Papers and correspondence of Stanley Gill, 1926-1975

Technical material in the collection is scanty, but includes a little material on ACE, and fuller notes and correspondence on the four-colour problem on which Gill was working at the time of his death. There are many lectures, broadcasts, and writings on the educational and general aspects of computing. In particular, Gill was interested in 'computer policy', on which he wrote and lectured prolifically as well as acting as part-time consultant and adviser to various bodies. His correspondence and notes, and the press-cuttings, commercial and political reports he assembled, provide useful material for documenting the turbulent history of computer technology in Britain. Gill's conviction that computer technology was vitally important to Britain, and his efforts to secure a strong position for it, are constant themes throughout the papers.

Gill was born in Worthing and educated at Worthing High School, 1935-1943, and St John's College, Cambridge, 1943-1945. From 1946 to 1948 Gill was employed at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington on punched card computing and the design of the Pilot ACE computer. He then returned to Cambridge for research at the Mathematical Laboratory where he studied programming with M.V. Wilkes and D.J. Wheeler, 1949-1953. Gill's career involved him in the academic, commercial and political aspects of computing. He worked in the Computer Department of Ferranti Ltd, 1953-1964, and was Professor of Computing Science at Imperial College, London, 1964-1970. He was a consultant to International Computers Limited, 1964-1965 and 1968-1970, and to the Ministry of Technology, 1966-1969, a founding member of the British Computer Society and its President, 1967-1968, UK representative on the General Assembly of the International Federation for Information Processing, 1963-1969, and served on numerous official committees.

By section as follows: Biographical and personal, Working papers, Lectures, broadcasts and overseas visits, Publications, Committees and consultancies, Imperial College London, Ministry of Technology / Department of Trade and Industry, Miles Roman [company], Computer policy, Correspondence. Index of correspondents.

48 hours notice required (stored off site).

Printed Catalogue of the papers and correspondence of Stanley Gill (1926-1975) by J. Alton and H. Weiskittel, CSAC catalogue no. 57/1/78, 73 pp. Copies available from NCUACS, University of Bath

Received for cataloguing in 1976-1977 by the Contemporary Scientific Archives Centre from Mrs A. Gill, widow, Professor A.S. Douglas and Mr. M. Woodger. Placed in Science Museum 1978.