Papers of John W Sharpe, 1916-1997, arts graduate, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
- Reference:GB 248 UGC 028
- Dates of Creation:1935-1940
- Name of Creator:
- Language of Material:English
- Physical Description:0.5 metres
Scope and Content
- Mathematics notebooks, 1935-1939;
- Natural Philosophy notebooks, 1935-1939;
- Degaussing notebooks, 1940.
Administrative / Biographical History
John Walker Sharpe was born in Stenhousemuir in Falkirk, Scotland on the 21st October 1916. He was a student at the University of Glasgow from 1935-1939 , gaining a First class MA degree in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in 1939. The collection has 43 of his lecture notebooks from his time at the university. He then spent a short time as Assistant Lecturer in Natural Philosophy at the Royal College of Science and Technology (now the University of Strathclyde ).
He spent most of World War II as a scientific officer in the Admiralty, and two of his notebooks from this period are included in the collection. He did important work first on mine design, and subsequently on the demagnetising of ships to prevent them detonating magnetic mines (degaussing).
After the war he spent 2 years at Aberdeen as a lecturer in R V Jones' physics department. This was followed by two years with ICI at Runcorn, where he did pioneering work on Electron Microscopy, and was the first to photograph African Trypanosoma, a virus causing sleeping sickness in African cattle. The rest of his career was spent in the Natural Philosophy Department of the Strathclyde University, where he eventually became Reader. He died on 14 August 1997.
Arrangement
The arrangement of this material reflects the original order in which it was received
Access Information
Open
Acquisition Information
Gift : Betty Sharpe, Classics Department, University of Glasgow : 1998
Other Finding Aids
Digital file level list available in searchroom
Alternative Form Available
No known copies
Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements
None which affect the use of this material
Conditions Governing Use
Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Archivist.
Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents
Appraisal Information
This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 0248 procedures
Custodial History
Received directly from the wife of the creator.
Accruals
None expected
Related Material
No related material
Location of Originals
This material is original
Bibliography
No known publications using this material
Additional Information
Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives,ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999 and National Council on Archives,Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names
Scotland is the location of all place names in the administrative/biographical history element, unless otherwise stated.
Fonds level description compiled by Nyree Morrison Archive Assistant, 27 June 2000. Lower level description compiled by members of Glasgow University Archive Service staff.
Subjects
Personal Names
Corporate Names
Geographical Names