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University College London

Haldane Papers


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0103 HALDANE

Held at: University College London

Title: Haldane Papers

Date(s): 1935-1957

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 43 boxes

Name of creator(s): Haldane | John Burdon Sanderson | 1892-1964 | scientist
Haldane | Charlotte | d 1969 | née Franken | formerly Burghes | journalist and author | first wife of John Burdon Sanderson Haldane

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

John Burdon Sanderson Haldane was born on 5 November 1892. He was educated at Eton and at New College Oxford where he attained his MA. During the First World War he served in the Black Watch in France and Iraq, 1914-1919. From 1919 to 1922 he was a Fellow of New College Oxford; then moving to Cambridge University to be a Reader in Biochemistry until 1932. He was also the Fullerian Professor of Physiology at the Royal Institution from 1930 to 1932. Then he went to University College London to become Professor of Genetics (1933-1937) and later Professor of Biometry (1937-1957). After this, Haldane became Research Professor at the Indian Statistical Institute until 1961. In 1962 he was Head of the Genetics and Biometry Laboratory for the Government of Orissa. He received medals for scientific excellence during his career, and also published many scientific articles and writings. Haldane died on 1 December 1964.

Charlotte Haldane (née Franken), formerly Charlotte Burghes, married John Burdon Sanderson Haldane in 1926; they were divorced in 1945. A journalist and author, her publications included two volumes of autobiography. She died in 1969.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of John Burdon Sanderson Haldane, comprising scientific notes and papers; correspondence with publishers; scientific correspondence; general correspondence; University College London departmental files, wartime committees, and other societies; and some personal financial and domestic papers. There are also some papers of Charlotte Haldane which consist of correspondence, including letters about Women Today magazine, and bills.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Certain restrictions apply. 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. Copies of items in this collection may be supplied for the purposes of private research only. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner. Items that are closed for data protection and confidentiality reasons cannot be copied until the closure period has ended.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Summary list.

Detailed catalogue

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Transferred from the Kennedy-Galton Centre, Harperbury Hospital, in October 1974. One box of papers of Haldane and his first wife Charlotte sent by Mr A V Simcock, Librarian of the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford, in March 1985.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

University College London Special Collections also holds correspondence between John Burdon Sanderson Haldane and Benjamin Ifor Evans, Provost of University College London, on the resignations of Haldane and his second wife Helen (née Spurway), 1956-1957 (Ref: MS ADD 256); six letters to D M S Watson, 1958-1963, and one to J O Wisdom, 1954 (Ref: MS ADD 112); correspondence and book reviews relating to India, 1959-1963 (Ref: MS ADD 277); copies of correspondence with Arthur C Clarke, 1951, 1962-1964 (Ref: MS ADD 379); letters to Lionel Sharples Penrose, 1934-1968 (Ref: PENROSE); five letters to his sister Naomi (later Mitchison) [1907], [1915] and undated (Ref: MS MISC 4H); an undated poem and manuscript notes (Ref: MS MISC 5H).

The National Library of Scotland, Manuscripts Division, holds correspondence, notebooks and papers of Haldane, 1907-1964 (Ref: MSS 20534-660; Ch 15521-24) and letters to his family, essays, etc, 1898-1908, including six letters to his sister, 1920-1928 (Ref: Acc 4549, 9186). The Imperial War Museum, Department of Documents, holds twelve letters to his sister whilst serving in the Black Watch, 1914-1917. Oxford University, Bodleian Library, Special Collections and Western Manuscripts, holds correspondence with Cyril Darlington, 1915-1968 (Ref: CSAC103/3/85) and correspondence relating to the Society for the Protection of Science and Learning, 1933-1935 (Ref: Index). Oxford University, Wolfson College Library, holds correspondence with H B D Kettlewell, 1952-1966. Oxford University, Edward Grey Institute, holds correspondence with David Lack. King's College London, Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, holds correspondence with Sir B H Liddell Hart, 1937-1939 (Ref: KCLMA Liddell Hart B H). Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, holds correspondence with Joseph Needham, 1960-1965 (Ref: MSS A.828; H.186; H.203 passim). Cambridge University, King's College Archive Centre, holds ten letters. Rice University, Woodson Research Center, Houston, Texas, USA, holds 28 items of correspondence with Sir Julian Huxley, 1920-1964 (Ref: Julian S Huxley papers).

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Sources: Dictionary of National Biography; National Register of Archives.

Date(s) of descriptions: 1999, revised Aug 2001


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Biometrics | Biology
Publishing | Publishing industry
Genetics

Personal names
Haldane | Charlotte | d 1969 | née Franken | formerly Burghes | journalist and author | first wife of John Burdon Sanderson Haldane x Franken | Charlotte x Burghes | Charlotte
Haldane | John Burdon Sanderson | 1892-1964 | scientist

Corporate names
University College London | Department of Eugenics, Biometry and Genetics
Women Today | magazine

Places