Papers and correspondence of Heinz London, 1907-1970

The papers include laboratory notebooks of various periods including the 'Tube Alloys' project, notes, working papers and correspondence. There is also material on many conferences on low temperature physics and superconductivity. There is also some correspondence, publications and other material relating to London's elder brother Fritz.

London was born in Bonn and educated at the University of Bonn, the Technische Hochschule Berlin and the University of Munich, 1926-1931. He then moved to the University of Breslau as a graduate student to work under F.E. Simon who was building up a pioneering research school there in low temperature physics. With the advent of Hitler in 1933, Simon had to leave Germany and moved (with other Breslau colleagues N. Kurti and K.A.G. Mendelssohn) to the Clarendon Laboratory, Oxford which became the principal UK centre for low temperature work. In 1934 London followed Simon to Oxford and spent two years researching there before moving to the H.H. Wills Physics Laboratory, Bristol University. He was interned in 1940 but released to work on 'Tube Alloys', the UK atomic energy project. After the war he continued to work on atomic energy, becoming Deputy Chief Scientist, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell. He was elected FRS in 1961.

By section as follows: Biographical, Laboratory notebooks, Working papers, Lectures, Publications, Conference papers, Correspondence, Off-prints. Index of correspondents.

No known restrictions or closure. Visits by appointment. Some form of identification required.

Printed catalogue of the papers and correspondence of Heinz London (1907-1970) by J. Alton and H. Weiskittel, CSAC catalogue no. 5/73, 10 pp. Copies available from NCUACS, University of Bath.

Files relating to the Society for the Protection of Science and Learning and Home Office files in the Department of Western Manuscripts, Bodleian Library, Oxford.

Received in 1973 by the Contemporary Scientific Archives Centre from Mrs Lucie London, widow. Deposited in Bristol University Library in 1973.