University of Birmingham Staff Papers: Papers of John Leonard Jinks

Mainly material relating to Jinks's research, lectures and publications on microbial, biometrical and behavioural genetics. Biographical and Bibliographical papers: obituaries from the Times and Independent , miscellaneous biographical items, papers relating to Jinks's appointments at University of Birmingham, list of publications. Research papers: records of experiments, data and papers relating to analysis of diallels, genetics and other scientific matters. Lectures and publications: on genetics and biometrical genetics.

John Leonard Jinks, 1929-1987, geneticist. Jinks was educated at Longton High School, Stoke-on-Trent before winning a state studentship to University of Birmingham where he obtained a first class degree in Botany in 1950. He became an Agricultural Research Council Scholar (ARC) in the Department of Genetics, gaining his doctorate in 1952, followed by a D.Sc in 1964. Jinks spent most of his career at the University of Birmingham working in the ARC Unit of Biometrical Genetics as Scientific Officer, 1953-1959 and Principal Scientific Officer, 1960-1965. He was appointed honorary lecturer in the Department of Genetics 1960, reader 1962 and professor and head of department in 1965 in succession to Sir Kenneth Mather. From 1972-1975 Jinks served as Dean of the Science and Engineering Faculty and was Pro-Vice-Chancellor, 1981-1985. Throughout his career Jinks retained a close relationship with the ARC (now the Agricultural and Food Research Council), serving on the Council 1979-1985 and as Secretary and Deputy Chairman from 1985. He also served as a member of the Science Research Council 1975-1979

During his lifetime, Jinks received a number of honours in recognition of his work in microbial, biometrical and behavioural genetics. These included Fellowship of the Institute of Biology 1968, Fellowship of the Royal Society 1970 and the Commander of the Order of the British Empire 1984.

Reference: Peter Harper and Timothy E. Powell, Catalogue for the Papers and Correspondence of John Leonard Jinks ( National Cataloguing Unit for the Archives of Contemporary Scientists, University of Bath, 1988 ).

For further reading about the University of Birmingham see: Eric Ives, Diane Drummond, Leonard Schwarz The First Civic University: Birmingham 1880-1980 An Introductory History ( The University of University of Birmingham Press. 2000 ).

The collection is divided into three categories: Biographical and bibliographical material; research papers and lectures and publications.

Open. Access to all registered researchers.

This collection was received in 1989 per the National Cataloguing Unit for Archives of Contemporary Scientists, University of Bath. The NCUACS received the collection in Oct 1988 from Dr H. S. Pooni, a colleague of Professor Jinks in the Department of Genetics, University of Birmingham, together with a small amount of biographical material from Mrs Jinks, Professor Jinks' widow. The collection was offered to the University of Birmingham in December 1987 as an appropriate place of deposit and it was transferred after cataloguing in April 1987.

Please see full catalogue for more information.

Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the University Archivist, Special Collections. Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Special Collections will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.

Further deposits are not expected.

University of Birmingham Information Services, Special Collections Department also holds the archives of the University of Birmingham and archives of other former staff, officials and students.