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The Papers of Sir Charles Oatley

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0014/OATL

Scope and Contents

The papers include: account of Oatley's wartime work in the development of radar; papers and correspondence on the development of the Scanning Electron Microscope at the University of Cambridge Engineering Department; papers on Oatley's development of the Electrical Sciences Tripos at Cambridge.

Dates

  • Creation: 1935 - 1998

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge. .

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers wishing to publish excerpts from the papers must obtain prior permission from the copyright holder(s) and should seek advice from Archives Centre staff.

Biographical / Historical

Charles Oatley was born 14 February 1904, the son of William Oatley and Ada Mary Dorrington; he was educated at Bedford Modern School and St John’s College, Cambridge. In 1930 he married (Dorothy) Enid West; they had two sons.

After his graduation, Oatley spent two years as a research physicist, working for Radio Accessories Limited, making thermionic radio valves. After this firm collapsed in 1927, Oatley's former supervisor, Professor Edward Appleton, offered him a post in the Department of Physics at King's College London, first as Demonstrator, then later as a lecturer (1927-39), though he also continued to work as a consultant in the valve manufacturing industry, for Lissen Limited. During the war, Oatley worked on the development of radar at the Ministry of Supply Air Defence Research and Development Establishment, (1939-45), becoming Acting Superintendent in charge of scientific work, (1944-45). Back in peace-time Oatley came to Cambridge, first as Lecturer, later Reader, at the University Department of Engineering (1945-60), carrying out his early research into the Scanning Electron Microscope. He then became Professor of Electrical Engineering, (1960-71), while he was also a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, from 1945. Outside his research work, Oatley was Director of the English Electric Valve Company, (1966-85). He was also a member of various institutions, including: Council, Institute of Electrical Engineers, 1954-56, 1961-64 (Chairman of the Radio Section, 1954-55); Council, Royal Society, (1970-72); Foreign Associate, National Academy of Engineering, United States, (1979).

Oatley's honours and awards include: Honorary Fellow, Royal Microscopical Society (1970); FKC (1976); Achievement Award, Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers, (1966); Duddell Medal, Institute of Physics and Physical Society (1969); Royal Medal, Royal Society (1969); Faraday Medal, IEE, (1970); Mullard Award, Royal Society, (1973); James Alfred Ewing Medal, ICE, (1981); Distinguished Scientist Award, Electron Microscopy Society of America, (1984); Howard N. Potts Medal, Franklin Institute, (1989). He was knighted in 1974; OBE 1956; MA; FRS 1969, FEng, FIEE, FIEEE. Oatley died on 11 March 1996.

Oatley's publications include: Wireless Receivers, (1932); The Scanning Electron Microscope, (1972); Electric and Magnetic Fields, (1976); papers in scientific and technical journals.

Extent

1 archive box(es)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The papers retain Oatley's original arrangement.

Other Finding Aids

A copy of this finding aid is available for consultation at Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge and the National Register of Archives, London.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The main part of the papers were given to Churchill Archives Centre by Sir Charles Oatley in 1990, while additional biographical information and Oatley's account of his work in radar, were given by his biographer, Dr K C A Smith, in 1999.

General

This fonds level description and catalogue was prepared by Katharine Thomson of Churchill Archives Centre in July 2003 using information from the papers themselves, biographical information and notes on the papers provided by Sir Charles Oatley and from Oatley's entry in "Who Was Who 1897-1996" (A&C Black).

Originator(s)

Oatley, Sir Charles William

Date
2003-07-23 08:47:44+00:00
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Churchill Archives Centre Repository

Contact:
Churchill Archives Centre
Churchill College
Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB3 0DS United Kingdom
+44 (0)1223 336087