John Desmond Bernal: Scientific and Personal Papers
Scope and Contents
Note: This is an interim catalogue description. Further series will be expanded upon completion of catalogue.
A. Scientific Writings (24 boxes) 1.1-1.2. Books; 2.1-2.10. Contributions to books; 3.1-3.225. Periodicals; 4.1-4.60. Unpublished writings.
B. Non-scientific Writings (33 boxes) 1.1-1.12. Books; 2.1-2.21. Contributions to books; 3.1-3.392. Periodicals; 4.1-4.115. Unpublished writings; 5.1-5.69. Broadcasts.
C. Birkbeck College (1 box and 2 folders) 1-11. Correspondence, photographs, visitor's books, lectures, annual reports, etc.
D. War (3 boxes) 1-13. Diaries, correspondence, photographs, maps, reports, notes, etc.
E. Peace (9 boxes) 1-17. Correspondence and papers dealing with various countries; congresses and meetings; World Peace Council; conferences; press; and other papers.
F. Science Policy (2 boxes) 1-14. Correspondence and papers.
G. Special Activities (2 boxes) 1.1-1.5. Ghana, University Education; 2.1-2.7. Meteorite Research; 3. Crystal Data Centre.
H. Scientific Organisations (6 boxes) 1-33. Papers of organisations to which Bernal belonged or was closely associated.
I. Non-scientific Organisations (3 boxes) 1-47. Papers of organisations to which Bernal belonged or to which he was closely associated.
J. Correspondence (10 boxes) 1-269. Correspondence with individuals and with organisations to which Bernal did not belong.
K. Publishers (2 boxes) 1-35. Correspondence.
L. Meetings and Visits (6 boxes) 1-87. Correspondence concerning the organisation of meetings and visits.
M. Scientific Notes and Ideas (2 boxes) 1-24. Notes found at Birkbeck and among other papers, arranged alphabetically by topic.
N. Non-scientific Notes and Ideas (2 boxes) 1-12. Notes arranged alphabetically by topic where possible.
O. Personal (10 boxes) 1-24. Biographical material, family letters, last illness, greetings, certificates, diaries, and miscellaneous other material.
P. Material collected after 15.9.1971 (3 boxes) 1-17. Correspondence; obituaries; papers of Anita Rimel, Bernal's P.A., 1940s-1969; and other material.
Q. Miscellaneous 1-4. Scrolls (7); analysis of a Picasso drawing (1 envelope); the 1948 plans of Riley House (1 packet); and an album containing press cuttings (1 volume).
R. Previously restricted material (6 boxes).
Note: An additional six boxes of uncatalogued material is also availble on request.
Dates
- Creation: 1950 (Circa)
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
Section R (previously restricted) was opened to readers in 2021.
Extent
122 archive box(es) : paper; audio tapes
1 folder(s) : paper
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
The papers of Professor J.D. Bernal were bequeathed to Birkbeck College and are held at Cambridge University Library on permanent loan.
After Bernal died, the papers that were still at Birkbeck College, which were mainly concerned with his published works, remained there and other papers were sent to Cambridge University Library. Later, more papers were received from the London Office of the World Peace Council and from former members of his staff.
The Leverhulme Trust made a grant to Birkbeck College so that the papers could be sorted, arranged, and catalogued, and missing papers traced and added to the collection. In 1979 it was agreed that the two collections should be amalgamated and kept at Cambridge University Library.
The papers have been sorted, collected, arranged and catalogued by Brenda Swann, B.Sc., (Econ), Ph.D., who worked for Professor Bernal at Birkbeck College 1938-1940.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented by Mrs Eileen Bernal and deposited on permanent loan by the Governors of Birkbeck College, London, 1972-1973 and 1979.
Topical
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository
Cambridge University Library
West Road
Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom
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