Papers of Professor John Parton (born c.1915) Professor of Electrical Engineering at The University of Nottingham, 1939-1971

The collection comprises files compiled by Professor Parton in his capacity as an academic professor and researcher into electrical engineering. The bulk of the collection concerns his own research, preparation of articles and publications, and papers relating to teaching. The principal categories in the collection are as follows:

• Copies of articles and works published by Parton, 1951-1971 (PJP 1);
• Files relating to overseas trips. 1965-1970 (PJP 2);
• Files on articles, lectures and works written by Parton containing drafts, correspondence and research notes relating to them. 1941-1967 (PJP 3);
• Files of conference papers. 1955-1966 (PJP 4);
• Research files of a technical nature on various technical aspects of electrical engineering. 1950-1971 (PJP 5);
• Files relating to the teaching of engineering at schools and colleges including Imperial College, Herriot-Watt College, and the Schools Council's 'Project Technology'. 1949-1971 (PJP 6);
• Printed items and reports compiled and written by people other than Professor Parton. 1952-1963 (PJP 7).

John Parton was educated at Cannock Chase Mining College and the University of Birmingham where, in 1933, he obtained a BSc degree in electrical engineering. He was awarded a PhD by Birmingham in 1938. Between 1931 and 1939, Parton was a part-time lecturer at Cannock Chase Mining College and at Northampton Polytechnic in London. In 1939, he joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves as sub-lieutenant with electrical duties. He had a distinguished naval career and was demobilised in 1945 with the retired rank of Electrical Lieutenant Commander R.N.V.R. for his war services.

Parton was appointed lecturer in electrical engineering at the University of Glasgow in 1946. In 1952, he became a member of the Senate of the university, and a senior lecturer in electrical engineering in 1954. In 1955, he joined The University of Nottingham as professor of electrical engineering and head of the Department of Electrical (and later, 'Electronic') Engineering. Parton retired from this post in 30 September 1978.

From 1947, Parton was an assessor for the Institutions of Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering (IMEEE) for higher national certificate examinations in Scotland, and an external examiner for diplomas for Herriot-Watt College. He gained much experience in light and heavy electrical engineering with the Post Office Research establishment and as senior scientific officer of the British Iron and Steel Research Association. In 1965-66, Parton took a research and lecture sabbatical to the electrical engineering department at the University of Tennessee in the USA. Parton wrote many articles and lectures on a variety of aspects of electrical engineering.

The collection has been divided by subject matter into seven sections.

ACCESS: Pending full cataloguing, access to the collections is limited and is possible only to registered users by advance notice and agreement.

LANGUAGE: English

This description is the only finding aid available for the collection. Copyright in the description belongs to The University of Nottingham.

COPYRIGHT: Permission to make published use of any material from this collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of the Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk). The Department will try to assist in identifying copyright owners but this can be difficult and the responsibility for copyright clearance before publication ultimately rests with the person wishing to publish.

REPROGRAPHIC: Reprographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only, depending on access status and the condition of the documents.

The collection was acquired by The University of Nottingham's Department of Manuscripts in September 1983.