Collection C/PP5 - WRIGGLESWORTH, John M (1941-2005)

Key Information

Reference code

C/PP5

Title

WRIGGLESWORTH, John M (1941-2005)

Date(s)

  • 1963-1985 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent

1 box, 0.1 cubic metres

Scope and content

Papers of John M Wrigglesworth, 1963-1985, comprise records reflecting his role at Chelsea College, as Chair of the Association of University Teachers (AUT) and reflect his commitment to the College and biochemistry. The collection notably includes material regarding the threat of College closure (it eventually merged with King's College in 1985), including a copy of the petition by members of Chelsea College acting through the AUT, regarding six resolutions affecting the future structure and activities of the College, [1982]; the answer of the College to the petition of some of its members concerning the discontinuance of certain academic departments, [1982]; typewritten results of a College assembly regarding the proposed closure of the Liberal Education Department, 1982; correspondence between Laurie Sapper of the AUT and Norman M Waldron of the Chemistry Department of Chelsea College, regarding a petition concerning redundancy.

The collection also includes minutes of the Senate, October 1981-February 1982; Chelsea College of Science and Technology , 1963, a history of the College and its departments and a typewritten list of research degrees awarded in Biochemistry at Chelsea College, arranged by year of award. Also including two black and white photographs of groups of people, one inscribed 'Some aspects of modern biochemistry!!', the reverse of the photograph reads 'Swinburne, Stevens, Prenton, Howalt and David Peg', the second 'Stevenson, Martin, Jean, Spencer, Mrs Beard, Miss Young from Lyn Fitschen'.

System of arrangement

Arranged in accession order.

General Information

Name of creator

(1941-2005)

Biographical history

John M Wrigglesworth was born 4 July 1941 in West Yorkshire; educated at Rothwell Grammar School and Birmingham University, received a first class honours degree in physics, 1959-1962, an MSc in Radiobiology, 1963 and a PhD in Medical Biochemistry, 1965. His first publications were on the enzymology and radiobiology of the ileum and after obtaining his doctorate, Wrigglesworth took his first postdoctoral post, at University of California, Berkeley, working in the laboratory of Professor Lester Packer, 1967-1970; he then returned to England and was appointed as a lecturer in Biochemistry at Chelsea College, 1970. He met Beatrix Price in 1970 and married her in 1971. Wrigglesworth joined the Biochemistry Department at Chelsea College under Harold Baum. During this time he published extensively on iron, membrane topology and the mechanism of electron and proton translocation by cytochrome c oxidase; was made an Honorary Fellow of Peter Mitchell's Glynn Research Institute, 1991; later being awarded a DSc by London University for research in molecular bioenergetics; he was head of teaching in Molecular Life Sciences, King's College London, 1997 to 2000 and retired in 2004.

During the 1980s, whilst at Chelsea College, Wrigglesworth was active with the Association of University Teachers, chairing the local AUT and was very involved in the attempt to prevent the closure of the College. Wrigglesworth became a member of the Biochemical Society, hosting the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology meeting in Birmingham, in 2000; served as Society Treasurer from 1997 to 2002 and acted as a Trustee of the Biochemical Society Staff Pension Scheme. Towards the end of his time at King's College London Wrigglesworth took a course in philosophy and qualified in medical ethics. Wrigglesworth died 24 June 2005.

Publications: Energy and life (Taylor & Francis, London, 1997) and Biochemical research techniques: a practical introduction Edited by John M. Wrigglesworth Wiley, Chichester, c1983).

Custodial history

Transferred to King's College London College Archives by Stuart Knight.

Conditions governing access

Open, subject to signature of Reader's undertaking form, and appropriate provision of two forms of identification, to include one photographic ID.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied from open material for research purposes only.

Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Archives.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Finding aids

No additional finding aids exist.

Existence and location of originals

Off-campus collection

Please note: We require 7 days notice to retrieve this collection as part, or all of it, is held off-campus. Read more ›

Related descriptions

Alternative identifier(s)

Place access points

People and Organisations

Genre access points

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000.

Script(s)

Archivist's note

Sources: Biomedical Society website.

Compiled by Samantha Velumyl.

Accession area