Catalogue description Papers of SIR JOHN LENNARD-JONES, K.B.E., F.R.S. (1894 - 1954)

The papers cover the years 1906 - 54.

They were received from Dr. John Lennard-Jones, Sir John's son, who had already selected and arranged them in roughly chronological order for a possible biography of his father. This order has been preserved as far as possible.

Sir John's daily journals for 1942 - 46 and 1952 - 54, the former covering his service as Superintendant of Armament Research and Director General of Scientific Research, Ministry of Supply, during the Second World War, are an important feature of the collection, and are listed separately (Items 22 - 29).

Very little scientific work remained (see Items 20,85), though some of the lectures and correspondence deal with scientific subjects.

Items 86 - 89 contain, in sealed envelopes, the private letters of Sir John Lennard-Jones to his wife for the years 1923 - 51.

Listed by: Jeannine Alton and Harriot Weiskittel

Contents

I. Biographical: 1 - 13

II. Scientific and Personal Correspondence 14 - 21

III. Personal Journals 22 - 29

IV. Lectures, Sermons and Addresses 30 - 85

V. Private Correspondence 86 - 89

VI. Index of Principal Correspondents

A bound complete collection of Sir John's work is in the University Library, Keele.

A collection of lecture notes taken 1928 - 32 deposited by Professor C.A. Coulson in Cambridge University Library (Shelfmark: Add. 7807) includes careful notes of lectures given in Cambridge by Lennard-Jones.

Professor Coulson wrote (14 November 1973) "I suspect that these are the first lectures on theoretical chemistry (or perhaps more accurately quantum chemistry) that had been given in Britain."

Jones, Sir, John Lennard-, 1901-1973, scientist

Lennard-Jones, Sir, John, 1901-1973, scientist

CSAC.2.73/V/86-89 may be consulted only with the written permission of Dr. John Lennard-Jones (son), 9, Well Road, London NW3, or of Mrs. R.Howard (daughter), Christ Church Vicarage, Reservoir Road, Prenton, nr. Birkenhead, during their lifetimes, and thereafter without restriction.

Deposited in 1973

• Military engineering

Summary of the career of Sir John Lennard-Jones.

b. 1894.

1912 - 15 Manchester University.

1914 B.Sc. Manchester.

1915 M.Sc. Manchester.

1915 - 19 Pilot R.F.C. Research in Aerodynamics with Boulton and Paul, and at National Physical Laboratory.

1919 - 22 Lecturer in Mathematics, Manchester University.

M.Sc. Manchester.

1922 - 25 Senior 1851 Exhibitioner, Trinity College, Cambridge.

1924 Ph.D.Cantab.

1925 Reader in Mathematical Physics, Bristol University.

Married.

1927 - 32 Professor of Theoretical Physics, Bristol.

1929 Rockefeller Fellow, University of Göttingen.

1930 - 32 Dean of Faculty of Science, Bristol.

1932 - 53 Plummer Professor of Theoretical Chemistry, Cambridge.

1932 - 54 Professorial Fellow, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge

1933 Fellow of the Royal Society

1939 Key Scientist, Ministry of Supply (Mathematics Laboratory)

1940 - 45 Chief Superintendant of Armament Research, Ministry of Supply

1945 - 46 Chief Scientific Officer and Director General of Scientific Research, Ministry of Supply

1946 - 53 Chairman, Scientific Advisory Council, Ministry of Supply

1946 K.B.E.; Sc.D. Cantab.

1947 - 54 Service on Research Panel, National Gallery

1948 & 49 President of Faraday Society

1952 Appointed Principal, University College of North Staffordshire

1954 President, Section B, British Association; Hon. D.Sc. Oxon.; Longstaff Medal, Chemical Society

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