Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1910-1995 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
12 boxes, 390 items
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born Bedford Park, West London, 1919; educated at King's School, Worcester; read geology at Imperial College, 1937-1941; Second World War service included a posting to the Orkneys working on radar; returned to Imperial College for his PhD; worked with Janet Vida Watson (they married in 1949), on the Lewisian Gneiss and other geological problems, co-authoring a number of important papers; Lecturer, 1948; Reader, 1956; Professor of Geology, 1958; Head of Department, 1964-1974, whilst it became one of the largest in Europe, largely responsible for the establishment of the Centre for Environmental Technology (first Chairman and a Senior Research Fellow), and the Centre for Remote Sensing; Dean of the Royal School of Mines (part of Imperial College), 1965-1968, 1974-1977; elected Fellow of the Royal Society, 1966; President of the Geologists' Association 1966-1968; Vice-President of the Royal Society, 1975-1977; Trustee of the British Museum (Natural History), 1976-1981; member of the Natural Environment Research Council 1977-1979; Pro-Rector of Imperial College, 1979-1983; died, 1992.
Publications: The Geologist's Approach to Mountain Building London, 1959); Further Observations on the Margin of the Laxfordian Complex of the Lewisian near Loch Laxford, Sutherland, etc with Janet Watson (Edinburgh, 1962)
Archival history
The papers were received by the National Cataloguing Unit for the Archives of Contemporary Scientists, University of Bath, from Mrs Betty Sutton, second wife and widow, in 1996 and 1998.
GB 0098 B/SUTTON 1910-1995 Collection (fonds) 12 boxes, 390 items Sutton , John , 1919-1992 , geologist
Born Bedford Park, West London, 1919; educated at King's School, Worcester; read geology at Imperial College, 1937-1941; Second World War service included a posting to the Orkneys working on radar; returned to Imperial College for his PhD; worked with Janet Vida Watson (they married in 1949), on the Lewisian Gneiss and other geological problems, co-authoring a number of important papers; Lecturer, 1948; Reader, 1956; Professor of Geology, 1958; Head of Department, 1964-1974, whilst it became one of the largest in Europe, largely responsible for the establishment of the Centre for Environmental Technology (first Chairman and a Senior Research Fellow), and the Centre for Remote Sensing; Dean of the Royal School of Mines (part of Imperial College), 1965-1968, 1974-1977; elected Fellow of the Royal Society, 1966; President of the Geologists' Association 1966-1968; Vice-President of the Royal Society, 1975-1977; Trustee of the British Museum (Natural History), 1976-1981; member of the Natural Environment Research Council 1977-1979; Pro-Rector of Imperial College, 1979-1983; died, 1992.
Publications: The Geologist's Approach to Mountain Building London, 1959); Further Observations on the Margin of the Laxfordian Complex of the Lewisian near Loch Laxford, Sutherland, etc with Janet Watson (Edinburgh, 1962)
The papers were received by the National Cataloguing Unit for the Archives of Contemporary Scientists, University of Bath, from Mrs Betty Sutton, second wife and widow, in 1996 and 1998.
Transferred from the National Cataloguing Unit for the Archives of Contemporary Scientists, University of Bath, to the College Archives in 1998.
Papers of Professor John Sutton, 1910-1995, comprising biographical material, including obituaries and reminiscences of Sutton; papers relating to Sutton's childhood and schooldays, undergraduate studies, wartime service, his honours; family papers, notably his father Gerald John Sutton, an engineer and inventor, including patents, 1928-1958; photographs of Sutton, some with Janet Watson;
notebooks, 1940-1992, comprising geological field notebooks, [1940-1969], containing observations, sketches and plans and lists of specimens, some with notes by Janet Watson; notebooks recording work in Greenland, 1965-1969; notes on proceedings of conferences and sketches of scenery, plants and people, and geological phenomena, many from visits overseas, [1965]-1992;
notes and drafts relating to publications or work intended for publication, [1935-1992]; papers relating to visits and conferences including visits to China; correspondence, notably with Edward Battersby Bailey, Michael J Fleuty, Arthur Holmes, John Lawrence Knill, John Graham Ramsay, Herbert Harold Read, principally two sequences of letters, 1948-1960, 1961-1992, including papers for conferences, from societies and organisations; maps, figures, photographs, films and an audio tape.
By section as follows: Biographical, Notebooks, Notes and drafts, Visits and conferences, Correspondence, Non-textual material. Index. Correspondence includes two sequences of letters, 1948-1960 and 1961-1992, arranged in chronological order.
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
A catalogue is available in the reading room of the College Archives (NCUACS catalogue no 75/4/98).
Records of the Department of Geology (KG) and Governing Body (GB), held at Imperial College.
Papers and correspondence of Janet Watson (1923-1985), geologist, Sutton's first wife and scientific collaborator, held at the Library of the Geological Society of London (reference: GB 0378 LDGSL 1078); research papers of Janet Watson, held by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, Imperial College.
Sources: Based on the guide compiled by the National Cataloguing Unit for the Archives of Contemporary Scientists; British Library On-Line Public Access Catalogue 97. Compiled by Julie Tancell as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. 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. October 2000 Bailey , Sir , Edward Battersby , 1881-1965 , Knight , geologist China Documentary films Documents East Asia Europe Field work Films Fleuty , Michael J , fl 1953-1957 Geologists Geology Greenland Holmes , Arthur , fl 1953-1962 Information sources Knill , Sir , John Lawrence , b 1934 , Knight , geologist Maps Memoirs Northern Europe Photographs Ramsay , John Graham , b 1931 , geologist Read , Herbert Harold , 1889-1970 , geologist Recordings Research work Scientific facilities Scientific personnel Scientific publications Scientists Sound recordings Sutton , Gerald John , 1881-1958 , engineer and inventor Sutton , John , 1919-1992 , geologist Visual materials Watson , Janet Vida , 1923-1985 , geologist Western Europe Personnel People by occupation People Primary documents Publications Communications media Information sciences
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 1998.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Professor John Sutton, 1910-1995, comprising biographical material, including obituaries and reminiscences of Sutton; papers relating to Sutton's childhood and schooldays, undergraduate studies, wartime service, his honours; family papers, notably his father Gerald John Sutton, an engineer and inventor, including patents, 1928-1958; photographs of Sutton, some with Janet Watson;
notebooks, 1940-1992, comprising geological field notebooks, [1940-1969], containing observations, sketches and plans and lists of specimens, some with notes by Janet Watson; notebooks recording work in Greenland, 1965-1969; notes on proceedings of conferences and sketches of scenery, plants and people, and geological phenomena, many from visits overseas, [1965]-1992;
notes and drafts relating to publications or work intended for publication, [1935-1992]; papers relating to visits and conferences including visits to China; correspondence, notably with Edward Battersby Bailey, Michael J Fleuty, Arthur Holmes, John Lawrence Knill, John Graham Ramsay, Herbert Harold Read, principally two sequences of letters, 1948-1960, 1961-1992, including papers for conferences, from societies and organisations; maps, figures, photographs, films and an audio tape.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
By section as follows: Biographical, Notebooks, Notes and drafts, Visits and conferences, Correspondence, Non-textual material. Index. Correspondence includes two sequences of letters, 1948-1960 and 1961-1992, arranged in chronological order.
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
Records of the Department of Geology (KG) and Governing Body (GB), held at Imperial College.
Finding aids
A catalogue is available in the reading room of the College Archives (NCUACS catalogue no 75/4/98).
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Papers and correspondence of Janet Watson (1923-1985), geologist, Sutton's first wife and scientific collaborator, held at the Library of the Geological Society of London (reference: GB 0378 LDGSL 1078); research papers of Janet Watson, held by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, Imperial College.
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Films » Documentary films
- Documents
- Research work » Field work
- Films
- Geology
- Information sources
- Visual materials » Maps
- Visual materials » Photographs
- Recordings
- Research work
- Scientific facilities
- Scientific personnel
- Scientific facilities » Scientific publications
- Scientific personnel » Scientists
- Recordings » Sound recordings
- Visual materials
- Personnel
- Documents » Primary documents
- Information sciences
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
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