L. Pearce Williams papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 14-17-795

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Correspondence with colleagues, students, publishers, libraries, and individuals concerning the research for his book Michael Faraday (1965) and its publication, his own and colleagues' writings on other subjects in the history of science, lectures given for various groups and institutions, teaching positions and graduate work in the history of science, and professional meetings (1958-66); manuscripts and typescripts of the Faraday book and Williams's The Origins of Field Theory (1966) and drafts and copies of articles and lectures (1951- ); and other material pertaining to his work as a Cornell professor.

Also photocopies of journal articles, made in the course of research for a planned book on science in the 19th century (which was never written). Also, offprints of German journal articles, dating mainly from 1900-1929, on quantum theory, relativity theory, and cathode rays, with a few articles on biochemistry, a few on the history and philosophy of science, and two microscope catalogs. Authors represented include Philipp Lenard, Lise Meitner, Wilhelm Wien, Ernst Haeckel, Albert Kölliker, Erwin Schrödinger, and Emil Fischer. Microfilm of manuscript material from research libraries concerns Michael Faraday and John Dalton.

Also videocassette: "Notorious Note-Taking Lecture," August 29, 1990.

Additional research and teaching notes include material for Williams's book The History of Science in Western Civilization (1977); notes for a year-long survey course on the History of Technology (1986-1987); transcripts and photocopies of Michael Faraday's correspondence; and outlines and a partial draft for a planned book on the 18th century. An inventory of Prof. Williams's home library (since dispersed) is also included.

Paper guide may be available for boxes 1-67.

Dates

1887 - 1970
Majority of material found within 1963 - 1967

Creator

Williams, L. Pearce, 1927-2015. (Person)
Lenard, Philipp, 1862-1947. (Person)
Meitner, Lise, 1878-1968. (Person)
Wien, W. (Wilhelm), 1864-1928. (Person)
Haeckel, Ernst, 1834-1919. (Person)
Kölliker, Albert, 1817-1905. (Person)
Schrödinger, Erwin, 1887-1961. (Person)
Fischer, Emil, 1852-1919. (Person)

Language of Materials

Collection material in English

Access Restrictions:

Access to some correspondence restricted to permission of the History Department.

Restrictions on Use:

Materials from other research libraries may not be reproduced or quoted without permission from those libraries.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

History of science professor, Cornell University. Williams taught the history of Western civilization and the history of science to Cornell students for four decades.

Cornell Class of 1949, Ph.D. 1952.

Extent

68.6 cubic feet. (68.6 cubic feet.)

Additional Description

Abstract

Correspondence with colleagues, students, publishers, libraries, and individuals and papers concerning his research and teaching

RELATED MATERIALS

Related collection: Williams Ampere Collection, #4730; and Ampere Collection, #4705.

Physical Description

Correspondence, publications, research material

General

Contact Information:: Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections 2B Carl A. Kroch Library Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255-3530 Fax: (607) 255-9524rareref@cornell.edu http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:: RMC Staff
Date completed:: March 2012
EAD encoding:: RMC Staff, March 2012
Date modified:: Margaret Nichols, August 2018