapman Professor of Physics, university of Alaska, 1989; Senior Research Fellow, Imperial College London, 1989. Runcorn was murdered in a hotel room in San Diego, California, December 1995.

Archival history

The papers were received by the National Cataloguing Unit for the Archives of Contemporary Scientists, University of Bath, from Mr Neil Molyneux 1998.
GB 0098 B/RUNCORN 1936 - 1995 Collection (fonds) 100 boxes, [2800] items Runcorn , Stanley Keith , 1922 - 1995 , geophysicist

Born Southport, Lancashire, 1922; educated at King George V School Southport; studied Mechanical Sciences Tripos at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, 1941 (graduated BA 1944, MA 1948); joined Radar Research and Development Establishment during war, 1943 - 1946; Assistant Lecturer in Physics, Manchester University, 1946 - 1948; Lecturer in Physics, Manchester University, 1948 - 1949; research under Blackett on Earth's magnetic field, awarded Ph.D 1949; Assistant Director of Research, Department of Geodesy and Geophysics, Cambridge University, 1950, working on palaeomagnetism; Chair of Physics, Kings College, University of Durham (later University of Newcastle upon Tyne), 1956 - 1988; Sydney Chapman Professor of Physics, university of Alaska, 1989; Senior Research Fellow, Imperial College London, 1989. Runcorn was murdered in a hotel room in San Diego, California, December 1995.

The papers were received by the National Cataloguing Unit for the Archives of Contemporary Scientists, University of Bath, from Mr Neil Molyneux 1998.

Transferred from the National Cataloguing Unit for the Archives of Contemporary Scientists, University of Bath, to the College Archives in 2002.

Papers of Stanley Keith Runcorn, 1922 - 1995, comprising biographical papers, including papers relating to the various honours accorded; diaries, 1967 - 1984; papers on history of science and history of earth sciences; notebooks and loose notes from school and undergraduate period.

papers relating to Runcorn's career at the University of Manchester, 1946, mainly teaching notes adapted from time at Cambridge.

papers relating to Runcorn's career at the University of Newcastle, mainly concerned with University policies and administration.

papers relating to research from 1940s to 1990s, notebooks from Runcorn's time at Radar Research and Development Establishment, University of Manchester and University of Cambridge, including details of work on the Earth's magnetic field; later research notes relating to work on continental drift, lunar magnetism and planetary science.

papers concerning publications, comprising published and unpublished papers, [1950-1993], correspondences to scientific and national press on topics such as geophysics, university reform, book reviews, and request to write articles.

papers relating to Lectures, public and invitation lecture, 1972 - 1993; support material.

papers relating to societies and organisations, comprising correspondences, committee papers, draft reports, notes on meetings, reflecting Runcorn's involvement with 29 UK, international and overseas organisation, in particular material from services on Royal Society and it committees, including British National Committee for Geodesy and Geophysics, the British National Committee for Geodynamics, the British National Committee for Space Research, the Planetary Sciences Study Group, Space Ranging Research Committee; material on concerns about inadequate facilities in British universities; papers deriving active work with COSPAR, International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, European Science Foundation, European Space Agency.

papers concerning visits and conferences, 1956 - 1964; material relating to attendance at conferences, meetings, lectures, informal visits in Europe, USA, Australia and Asia,; comprising of draft lectures, programmes, itineraries, travel arrangements.

correspondences 1948-1995, short sequence of correspondences additional to those retained within other papers.

By section as follows: Biographical, University of Manchester, University of Newcastle, Research, Publications, Lectures, Societies and organisations, Visits and conferences, Correspondence. Index of correspondents

Researchers wishing to consult the Archives should first contact the College Archivist, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, for an appointment.

A photocopying service is available at the discretion of the Archivist. Photocopies are supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Archivist.
English

Catalogues are available in the reading room of the College Archives NCUACS catalogue no 104/3/02

NCUACS catalogue no 104/3/02

General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

June 2003 Blackett , Patrick Maynard Stuart , 1897-1974 , Baron Blackett of Chelsea , physicist California Geomagnetism Geophysics Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine x Imperial College of Science and Technology x University of London , Imperial College North America Runcorn , Stanley Keith , 1922-1995 , geophysicist San Diego University of Manchester x Manchester University University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne x Newcastle University USA

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Transferred from the National Cataloguing Unit for the Archives of Contemporary Scientists, University of Bath, to the College Archives in 2002.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Stanley Keith Runcorn, 1922 - 1995, comprising biographical papers, including papers relating to the various honours accorded; diaries, 1967 - 1984; papers on history of science and history of earth sciences; notebooks and loose notes from school and undergraduate period.

papers relating to Runcorn's career at the University of Manchester, 1946, mainly teaching notes adapted from time at Cambridge.

papers relating to Runcorn's career at the University of Newcastle, mainly concerned with University policies and administration.

papers relating to research from 1940s to 1990s, notebooks from Runcorn's time at Radar Research and Development Establishment, University of Manchester and University of Cambridge, including details of work on the Earth's magnetic field; later research notes relating to work on continental drift, lunar magnetism and planetary science.

papers concerning publications, comprising published and unpublished papers, [1950-1993], correspondences to scientific and national press on topics such as geophysics, university reform, book reviews, and request to write articles.

papers relating to Lectures, public and invitation lecture, 1972 - 1993; support material.

papers relating to societies and organisations, comprising correspondences, committee papers, draft reports, notes on meetings, reflecting Runcorn's involvement with 29 UK, international and overseas organisation, in particular material from services on Royal Society and it committees, including British National Committee for Geodesy and Geophysics, the British National Committee for Geodynamics, the British National Committee for Space Research, the Planetary Sciences Study Group, Space Ranging Research Committee; material on concerns about inadequate facilities in British universities; papers deriving active work with COSPAR, International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, European Science Foundation, European Space Agency.

papers concerning visits and conferences, 1956 - 1964; material relating to attendance at conferences, meetings, lectures, informal visits in Europe, USA, Australia and Asia,; comprising of draft lectures, programmes, itineraries, travel arrangements.

correspondences 1948-1995, short sequence of correspondences additional to those retained within other papers.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

By section as follows: Biographical, University of Manchester, University of Newcastle, Research, Publications, Lectures, Societies and organisations, Visits and conferences, Correspondence. Index of correspondents

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Researchers wishing to consult the Archives should first contact the College Archivist, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, for an appointment.

Conditions governing reproduction

A photocopying service is available at the discretion of the Archivist. Photocopies are supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Archivist.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Catalogues are available in the reading room of the College Archives NCUACS catalogue no 104/3/02

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine

Rules and/or conventions used

General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area