Scanner Research in the Central Research Laboratory of EMI

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0117 MS 838
Held at	: Royal Society   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://royalsociety.org/collections/ ›
Full title	: Scanner Research in the Central Research Laboratory of EMI
Date(s)	: 2005
Level of description	: Sub-fonds
Extent	: 15 pages
Name of creator(s)	: Ingham | W E
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Sir Godfrey Newbold Hounsfield was Born, 1919; Education: Magnus Grammar School, Newark; City and Guilds examination in Radio Communications; diploma from Faraday House Electrical Engineering College, London; Career: Builder's drawing office; volunteer reservist with RAF during WW2 - radar mechanic instructor working at Royal College of Science and then Cranwell Radar School, RAF Certificate of Merit (1945); joined research staff Electric and Musical Industries (EMI) Hayes (1951) working on first all transistor computer to be constructed in Britain (EMIDEC 1100, 1958), moved to EMI Central Research Laboratories where he developed the EMI brain scanner, first demonstrated at Atkinson Morley's Hospital, Wimbledon in September 1971; Head of Medical Systems Section, Thorn EMI Central Research Laboratories (1972-1976), Chief Staff Scientist (1976-1977), Senior Staff Scientist (1977-1985), Consultant to Laboratories (1986-2004); winner of MacRobert Award (1972) and many other honours including Lasker Award (1975); continued to work as a consultant for EMI after retirement until 2002 and also for National Heart and Chest Hospitals, Chelsea and the National Heart Hospital and the Brompton Hospital; Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (1994), received six honorary degrees and more than forty awards; Mullard Medal 1977; Nobel Prize (Physiology or Medicine) 1979; Fellow of the Royal Society (1975); died, 2004.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Notes by W E Ingham describing 'the true nature of the X-ray research carried out by Godfrey Hounsfield in creating the X-ray scanner. The notes also cover the little known but massive involvement of Godfrey and his team in assisting the newly formed EMI Medical Division whilst, at the same time, still continuing their research in the Research Laboratory. The difficult conditions under which Hounsfield worked make the magnitude of his achievement even greater. 'The notes are not a comprehensive history, but they provide a record of some of the key events that may be known only to the Director of the Central Research Laboratory (CRL) and a few others, before the information is lost.'

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Open

Conditions governing reproduction:

No publication without written permission. Apply to Archivist in the first instance.

Finding aids:

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Copied from the Royal Society catalogue by Sarah Drewery.

Rules or conventions:
General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
Feb 2009.