K. Bailey NCUACS 4/3/88 The work of the National Cataloguing Unit for the Archives of Contemporary Scientists, and the production of this catalogue, are made possible by the support of the following societies and organisations: : The Biochemical Society The British Library The City of Bath The The Pergamon Books The Royal Society Shell UK Ltd The Institute of Physics Geological Society Royal Society of Chemistry The Society of Chemical Industry K Bailey NCUACS 4/3/88 GENERAL INTRODUCTION PROVENANCE The material was received in February 1988 from S V Perry, Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry in the University of Birmingham and close colleague of Kenneth Bailey's for many years until his death in 1963. The arrival of the Bailey papers for cataloguing in the NCUACS's offices at Bath concluded enquiries first initiated by the Contemporary Scientific Archives Centre in Oxford in 1975. OUTLINE OF CAREER OF KENNETH BAILEY He was born on 18 August 1909 at Alsager's Bank near Stoke-on-Trent. Scholarships took him to the Orme's Boys' School, Newcastle-under-Lyme 1922 and Birmingham University 1928 where such outstanding success. It was also at this time that he became on research in carbohydrate biochemistry with R H Hopkins. in- 1983 Beit Scientific Research Fellowship at Imperial College where he acquainted with W T Astbury which led to intermittent scientific his promise as a research worker was recognised by the award of a began a long association with A C Chibnall and developed research he took the course on 'Biochemistry of fermentation' and embarked interests in protein biochemistry, the area in which he was to have at Porton before joining one of the groups on war projects at the Bailey's scientific outlook was broadened by a Rockefeller Travelling England in December 1939 he worked for a time on anti-gas research Grant to work in Edwin Cohn's laboratory at Harvard. Returning to collaboration and a lifelong friendship. In the months before the outbreak of the Second World War K Bailey NCUACS 4/3/88 Low Temperature Research Station, Cambridge. He still managed to find time for his studies in protein and especially muscle bio- chemistry and these continued apace in the postwar years. His outstanding contributions were recognised in 1948 by his election to a Fellowship at Trinity College and his appointment as an Assistant Director of Research in the University of Cambridge and in 1953 by his election to the Fellowship of the Royal Society. Although he received frequent offers of chairs, he preferred to retain his post in Cambridge, spending most of his absences abroad at the Stazione Zoologica, Naples. In 1961 he was appointed University Reader in Biochemistry. The last seven years of Bailey's life were marred by recurrent illness including a complete breakdown in 1955. In the year-old youth) for being in charge of a car while under the influence of drink: With more serious charges of indecent assault in the offing Bailey absconded from bail, taking refuge first at the Stazione summer of 1962 during the acute phase of the depressive illness from which he suffered, he was arrested (in the company of a 19- concern, and later at Liege in Belgium. He was persuaded to return to with Bailey and the journey back to collect him. Although the outcome England by S V Perry who broke a journey to Prague to discuss matters of the trial in the magistrates' court was as satisfactory as could Zoologica where his behaviour and state of mind gave great cause for possibly be hoped for - Bailey pleaded guilty to the indecency charges scientific achievement and personal qualities: and was bound over - his health remained precarious and his future uncertain. He returned to Cambridge in May 1963 for a short visit, but three days after his arrival committed suicide. Bailey's Times obituarist (S V Perry) summed up his K Bailey NCUACS 4/3/88 Kenneth Bailey was one of the great protein chemists in the classical style, of many attainments, but whose main contributions lay in the muscle field with the discovery of the tropomyosins and in the chemistry of blood coagulation. him as much more a scientist who had more of the artist in him than most. Many students had good cause to be grateful for his generosity and his efforts on their behalf. a friend he was a sensitive person of great humanity, a teacher, a colleague or as To those who knew - Further details about Bailey's career and research can be found in A C Chibnall's Royal Society memoir (Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, 10, 1-14) and S V Perry's obituary in Advances in Protein Chemistry, 20, XI - XVIII. DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION his scientific achievement. There is personal correspondence W Bailey and Perry 1960-61. The greater part of the correspondence, however, relates to the difficulties of Bailey's final year, 1962-63, The surviving material presented here as a_ single 1955 (letters to Bailey only) and scientific correspondence between Non-correspondence items include Bailey's memorial address for arrangements after his death, appreciations, obituaries and so on. the last few years of Bailey's life and regrettably does not reflect chronological sequence is almost exclusively correspondence concerning T Astbury 1961 and a little undated research material. K Bailey NCUACS 4/3/88 LOCATION OF OTHER MATERIAL In 1976 Professor A C Chibnall FRS lent the Contemporary Scientific Archives Centre his file of Kenneth Bailey material and a note of its contents was made with his permission and the file returned for eventual deposit in Cambridge University Library with the rest of his papers. Much of the file concerned the preparation and writing of Chibnall's Royal Society memoir but also contained personal and scientific correspondence with Bailey: Invitation to write Memoir and material assembled for it: personal record, list of publications, Bailey's Royal Society printed obituaries, memorial service, list of references to Bailey in the Council minutes, Trinity College, Cambridge, note by Bailey 'The Trinity Picture Scheme' 2pp, 1953 (on system of hiring pictures for undergraduate rooms), 2 copies of Bailey's tribute to W T Astbury delivered at memorial service, 5pp, 1961. V Perry, F G Young. John T Edsall; JC Ruegg; 1963-64. In chronological Alfred Pollard; Roland G Westall; Samuel Victor Perry; Letters of thanks to Chibnall for Royal Society Memoir, some with further recollections of Bailey, from: (1964); John D Ferry (1965); Correspondence from colleagues and friends of Bailey, and their recollections of him order: Reginald Hadyn Hopkins (two letters), Professor at Birmingham University with whom Bailey worked in 1931; Joe Lugg (two letters), collaborator of Bailey 1936; Hans Neurath (two letters); also comments on Chibnall's draft of Royal Society Memoir by S tenure of an ICI Fellowship 1945-47'; Chibnall's personal and scientific correpondence with Bailey, 1932-62. References for Bailey for Commonwealth Scholarship 1934; Bailey's letters to Chibnall 1934 from Harvard Medical School describing research), 1944; Bailey's report on his 'Researches carried out during the Alfred Pollard, Karl Schmid, Hans Neurath, Cyril M Kay, In chronological order: one letter from S V Perry (1967). (2), 1935, 1936 (6 letters S V Perry, F G Young K Bailey NcuacsS 4/3/88 Letter from Astbury and reference from Chibnall for Royal Society Research Fellowship 1947; Correspondence of Chibnall with Vice Chancellor, Leeds University (Sir Charles Morris) re Bailey as candidate for Chair of Leather Industries 1949; Bailey's letter to Chibnall re his decision to decline Chair of Biochemistry at Sheffield University 1954; Bailey's letters to Chibnall on his work at Naples 1955719597 Letter to Bailey from N of his brother WTA _ Letter from Bailey to Chibnall 1962. F Astbury with reminiscences 1961; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We are very grateful to Professor Perry for making the T E Powell P Harper the draft. material available, for advice and encouragement, and for reading Bath 1988 K Bailey NCUACS 4/3/88 Personal correspondence, 1955. 5 letters all addressed to and dated 'Tuesday before Easter, 26 April, 13 May, 'my dear Ken' and signed 'Desmond', 21 June and 5 November. Letters of 26 April, 13 May and 21 June refer to plans for Desmond to join Bailey in Naples during the summer. Scientific correspondence, 1960. V Perry's carbons of his letters to Bailey dated 15 January, S 2 February, 9 February, 11 May and 20 September and Bailey's undated longhand reply to Perry's 20 September letter. Correspondence relates to amino acid analyses of meromyosin preparations which Bailey arranged to .have carried out in Cambridge for Perry, arrangements for Perry's lecture on protein biosynthesis to the Graduate Science Club in Cambridge and tropomyosin section of Annual Reviews of Biochemistry] chapter which Perry was preparing. Scientific correspondence, 1961. 2 February, T Astbury's memorial service. 26 January, 16 June, 23 June and Bailey's longhand letters of 28 June and the carbons of Perry's letters of 17 June and 27 July. Correspondence relates to muscle protein research, especially myosin sub-fragments, lectures, visits, thesis examining, with some personal news. Bailey's letter of 16 June refers to his giving the address at W 1 letter only, 24 May, re Royal Society nomination. at the Memorial Service, held in Emmanuel Church, June 15, 1961", -Spp typescript. T Astbury, ScD., FRS., given by Kenneth Bailey 'Tribute to W Scientific correspondence, 1962. K Bailey NCUACS 4/3/88 Correspondence during the last year of Bailey's life, 1962-63, concerning his mental and legal problems, professional prospects etc., and the efforts made by his friends towards rehabilitation. Principal correspondents are Professors S R Dorothy Needham, J (Trinity College), Lord Adrian, Bailey's father and sister and legal advisers. R Porter, A Neuberger and Jean Hanson, Dr Andrew Packard, G Bradfield (Trinity College), M V Perry, FG Young, M Pryor R G Includes letter from F 1962 July. with the news that 'today's [25 July) spilled the whole beans - more or less' letters of the same date to Bailey and Bailey's father assuring them of the willingness of his many friends to help in these difficult circumstances and the importance of a speedy return to England to get the whole matter settled. and copies of Young's "Daily Herald" had G Young to S V Perry also Includes letter from A Packard at the Stazione 1962 August (1). Zoologica Naples to S V Perry, 9 August and copy letter from A Neuberger to A Packard, 16 August xe Bailey's mental state, and future courses of action. 1962 August (2). Includes correspondence between Perry and Young, and Young and Packard about Bailey's mental state, the legal situation in England, future courses of action; letter from Bailey to Perry, 24 August, in which he indicates his intention to move to Belgium to work with Gabriel Hamoir. Packard's letter of 30 August to Young gives news of Bailey's departure for Belgium. 'Lecturer bound over'. 1962 October. and Trinity College Cambridge re court proceedings, prospects of rehabilitation. proceedings in the Times under heading 1962 September. Young and Bailey re Bailey's return to England (successfully accomplished) with Perry. Principally Perry's correspondence with Principally Perry's correspondence with Young Includes photocopy of report of court K Bailey NcuACS 4/3/88 1962 November, December. Perry and Young and Perry and Trinity; Hanson offering help, and letter from Bailey's sister. Continuing correspondence between also letter from Jean 1963 January - May. Perry including arrangements for Bailey to visit Cambridge on 19 May (one letter from Young to Bailey). Correspondence between Bailey and It was on this visit to Cambridge that Bailey committed suicide, 22 May. Correspondence and papers re funeral, memorial service, obituaries etc., 1963-65. 1963 May. Trinity College, to Perry with news of Bailey's last few days in Cambridge and photocopy of Times obituary written by Perry. Includes letter from J R G Bradfield, T Edsall, Includes order of service for Edsall's letter of 10 July E Dalgliesh xe International Union of Pure 1963 June-August, October. Trinity College memorial service (held 19 June), correspondence between Perry and C and Applied Chemistry's Commission on Proteins, of which Bailey was President and correspondence between Perry and J editor of Advances in Protein Chemistry xe obituary which Perry agreed to write for Advances. expresses his own great admiration for Bailey and encloses a letter of appreciation from Cyril Kay. 1964-65. obituary for Advances in Protein Chemistry, typescript drafts and published version. Includes correspondence re Perry's K Bailey NCUACS 4/3/88 Miscellaneous items Press-cuttings covering principal steps in Bailey's career. Probably used by Perry for writing obituary. List of Bailey's publications, 1946-61. ‘Interaction of actin, myosin and ATP’. 6pp typescript. Unidentified ms notes. K Bailey NCUACS 4/3/88 Index of correspondents ADRIAN, Edgar Douglas, Baron ANSON, M L ASTBURY, William Thomas BAILEY, Bertram BAILEY, Vincent BRADFIELD, John R G 2, 1S BURGESS, Nancy Goo Wl 43815 CORSI, Andrea DALGLIESH, Charles E HAMOIR, Gabriel HANSON, Emmeline Jean EDSALL, John Tilestone NEURATH, Hans NEEDHAM, Dorothy Mary Moyle KAY, Cyril M MARSH, B B NEUBERGER, Albert K Bailey NCUACS 4/3/88 Index of correspondents PACKARD, Andrew PERRY, Samuel Victor PORTER, Rodney Robert PRYOR, MGM YOUNG, Sir Frank (George)
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Published: 13 September, 2023 Author: admin