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Bernal, John Desmond, 1901-1971 (crystallographer)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1901 - 1971

Biography

John Desmond Bernal (1901-1971) was born on 10 May 1901. He attended Cambridge University, 1919-1923, before working in the Davy Faraday Laboratory, London, 1923-1927. He was appointed Lecturer in Structural Crystallography at Cambridge in 1927, and Assistant Director of Research in Crystallography, Cambridge, 1934. He was made Professor of Physics at Birkbeck College, University of London, in January 1938. During the War Bernal worked in the Ministry of Security, as a member of the Civil Defence Research Committee, 1939; at Bomber Command, 1941; and in Combined Operations, April 1942. He returned to Birkbeck in 1945, and carried out research at the Davy Faraday Laboratory, before working at the Biomolecular Research Laboratory, Torrington Square, opened in 1948. He was made Professor of Crystallography at Birkbeck College in September 1963. Bernal retired from Birkbeck in 1968, and died on 15 September 1971.

Found in 13 Collections and/or Records:

 File

Collection of correspondence 'about essentiality of the necessary precondition of Gk geometry for Galilean Revolution', 1957 - 1961

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/338/10
Scope and Contents The documents comprise a letter from Prof. J. D. Bernal of Birkbeck College, University of London, about the conditions which led to the development of Greek geometry and Chinese mathematics, (18 February 1957); copy of Joseph Needham's reply to Bernal, (19 March 1957); letter from Jerry Ravets of Leeds, about conditions for the development of mathematics, (4 February 1957).The correspondence is grouped together by a Joseph Needham note stating 'Important points raised by Derek Price,...
Dates: 1957 - 1961
 File

Copy of a review by J. D. Bernal published in 'Humanist', 1967-01

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC5/4/5/38
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Many of the reviews came to Joseph Needham via Cambridge University Press and are accompanied by an explanatory compliments slip.

Dates: 1967-01
 File

Copy of 'The Humanist' (1962, 77, No. 12) containing a review by J. D. Bernal, 1962-12

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC5/4/4/17
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Many of the reviews came to Joseph Needham via Cambridge University Press and are accompanied by an explanatory compliments slip.

Dates: 1962-12
 File

Copy of the two part review by J. D. Bernal published in 'The Humanist', February 1957, 1957-02

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC5/4/2/26
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Many of the reviews came to Joseph Needham via Cambridge University Press and are accompanied by an explanatory compliments slip.

Dates: 1957-02
 File

Cutting of a review by J. D. Bernal published in the 'Literary Guide', 1954-11

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC5/4/1/16
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Many of the reviews came to Joseph Needham via Cambridge University Press and are accompanied by an explanatory compliments slip.

Dates: 1954-11
 File

Discussion of 'Science in China' at the Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London, 19 October 1955, 1955-10

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/NRI2/1/1/21
Scope and Contents

The discussion was between the three scientists, Joseph Needham, Prof J. D. Bernal and Professor Kathleen Lonsdale. The documents comprise notices of the event and notes.

Dates: 1955-10
 File

Envelope containing a photograph bequeathed by J. D. Bernal, showing composting in China, 1950 - 1975

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/332/3/9
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

These documents correspond to section Bd7 on the list catalogued as SCC2/330/1.

Dates: 1950 - 1975
 Fonds

John Desmond Bernal: Scientific and Personal Papers

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8287
Scope and Contents John Desmond Bernal (1901-1971) was born on 10 May 1901. He attended Cambridge University, 1919-1923, before working in the Davy Faraday Laboratory, London, 1923-1927. He was appointed Lecturer in Structural Crystallography at Cambridge in 1927, and Assistant Director of Research in Crystallography, Cambridge, 1934. He was made Professor of Physics at Birkbeck College, University of London, in January 1938. During the War Bernal worked in the Ministry of Security, as a member of...
Dates: Majority of material found within 1911-1977; 1795; 1883
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk). Section R (previously restricted) was opened to readers in 2021.
 File

Joseph Needham's note of a comment by Desmond [Bernal?] during dinner at Balzar, about the '莊子 [Chuang-Tzu / Zhuangzi] relativity', 1947-03-14

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/41/1/17
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Fonds:

This series contains files on each topic set out in Joseph Needham's grand plan for 'Science and Civilisation in China'.

Dates: 1947-03-14
 File

Letter from the Secretary of J. D. Bernal of Birbeck College Research Laboratory, London asking Joseph Needham to comment on a chapter of his proposed book 'Science in History' and related documents, 1950-01-17 - 1950-02-08

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/16/91
Scope and Contents

The related documents include copy of Joseph Needham's letter of reply to Bernal; Joseph Needham's typescript and manuscript notes following his study of the chapter.

Dates: 1950-01-17 - 1950-02-08
 File

Note from Desmond Bernal about the meaning of the term 'a Chinese copy', 1956-02-17

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/96/3/9
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Fonds:

This series contains files on each topic set out in Joseph Needham's grand plan for 'Science and Civilisation in China'.

Dates: 1956-02-17

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Archives and MSS Dept. (GBR/0012) 1
 
Type
Archival Object 12
Collection 1
 
Subject
Education 1
Meteorites 1
Physics 1