In his Rutherford biography, New Zealand physicist John Campbell has done an immense amount of spadework. Some of this is references in the book, but more complete references are being assigned to public repositories. He says:
“I have filled 10 quarto 120-page record books and three filing cabinet drawers with such notes. These have been willed to the Rutherford Collection at the Alexander Turnbull Library, the historic arm of the National Library of New Zealand. The master manuscript refers to these notes. The biography also draws extensively on the local newspapers of the day, Rutherford family correspondence and the official and unofficial records of the relevant organizations.
“In such a major research, sometimes every paragraph, sentence or even phrase requires a reference or further comment. This is too detailed for most users. In this book only the main points will be referenced due to space considerations.
“A master copy, which includes material edited out of the printed version, will be hand annotated with full references and comments on the sources of every statement. Two years after publication date, thus allowing for the incorporation of any new information which may come to light as a result of the book, I will donate a copy of this master manuscript to public repositories in each country with a Rutherford association. This will make the details more freely accessible to interested people.
“There will be one condition imposed, that for 10 years after the deposition date any person can copy no more than 10 pages per day. After that period copying will be as per the usual custom for the particular archive. During that 10 year period I will invite people seriously interested in Rutherford to purchase their own copy from AAS Publications, PO Box 31-035, Christchurch, New Zealand. Purchasers will be encouraged to donate their copy to any other appropriate public repository.”
Repositories of Master Copies:
Alexander Turnbull Library of the National Library of New Zealand Nelson Provincial Museum Cambridge University Library (Manuscripts) National Library of Scotland Center for the History of Science, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm Musée Curie (France) McGill University Library (Archives) P L Kapitza Institute for Physical Problems (Moscow) American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library National Library of Australia
