sub-fonds A - Biographical papers

The material in this section is arranged as follows:

A/1-A/4: Obituary notices, 1940-1942

A/5-A/31: Biographical notes, 1909-1958. Within this group, A/23-A/31 comprises correspondence and papers found together. The bulk of this material was originally assembled by Lord Rayleigh whilst writing his biography The Life of Sir J. J. Thomson O.M. sometime master of Trinity College, Cambridge, published in 1942 by Cambridge University Press. There is also a little material added later by the family.

A/32-A/71A: Career, honours, and awards, 1874-1940. This section also includes letters of congratulation to Thomson's mother Emma on his early successes, and letters of condolence to his wife on his death.

A/72-A/103: Certificates, 1900-1937. A number of these awards are also documented at A/32-71.

A/104-A/109: 'J.J. on Education', 1918-1940 (material found together, and thus entitled, by Lord Rayleigh in the course of writing his biography of Thomson). See A/120 for press cuttings re Thomson's interest in Education.

A/110-A/143: Press cuttings, 1888-1956. Arranged in chronological order, and including press cuttings re Thomson's lectures and publications.

A/144: Diary of J. J. Thomson

A/145-152: Financial papers, 1878-1938

A/153-160: Photographs, 1909-1932

A/161-165: Invitations, 1885-1936. Social invitations received by Thomson. See also C/81-C/130

A/166-176: Miscellaneous, 1878-1956

ZTHMJ I/D: Material relating to J.J. Thomson and the Cavendish Laboratory in his Day ,an account of Thomson and his work by G.P. Thomson published in 1964 as part of the 'British Men of Science' series, including correspondence with Nelsons re publication. Other pieces by G.P. Thomson about his father,