Biographical entry Bolton, Herbert Cairns (1921 - 2000)

Summary

Herbert Cairns Bolton was Professor of Theoretical Physics, Monash University from 1962-86. Following his retirement he became a senior associate in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Melbourne and a keen supporter of the Australian Science Archives Project and its successor, the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre. Bolton was educated at King's College, London (BSc, PhD).

Details

Events

1942 - 1946

Career position - Demonstrator in Physics at King's College London

1946 - 1951

Career position - Lecturer in Physics at Nottingham University, UK

1951 - 1957

Career position - Lecturer in Physics at King's College in Newcastle-on-Tyne, UK

1957 - 1962

Career position - Senior Lecturer in Physics at King's College in Newcastle-on-Tyne

1962 - 1986

Career position - Professor of Theoretical Physics at Monash University in Clayton, Victoria

1979 - 1980

Career position - President of the Australian Institute of Physics

1986 -

Career position - Senior Associate in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Melbourne

Archival resources

Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, University of Melbourne

• Audio of Professor H.C. Bolton's lecture Early optics in Melbourne, 11 October 1984, P000244; Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, University of Melbourne. Details

Published resources

Book Sections

• Bolton, H. C., 'Grayson, Henry Joseph (1856-1918)', in Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle (eds), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 9, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1983, pp. 87-88. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A090090b.htm. Details
• Bolton, H. C., 'Stone, William (1858-1949), Electrical Engineer and Physicist', in John Ritchie (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 12, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1990, p. 101. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A120117b.htm. Details
• Bolton, H. C., 'Colechin, Lawrence Dickens (1895-1951), Optician', in John Ritchie (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 13, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1993, p. 462. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A130507b.htm. Details
• Bolton, H. C., 'Shephard, John (1852-1940), Manufacturing Engineer and Microscopist', in John Ritchie and Diane Langmore (eds), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 16, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 2002, p. 229. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160270b.htm. Details
• Bolton, H.C., 'Matthaei, Ernst Artur Franz Joseph (1904-1966), Optical Microscopist', in John Ritchie (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 15, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 2000, pp. 330-331. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150390b.htm. Details

Journal Articles

• Bolton, H. C., 'J.J. McNeill [1916-1980] and the Development of Optical Research in Australia', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 5, no. 4, 1983, pp. 55-72. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9830540055.htm. Details
• Bolton, H. C., 'Some Themes in the Development of Optics in Australia', Australian Physicist, vol. 21, 1984, pp. 285-288. Also available at http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/exhib/papers/bolton1.htm. Details
• Bolton, H. C., 'Two Scientific Instruments Restored', Australian Physicist, vol. 24, no. 2, 1987, pp. 38-40. Details
• Bolton, H. C., 'The Development of Ruling Engines in Melbourne, 1890-1940: a Link between Amateur and Professional Science', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 6, no. 4, 1987, pp. 493-505. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9870640493.htm. Details
• Bolton, H. C., 'The Development of Physics in Australia', Australian Physicist, vol. 25, 1988, pp. 43-48, 64-70. Details
• Bolton, H. C., 'Optical Instruments in Australia in the 1939-45 War: Successes and Lost Opportunities', Australian Physicist, vol. 27, no. 3, 1990, pp. 31-43. Details
• Bolton, H. C., 'A.M.G. Thom: Crossing the Gap between Amateur and Professional Science', Victorian Historical Journal, vol. 62, no. 1 & 2, 1991, pp. 51-59. Details
• Bolton, H. C., 'Twenty-five year Index to Historical Records of Australian Science and its Predecessor, Records of the Australian Academy of Science', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 9, no. 1, 1992, pp. 89-103. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9920910089.htm. Details
• Bolton, H. C.; Coller, B.A.W., 'Two Letters of William Sutherland to T. Brailsford Robertson: Ideas on the Electrical Conductivity of Proteins', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 9, no. 4, 1993, pp. 357-368. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9930940357.htm. Details
• Bolton, H. C.; Holland, Julian; Williams, N. H., 'The Grimwade Milligram Chemical Balance: an Early Australian Attempt to Establish a Scientific Instrument Industry', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 9, no. 2, 1992, pp. 107-117. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9920920107.htm. Details
• Bolton, H. C.; Phakey, P. P.; Rachinger, W. A., 'Historical Metallurgical Puzzle from the Last Years of the Melbourne Ruling Engines', Materials Forum, vol. 13, 1989, pp. 273-278. Details
• Bolton, H. C.; Rae, Ian D., 'A Response to Intellectual Isolation: the Correspondence of W. A. Osborne and William Sutherland, 1905-1911', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 10, no. 4, 1995, pp. 323-335. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9951040323.htm. Details
• Bolton, H. C.; Street, R., 'The Establishing of the Department of Physics at Monash University', Australian Physicist, vol. 23, no. 8, 1986, pp. 205-208. Details
• Bolton, H. C.; Williams, N. H., 'Weighing and Assay in the Early Days of the Melbourne Branch of the Royal Mint', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 14, no. 1, 2002, pp. 47-66. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR02003.htm. Details
• Bolton, H.C.; Coates, D.W., 'William Edwin James: Designer and Maker of Astronomical Optics', Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, vol. 13, 1996, pp. 258-267. Details
• Bolton, H.C.; Williams, Nicola H., 'Scientific Instrument Makers and Dealers in Victoria, 1840-1914', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 12, no. 1, 1998, pp. 15-82. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9981210015.htm. Details

Online Resources

• Bolton, H. C., 'Optical Instruments in Australia in the 1939-45 War: successes and lost opportunities', Australian Physicist, 1990, http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/exhib/papers/bolton2.htm. Details
• National Library of Australia, 'Bolton, H C', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-458730. Details