Biographical and career

Title

Biographical and career

Shelfmark

MS. Coulson 2

Summary

Folder A.2.1: Home, School, and University records, 1910-1934. Includes family photographs, school reports, notices, letters and press-cuttings of scholarships and awards; Coulson's itemised account of his expenditure at Cambridge 1928-1931, his letters home regarding job and career prospects 1931 (before the award of a Research Scholarship at Trinity College, Cambridge).

Folder A.2.2: Folder inscribed 'Jobs', 1932-1954. Miscellaneous applications for posts, offers of posts abroad, many with lists of publications, testimonials, correspondence. Includes:

Correspondence regarding teaching posts at Harrow School, Winchester College 1932.

Applications for:

Readership in Mathematics, Imperial College, 1938

Lecturership in Mathematics, Dundee, 1938

Chair of Mathematics, Bangor, 1941

Chair of Mathematics, Swansea, 1941

Chair of Physics, Dundee, 1942

ICI Research Fellowship, Oxford, 1945

Fellowship in Mathematics, Magdalen College, Oxford, 1945

Wykeham Professorship of Theoretical Physics, Oxford, 1945

Chair of Theoretical Physics, King's College, London, 1946

Rouse Ball Professorship in Mathematics, Oxford, 1951.

Offers of posts abroad (declined) and related correspondence:

Illinois Institute of Technology, 1946

Ahamabad Physical Research Institute, 1949

University of Illinois, 1954.

Folder also includes:

Letter from R.H. Fowler on comparative merits of careers in teaching or research, 1932.

Correspondence with W.P. Milne regarding Coulson's replacing Brodetsky at Leeds University for one term, 1936.

Five letters from Sir Edmund Whittaker, 1939-1945.

Correspondence with H.S. Allen regarding teaching of Pure and Applied Mathematics at St. Andrew's, 1940.

Miscellaneous certificates of residence and education at Cambridge.

Folder A.2.3: 'Miscellaneous work correspondence'. Includes:

Correspondence and reports on pupils at Cambridge, 1933-1934.

Invitation to review book on spectra for CUP, 1934.

Scientific correspondence with Ronald P. Bell, 1942-1948, 1957, 1962, 1965.

Correspondence on hydrogen spectrum, with W. Mayo Venable, 1943.

Correspondence with G. Rabel regarding his script on Max Planck, 1951.

Correspondence with Oliver and Boyd regarding Coulson's publications, 1951-1952.

Folder A.2.4: Miscellaneous correspondence of Coulson with the Bishop of Ely regarding Coulson's Confirmation into the Anglican Church, 1935. Similar correspondence with Charles Raven, 1934, 1948-1953, and Ian Ramsey, 1951.

Folder A.2.5: 'Centenary Supper Party correspondence, 1958'. This was a party given to celebrate publication of 100th paper by Coulson's Quantum Group in the Mathematical Institute, Oxford. The folder includes numerous letters and messages of congratulation.

Folder A.2.6: Pictures for guessing games, etc. at 'Centenary Party', 1958, painted by Miss E. Huggett (sister-in-law of D.E. Lea).

Folder A.2.7: 'Matters associated with Vice-Presidency of the Methodist Conference 1959'. Includes: miscellaneous biographical notes; the sermon 'Christ confronts our age', and various shorter writings and messages for Methodist newsletters and publications; a copy of Coulson's speech to Conference in reply to his nomination as Vice-President; (part only) schedule of engagements undertaken, and Coulson's letter of advice (July 1960) to Marjorie Lonsdale, a subsequent Vice-President, on the problems and pleasures of the office; a letter of good wishes sent to Coulson from the 1973 Conference.

Folder A.2.8: Biographical material, recollections, and tributes, assembled in 1974-1975, for compilation of Royal Society Memoir, from family, friends and colleagues.

Folder A.2.9: Letters of condolence to Mrs. Coulson with recollections of Coulson, 1973-1974. These are a selection of letters passed on by Mrs. Coulson for their biographical interest. The remainder of the correspondence received after Coulson's death remains in family hands.

Folder A.2.10: Coulson's passports, 1936-1974.

Folder A.2.11: Spiral-bound notebook inscribed 'Lending Library' and containing Coulson's list of books borrowed from his own library.

Folder A.2.12: Ledger-type notebook, containing list of books purchased by Coulson for his Quantum Theory Group, with notes of sources of finance, n.d.

Folder A.2.13: Folder of miscellaneous souvenirs, press-cuttings, signed menus, photographs, etc., n.d.

Folder A.2.14: Exercise book, 'Geometrical Conics', begun at Clifton College and continued at Trinity College, Cambridge, n.d.

Folder A.2.15: Folder of mathematical drawings by 'Coulson ma', at Clifton College, n.d.

Folder A.2.16: 'Family background and early life of Charles Alfred Coulson', by Mrs. Coulson.

Date

1910-1974

Language

English

Physical extent

16 folders