Graphical version

University College London

De Beer Papers


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0103 DE BEER

Held at: University College London

Title: De Beer Papers

Date(s): 1916-1973

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 48 boxes

Name of creator(s): Beer | Sir | Gavin Rylands | De | 1899-1972 | Knight | embryologist

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

De Beer was born on 1 November 1899 at Malden, Surrey. His early life was spent abroad and he attended the Ecole Pascale in Paris. He came to England in 1912 and attended Harrow School, followed by Magdalen College Oxford. He joined the Grenadier Guards and was called up, but the First World War ended soon afterwards. He returned to Oxford and studied zoology, achieving a first class honours in 1921. He was elected to a Prize Fellowship of Merton College in 1923, and held this until 1938. From 1926 to 1938 De Beer was Jenkinson Lecturer in Embryology at Oxford. He served in the Second World War, being involved with psychological warfare. From 1946 to 1950 he was Professor of Embryology at University College London and from 1950 to 1960 Director of the British Museum (Natural History). He then joined the publishing company Thomas Nelson, initially as a Director and later as Editorial Consultant. He was President of the Linnean Society from 1946 to 1949. He was knighted in 1954. He won many medals during his lifetime and published a many of books on a range of subjects, from embryology and genetics to travelling in Switzerland. De Beer died on 21 June 1972.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of Sir Gavin Rylands De Beer, the majority c1939-1972, consisting of: notes and drafts for publications and lectures on the history of science and literary topics; correspondence concerning literature and De Beer's scientific work; papers from De Beer's work during the First and Second World Wars; financial and legal papers; and some personal correspondence.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Restricted access. Some items in this collection are not available for general access due to data protection and confidentiality restrictions. Specific restrictions are explained in the description for each item.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Normal copyright restrictions apply.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Draft handlist.

Detailed catalogue

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Presented by the executors of Lady De Beer in December 1973.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Date(s) of descriptions: 1999


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Embryology | Physiological development | Physiology
History of science | Science of science
Propaganda | Persuasion | Communication process
War | International conflicts
World War Two (1939-1945) | World wars (events) | Wars (events)
Biology
Genetics
Literature
Zoology

Personal names
Beer | Sir | Gavin Rylands | De | 1899-1972 | Knight | embryologist x De Beer | Sir | Gavin Rylands

Corporate names

Places