Ivor Bulmer-Thomas Collection
A valuable collection of more than a thousand books on the history of mathematics, astronomy and science, which was bequeathed by the politician Ivor Bulmer-Thomas, M.P. (1905-1993). Ten percent of the collection consists of early editions and copies with illustrious provenances and fine bindings.
After winning a scholarship to St John's in 1924, Bulmer-Thomas read mathematics, literature and theology, and went on to a career in writing, politics and journal editing. He was active in the preservation of abandoned churches, setting up the Historical Churches Preservation Trust, the Redundant Churches Fund and The Friends of Friendless Churches. Throughout his life he maintained a passion for science and scholarship, in particular for early mathematics. His two-volume Selections illustrating the History of Greek Mathematics which appeared in the Loeb series in 1939-1941 remained in print for many years.
Bulmer-Thomas contributed articles and book reviews on classical scholarship to the Times Literary Supplement and specialist journals. In 1979 he was awarded an honorary DSc by Warwick University, and in 1985 was made an honorary Fellow of St John's.
To view cataloguing records for the entire collection, including offprints, book reviews, ephemera and letters enclosed in the books, do the following search on OLIS: enter keyword Bulmer-Thomas in "General copy notes", choose Boolean operator "or", enter Bulmer-Thomas in "All authors", press button "Submit search".
