RUNCORN, Stanley Keith (1922 - 1995)

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papers concerning publications, comprising published and unpublished papers, [1950-1993], correspondences to scientific and national press on topics such as geophysics, university reform, book reviews, and request to write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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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