The Papers of William Lawrence Wilson

Fonds

Reference Code: GBR/0014/WLSN

Scope and Contents

Papers comprising a memoir, a history of engineering in the Office of Works and lectures

Dates

Creation: 1952 - 1992

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 holders and should seek advice from Archives Centre staff.

Biographical / Historical

William Lawrence Wilson was born in Stockton-on-Tees on 11 September 1912, the son of Joseph Osmond Wilson and Ann Wilson. He was educated at Stockton-on-Tees Secondary School; Constantine College, Middlesbrough; and Regent Street Polytechnic. He married Doris Irene Goddard in 1936, with whom he had two sons, and Constance Richards in 1964.

He worked at Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), 1927-36. He was Assistant Engineer, 1936-9, and Engineer, 1939-45, at the Office of Works; Superintending Engineer, 1945-54, and Assistant Chief Engineer, 1954-62, at the Ministry of Works; Chief Engineer, 1962-9, and Deputy Secretary, 1969-70, at the Ministry of Public Building and Works; and Deputy Secretary, 1970-3, at the Department of the Environment.

He died on 29 August 1993.

He was created OBE, 1954, and CB, 1967.

Extent

1 archive box(es)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Other Finding Aids

Copies of the collection level description and catalogue are available at Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge and the National Register of Archives, London.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The papers were given to Churchill Archives Centre by William Lawrence Wilson in 1992.

General

This collection level description was prepared by Sophie Bridges, April 2005. The collection has been catalogued. Biographical information was obtained from "Who's Who 1897-1996".