John David Atkinson papers

MLMSS 11812

fonds

1949-2011

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Ephemera

9582793

2.5 metres of textual material (15 boxes and one outsize folder)

John David Atkinson (1940-2011) graduated from the University of Sydney in 1963 as a university medallist in mechanical engineering. After obtaining his doctorate at the California Institute of Technology he returned to the University of Sydney and worked there as a lecturer and senior lecturer in mechanical engineering until his retirement in 2001. He was a mathematician and physicist and also had interests in anthropology and linguistics. A keen bushwalker and traveller, he was a passionate supporter of nature conservation, human rights and social justice.

Reference:
Compiled from the collection

This collection documents the life of a Sydney academic with wide-ranging interests. It includes papers relating to his study and work in mechanical engineering at the University of Sydney and California Institute of Technology and notes on other interests including anthropology, linguistics, bushwalking and the environment, along with personal and professional correspondence.

BOX 1
University of Sydney undergraduate student papers, including lecture notes, honours thesis entitled ‘Report on flow in a turbulent entrapment vortex’, academic transcript, 1962, 1966
Fellowship applications, 1962-1963

BOXES 2-3
California Institute of Technology postgraduate student papers, including course notes, academic transcript, 1964-1966

BOX 4
‘Spectral density of first order piecewise linear systems excited by white noise’, 1967. Thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, California Institute of Technology (manuscript, typescript and printed copies) with associated notebooks

BOX 5
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sydney, course materials, including for symposia, 1967-1994

BOX 6
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sydney, course materials, approximately 1995-2002
Grant applications and related material, 1970-2002
Employment records, student work and visits, conference papers, 1968-2004

BOX 7
Research files, 1968-1993, no date

BOX 8
Research files, no date
Papers relating to the Standards Association of Australia, 1977-1980
‘Nhan & Tanner publications’, 1978-1990. Folder of journal articles by Nhan Phan-Thien and Roger Tanner
Journal articles and other published material, including drafts, written by Atkinson and others, 1949-1977

BOX 9
Journal articles and other published material, including drafts, written by Atkinson and others, 1977-1994

BOX 10
Journal articles and other published material, including drafts, written by Atkinson and others, 1984-2002, no date
Correspondence, chiefly professional, 1963-2010, no date

BOX 11
Papers relating to anthropology, linguistics and the environment, 1965-2011. Includes correspondence, research notes, Chinese language notebook, articles, newsletters and promotional material from various conservation groups

BOX 12
Papers relating to bushwalking and related interests, 1968-2003. Includes programs, newsletters and other material from the Kamaruka Bushwalking Club, Macquarie Mountaineering Society, Sydney Bush Walkers, Sydney University Bush Walkers, Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand, Bushwalkers of New South Wales; articles by Atkinson; Federation of Bushwalking Clubs (NSW) meeting minutes; correspondence with fellow bushwalkers and others; referee reports

BOX 13
Papers relating to bushwalking and related interests, 1967-1987. Includes newsletters of the Australian Section of the New Zealand Alpine Club; Kamaruka Bushwalking Club bulletins and other material; Coast and Mountain Walkers of New South Wales records and correspondence

BOX 14
Correspondence, mainly with friends, 1958-2011
Printed material: ‘Sydney University Songbook’, June 1963; ‘A Web of Song’, songs collected by Wendy Butler

BOX 15
Correspondence, mainly relating to bushwalking and travel, 1967-2002
Greeting cards, postcards, most undated
Various writings by Atkinson, most undated
Personal papers, 1963-2011. Includes photographs, order of service for Atkinson's funeral
Folder 7 [RESTRICTED]: Personal papers, 1962-2009. Includes copies of birth certificate and will

BOX 16X
John David Atkinson awards: Fourth Year Certificate, The Armidale School, no date; Intermediate Certificate, 1 March 1956; Leaving Certificate, 1 March 1958; Bachelor of Science, University of Sydney, 11 April 1961; Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, University of Sydney, 3 April 1963

Partly restricted: Applies to MLMSS 11812/Box 15/Folder 7 Access requires a signed undertaking not to make any use of information contained therein, in conversation or in writing, that could cause pain or embarrassment to any living person.

Copyright restrictions may apply:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder