RMA00795.xml Guide to the L. Pearce Williams papers,1887-1987 Williams, L. Pearce papers Compiled by RMC Staff Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library February 2012

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Finding aid encoded by RMC Staff, March 2012 Guide to the L. Pearce Williams Papers,1887-1987, [1963-1967 (bulk)] Collection Number: 14-17-795 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections Cornell University Library 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.eduhttp://rmc.library.cornell.edu Compiled by: RMC Staff Date completed: March 2012 EAD encoding: RMC Staff, March 2012 Date modified: Margaret Nichols, August 2018 © 2012 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY L. Pearce Williams papers, 1887-1987, 1963-1967 (bulk) 14-17-795 L. Pearce Williams, 1927-2015 64.1 cubic ft. Correspondence, publications, research material Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library Correspondence with colleagues, students, publishers, libraries, and individuals and papers concerning his research and teaching Collection material in English 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.

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.

SUBJECTS Names: Williams, L. Pearce 1927- Dalton, John, 1766-1844. Faraday, Michael, 1791-1867. Fischer, Emil, 1852-1919. Haeckel, Ernst, 1834-1919. Kölliker, Albert, 1817-1905. Lenard, Philipp, 1862-1947. Meitner, Lise, 1878-1968. Schrödinger, Erwin, 1887-1961. Wien, W. (Wilhelm), 1864-1928. Williams, L. Pearce, 1927-2015 Williams, L. Pearce, 1927-2015 Cornell University -- Faculty. Cornell University -- Graduate students. Subjects: Chemists. College teachers. Historians of science. Science -- History. Scientists. Physics -- History -- 20th century. Form and Genre Terms: Daybooks. Lecture notes. Manuscripts for publication. Videotapes. Offprints. INFORMATION FOR USERS Access Restrictions:

Some correspondence is 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.

Cite As:

L. Pearce Williams papers, #14-17-795. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

RELATED MATERIALS

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

CONTAINER LIST 1-67 Paper guide is available 68 Research notes from French libraries; Maxwell papers on microfilm 69 Correspondence (including re: Lavoisier Collection), writings, lecture notes 70-71 Draft of book on western civilization; lecture notes for history of science courses; folder in Box 71: inventory of Prof. Williams's home library, 2009 72 Research microfilms 73 Michael Faraday correspondence (transcripts and photocopies); lecture notes for History of Technology, 1986-1987; outlines and partial draft for a book on the 18th century V-810 August 29, 1990 L. Pearce Williams: Notorious Note Taking Lecture, at Cornell University. CD-2214 1981 Notorious Notetaking Lecture

Copy of Olin cassette tape CU-1052. The tape has several cuts that were present on the original recording or where the tape was flipped.