| RefNo | TG/11/1 |
| Level | File |
| Title | Correspondence about Thomas Gold's appointments at Cornell University and Harvard University, 1956-1957 |
| Date | Nov 1955-Sep 1956 |
| Description | Contains correspondence between Thomas Gold and various individuals, such as McGeorge Bundy, Donald H Menzel, Director, Harvard College Observatory, Arthur Kantrowitz, E E Salpeter and Harry Plaskett, Nov-Dec 1955, Jan-Sep 1956. The correspondence relates to Thomas Gold working at Cornell University during the first semester of the 1956-1957 academic year and his appointment as Professor of Astronomy at Harvard University. It also relates to his move to America in general e.g. obtaining a visa to go to America, finding a house to rent for himself and his family during his time at Cornell University. According to the correspondence, Gold resigned from his position as Chief Assistant to the Royal Astronomer at the Royal Greenwich Observatory with the intention of spending just a year in America (the plan being for him to spend one semester at Cornell University and another at Harvard University) and then returning to England to take up a position as a Senior Research Officer at the University Observatory, Oxford. However, Harvard University offered him a permanent full professorship (which he took up in February 1957). |
| Language | English and German |
| Extent | 1 file |
| Format | Carbon copies, photocopies, manuscript, typescript and printed documents |
| Appraisal | Two thirds of the correspondence had been photocopied. All the photocopies were disposed of because they were duplicates apart from one, a photocopy of a letter from A Burtenshaw & Son to Thomas Gold, dated 7 August 1956. The letter informed Gold that his house did not come up to the standard required for a Rectory House. Therefore A Burtenshaw & Son did not think that the Board would be able to buy it. However, according to a note written on the photocopy by Thomas Gold's wife, Carvel Gold, a parson was living in the house when they visited it in 1971. |
| AccessStatus | Open |