Material relating to D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson at Dundee University Archives

Recs A/328 University College, Dundee. Secretary. Miscellaneous papers relating to the Department of Natural History. 1884-1917. As follows:

Recs A/328/1 Correspondence and miscellaneous papers relating to the Department of Natural History. 1885-1909.

(1) Dundee Naturalists' Society. Regulations for the use of Naturalists Library. 13 October 1885. [2 copies].

(2) Dundee Naturalists' Society. Programme of Conversazione held at University College, Dundee. Chairman: D'Arcy W. Thompson, 29 September 1892.

(3) Letter, 12 June 1894, Professor D'Arcy W. Thompson to [John Robertson], Chairman of the Finance Committee. Concerns department accounts, museum expenses and Arctic exploration. Details of expenditure attached.

(4) Letter, 12 July 1894, Shiell & Small, Treasurer of the College, to R.N. Kerr, Secretary, University College, Dundee. Acknowledges receipt of grant by the Royal Society towards the Arctic Expedition of the Biology Department.

(5) List of books lent to D'Arcy W. Thompson. 6 November 1894.

(6) Letter, 29 October 1895, Thomas Macaulay to Professor D'Arcy W. Thompson. Concerns estimate for wall cases for the museum.

(7) Estimate, 5 March 1896, by A. and J. Stevenson for binding 200 volumes.

(8) Letter, 9 December 1896, D'Arcy W. Thompson to [G.W. Baxter], Chairman of Council. Concerns the appointment of an Assistant.

(9) Letter, 10 December 1896, G.W. Baxter to [R.N.] Kerr, Secretary. University College, Dundee. Concerns departmental grants and in particular Natural History.

(10) Petty Cash book kept by D'Arcy W. Thompson. 1900-1902.

(11) Invoices for periodicals for the departments of Botany, Chemistry and Natural History, 1902-1903.

(12) Letter, 6 February 1903, D'Arcy W. Thompson to W. Arnot Watterston. Secretary. University College, Dundee. Concerns class grant.

(13)-(14) Letters, 15 and 16 June 1906, from D'Arcy W. Thompson and W. Arnot Watterston, concerning payment to Miss Gibson.

(15)-(16) Letters, 2 November 1907, Bernard & Co., Leith and John Crabbie & Co. Ltd., concerning the supply of methylated spirit.

(17) Return of expenditure for department of Natural History. 1885-1907. [3 copies].

(18) Letters, 4 and 5 February 1908, Mills and Shepherd to [W.A. Watterston]. Gives account of the state of the structure of the Natural History Department.

(19)-(21) Letters, 26 September, 7 October, 13 October 1908, W. and R. Brownlee, George C. Aimer and D'Arcy W. Thompson, concerning sundry alterations to be undertaken in the Natural History Department.

(22) Petty cash transactions for the Natural History Department to 31 July 1909.

(23) Letter, 10 November 1909, W.D. Henderson, Manchester, to [W. Arnot] Watterston. Requests payment to himself and payment of microscope money to students. Encloses receipts for deposit fees for the use of microscopes.

(24) Letter, 10 November 1909, D'Arcy W. Thompson to W.A. Watterston. Informs of the departure of Dr Henderson to the University of Manchester and requests the appointment of Miss D.L. Mackinnon.

(25) Letter, 7 December 1909, W.D. Henderson, Manchester to Professor [D'Arcy] Thompson. Concerns the arrestment of his salary and repayments of monies to students.

(26) Letter, 10 June 1910, W.D. Henderson, Manchester to Principal J. Yule Mackay, Dundee. Concerns account of microscope fees for the auditors. Demands an apology.

(27)-(30) Samples of receipts and lists of names of those paying deposits for use and hire of microscopes. Summer 1909, 1910, Whitsunday 1919.

(32) Letter, 4 November 1913, D'Arcy W. Thompson to [W.A.] Watterston. Concerns the wages of the laboratory by John Comrie.

(33) Copy of notification of the inauguration of D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson as Professor of Natural History, United College, St. Andrews. 1917.

Recs A/328/2 Correspondence and papers relating to the Chair of Biology, and D'Arcy W. Thompson's work for the Government and the Scottish Fishery Board. 1884-1917.

(1) List of referees given by W. D'Arcy Thompson, Patrick Geddes and John Fullarton, candidates for the Chair of Biology. n.d.

(2) Draft letter, 20 November 1884, [Shiell & Small]. Requests references for John Fullerton, a candidate for the Chair of Biology.

(3) Draft letter, 21 November 1884, [Shiell & Small]. Requests a reference for John Fullerton, a candidate for the Chair of Biology.

(4) Draft letter 1 December 1884, [Shiell & Small] to Dr [Henry] Roscoe and Professor [James] Donaldson. Requests an opinion on D'Arcy W. Thompson, Patrick Geddes, William Hoyle and John Fullarton likely candidates for the short leet for the Chair of Biology. Mentions "materialistic views or scepticism in religion".

(5) Letter, 13 August 1897, F.H. Villiers, Foreign Office to the College Council. Refers to leave of absence granted to D'Arcy Thompson to carry out research on Pribyloff and Commander Islands, Behring Sea and requests that further leave be granted to enable Professor Thompson to attend a meeting of [seal] experts in Washington. U.S.A.

(6) Letter, 26 August 1897, F.H. Villiers, Foreign Office to the College Council. Concerns arrangements for Professor D'Arcy Thompson's attendance at the conference in Washington and the date of his return.

(7) Letter, 15 October 1897, D'Arcy W. Thompson to the College Council. Intimates he is leaving for the United States on the business of the Behring Sea Commission.

(8) Letter, 26 September 1908, D'Arcy W. Thompson to W.A. Watterston, [Secretary] University College. Concerns a proposal to charge a rent for the rooms used for fishery work. Suggests it might be advisable not to charge the Treasury for accommodation. Gives extract of Minute of the Committee on the Fishing Industry of the United Kingdom [Cd. 4304] page 82.

(9) Letter, 8 November 1912, D.J. MacDonald to Professor D'Arcy Thompson. Gives estimate for installing electric lighting.

(10) Letter, 9 November 1912, D'Arcy W. Thompson to W.A. Watterston [Secretary] University College. Concerns the need for electric light in the rooms used by the Scottish Fishery Board. Suggests the College undertake the expenditure.

(11) Note on the wages payable to [?] MacDonald following an accident on 16 September 1912. Note on estimate of costs incurred by the 'Fishery Board Department' and sundry other calculations. [December 1912].

Recs A/331/7 Miscellaneous papers relating to apparatus and materials: Departments of Physics and Electrical Engineering. 1896-1919. Includes:

(1) Letter, 5 December 1895, D'Arcy W. Thompson to Chairman of College Council. Relates to Harris Trustees' intention to expend 3500 on the Department of Natural History. Indicates proposed method of expenditure.

Recs A/649/13 University of St. Andrews: Dinner in honour of Sir D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson, C.B., F.R.S., "Professor 1884-1945 et seq" by his colleagues of the University of St. Andrews; held in St. Salvator's Hall, December 18, 1945: menu card belonging to Miss A.R. Sanderson, B.Sc., Ph.D., signed by D'Arcy W. Thompson.

Recs A/649/62 "Fifty Years Ago And Now": A Presidential Address, by Sir D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson, on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Annual General Meeting of the Grey Lodge Settlement Association, 27 April 1938. History of Grey Lodge and Mary Lily Walker, with personal reflections. Dundee, 1938.

Recs A/653(2) Postcard, 26 August 1912, from Professor D'Arcy Thompson. Relates to room reservations.

Recs A/814 University College, Dundee, Calendars. The volumes between sessions 1885-1886 and 1916-1917 are worth looking at for the Principal's annual reports which contain paragraphs from each Department head, including Professor D'Arcy Thompson.

Recs A/834 "Studies from the Museum of Zoology in University College, Dundee," edited by D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson. Berlin: R. Friedlénder & Son. Includes articles by Mary Lily Walker, D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson, Alexander Meek. 1890.

UR-SF 2/12 D'Arcy Thompson memorabilia.
Correspondence, publications and miscellaneous papers by or relating to [Sir] D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson, professor of Biology (1884-1888) and Natural History (1888-1917) in University College, Dundee and professor of Natural History at the University of St. Andrews (1917-1948). As follows:

UR-SF 2/12/1 Letter of application, articles and sketches by Thompson. 1884-1938.

(1) Letter of application by and testimonials in favour of D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson, B.A., a candidate for the Chair of Biology at University College, Dundee. 7 November 1884. [Printed]. Includes list of publications (Part I) and testimonials from: Michael Foster, Professor of Physiology, University of Cambridge, 2 November 1884; Alexander Macalister, Professor of Anatomy, University of Cambridge, n.d. [1884]; Alfred Newton, Professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy, University of Cambridge, 6 November 1884; W.K. Parker, Hunterian Professor, Royal College of Surgeons, 6 November 1884; James Stuart, Fellow of Trinity College, Professor of Mechanics, University of Cambridge, 6 November 1884; W.T. Thiselton-Dyer, Assistant Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, 3 November 1884.

(2) (Part II) Testimonials (continued) in favour of D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson from: R.T. Anderson, Professor of Natural History, Queen's College, Galway, 8 November 1884; Charles C. Babington, Professor of Botany, University of Cambridge, 3 November 1884; W. Abbott Herdman, Professor of Natural History, University College, Liverpool, 4 November 1884; E. Ray Lankester, Jodrell Professor of Comparative Anatomy, University College, London, 6 November 1884; Henry Alleyne Nicholson, Professor of Natural History, University of Aberdeen, 4 November 1884; Adam Sedgwick, Fellow and Lecturer of Trinity College, and Senior Lecturer on Animal Morphology, University of Cambridge, 6 November 1884; Sydney H. Vines, Fellow and Lecturer of Christ's College, Cambridge, University Reader in Botany, 5 November 1884.

(3) 'The Regeneration of Lost Parts', D'Arcy W. Thompson; reprinted from Mind, No. XXXV. 1884.

(4) Envelope containing a few pencilled sketches of transverse sections of animal teeth by D'Arcy W. Thompson with a note by Professor Peacock that they were made for Growth and Form; (they were found by Edwin Sturrock, a former student of D'Arcy Thompson, on 30 April 1956).

(5) Envelope containing typescript copy of notes by D'Arcy Thompson regarding his museum in University College, Dundee, n.d. [?1902-1903]. Includes list of papers, "Studies from the Museum of Zoology in University College, Dundee", 1888-1902.

(6) 'Fifty Years Ago and Now'; a presidential address delivered by Sir D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson on the occasion of the Fiftieth Annual General Meeting of the Grey Lodge Settlement Association on 27 April 1938.

UR-SF 2/12/2 Correspondence of D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson 1891 and 1940-1946. Mainly letters from Thompson to A.D. Peacock and one letter from W.T. Calman to D'Arcy Thompson, some with notes written by Peacock in 1967.

(1) W.T. Calman to [D'Arcy Thompson], 19 September 1891; seeks his advice with regard to a possible application for a post as assistant at the Edinburgh Science and Art Museum. With note by Peacock attached stating that "It probably also led to Calman's appointment as pupil assistant to D'Arcy".

[(2)-(15) letters from D'Arcy Thompson to A.D. Peacock].

(2) 29 April 1940, St. Andrews; contains references to World War II and his re-writing of Growth and Form which he describes as a difficult task.

(3) 12 May 1940, St. Andrews; thanks Peacock for his letter on his [Thompson's] 80th birthday.

(4) 24 May 1940, St. Andrews; refers to a visit by Professor E. Hindle as external examiner and comments on Neville Henderson and the conduct of the war, of which he was very critical. (Note from Peacock, written in August 1967).

(5) 19 March 1941, St. Andrews; makes disparaging reference to "Monro Fox (alias Fuchs)" and his wife. (Note from Peacock attached, wondering if this were libellous).

(6) 28 August 1941, St. Andrews; discusses arrangements for Professor Hindle's oral examination and the resit students involved.

(7) 8 April 1942 [St. Andrews]; refers to the return of Goldschmidt and makes critical comments about his new book and to the appointment of Professor F.A.E. Crew as Director of Medical Research for the army.

(8) 25 April 1942, St. Andrews; wishes Alan Peacock good luck on his joining up with the navy. [Short, hand-written letter].

(9) 5 May 1942, [St. Andrews]; writes to arrange a lunch appointment with Peacock.

(10) 18 May 1942, [St. Andrews]. Makes further arrangements for Hindle's visit and asks for news of Alan [Peacock]; mentions his worry over "a very young Air Force Cadet" who "is probably the finest mathematician, or mathematical genius we have had here in living memory".

(11) 22 June 1942, Nethy Bridge; discusses arrangements for the B.Sc. papers and regards woodcutters' activities with great pessimism as "end of the Crested Tits".

(12) 20 August 1943, St. Andrews; arranges who will organise the September examination diet and mentions Alan Peacock's promotion to Lieutenant.

(13) 22 November 1943, St. Andrews; writes condolences to Peacock on his father's death.

(14) 27 July 1946, St. Andrews; mentions his plans for a holiday (in Nethy Bridge or Ireland) and a Fishery Conference in Stockholm (note by Peacock: "At the age of 86!") and discusses ways of obtaining rats, frogs and cockroaches; discusses also the election of "the Major-General" [Wimberley] as principal of University College and their resit students.

(15) Post script [to a letter not included]. Attacks the "lamentable exhibition" of the Admiralty "asking for amateur snaps and other photos of Continental towns, bits of coastline etc." n.d.

Also includes:

(16) Letter to the editors of the Cambridge Review from W.B. Ransom, Secretary of Trinity College, soliciting financial support from the Cambridge Boys' Workshop founded by D'Arcy Thompson. Manuscript note by Peacock: "Date according to Miss Ruth D'A.T. [D'Arcy Thompson], 1884, June or July". n.d.

UR-SF 2/12/3 Obituaries of and retrospective articles on D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson who died at home on 21 June 1948, aged 88, 1948-1960.

(1) "Prof. Sir D'Arcy Thompson Dead - "Admirable Crichton" of Scottish Scholarship", an obituary article on D'Arcy Thompson's life and career which appeared on the Courier and Advertiser the day after his death, aged 88. 22 June 1948.

(2) Typescript, comprising an obituary notice of D'Arcy Thompson written by A.D. Peacock and added to the minutes of the Education Board, University College, Dundee. c.1948.

(3) Obituary notices of D'Arcy Thompson by Dr W. Calman, his student and colleague in Dundee and later Keeper of Zoology at the British Museum and by Douglas Young, University of St. Andrews. Printed in the R.S.E. [Royal Society of Edinburgh] Year Book, 1946-1948. [Short biography of W.T. Calman added in typescript].

(4) 'The Late Sir D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson', an obituary article (unattributed) which appeared in the Edinburgh Academy Chronicle, Vol. LV, 3, pp.120-123. October 1948.

(5) 'Professor Sir D'Arcy Thompson', an obituary article in the Alumnus Chronicle of University of St. Andrews Alumnus Association, No. 31, pp.5-7. January 1949.

(6) 'D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson 1860-1948', an obituary by Professor Clifford Dobell of Imperial College, London; reprinted from Obituary Notices of Fellows of the Royal Society, Vol. 6, November 1949.

(7) Photograph of a painting of D'Arcy Thompson in the Royal Society of Edinburgh of which he had been president, from The Royal Society of Edinburgh Year Book 1946-1948. Note by Peacock on reverse.

(8) Leaflet entitled the D'Arcy Thompson Commemoration Fund with a photograph of an oil painting of D'Arcy Thompson by David S. Ewart, A.R.S.A.; asks for donations to pay for a replica of the portrait for University College, Dundee and for a bronze cast of a head of D'Arcy Thompson (modelled in clay) for St. Andrews University [shown in inset photograph] and also to fund D'Arcy Thompson Natural History Prizes. c.1948.

(9) Radio script for a talk about D'Arcy Thompson (deceased) his work and life, delivered by A.D. Peacock on radio c.1949 or 1950.

(10) 'D'Arcy Thompson', an article by John Tyler Bonner in the Scientific American, Vol. 187, pp.60-65; a retrospective article on D'Arcy Thompson and his work, particularly On Growth and Form, 1952.

(11) Alumnus Chronicle, No. 38, pp.31-32; 'D'Arcy Thompson Commemoration Fund': announces that 3630 was raised by the appeal and that the replica portrait and bronze head had been completed as well as a Commemorative Medal for the best student in Natural History each year in United College and University College, with photographs opposite page, 21 June 1952.

(12) 'Professor D'Arcy Thompson', an article in the Courier and Advertiser marking the publication of a biography by his daughter Ruth D'Arcy Thompson. 19 June 1958.

(13) 'A Professor O' Pairts' an article in The Scotsman on the life and work of D'Arcy Thompson, in connection with the publication of a biography by his daughter, Ruth D'Arcy Thompson. 21 July 1958.

(14) 'Sir D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson, C.B., F.R.S. Scholar and Naturalist, 1860-1948': a radio talk given by A.D. Peacock on 1 May 1960.

(15) 'The Versatile Biologist-Sir D'Arcy Thompson', an article in the Glasgow Herald by the science correspondent describing his life and work. 2 May 1960.

Also includes:

(16) Print [from The Piper?] of a sketch of D'Arcy Thompson as a young man in his twenties, with his signature. Notes by Peacock [written in 1967] on obverse. c.1880.

Maintained by: Michael Bolik. Last updated: Tuesday 06 October 2009 10:10 AM

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