This accession contains both personal and professional records created and collected by Dr. L.E. Jones, professor of engineering. Although a small percentage of this fonds documents his personal life, the vast majority of material was created after his retirement in 1972, which he created in his capacity as Faculty Archivist and Professor Emeritus. The paucity of information from the earlier years can be attributed to the loss of many of his records during the Sir Sandford Fleming building fire in 1977.
The records have been arranged into series to reflect either the type of record or the activity involved. Records documenting Jones’ personal life are filed first, followed by papers documenting both the personal, professional and academic projects and activities that he worked on during his life. There are also special series dedicated to the archival information and records that he collected as Engineering Archivist. Photographs have been placed at the end in Series XI.
Some of the records that are included in this fonds include Professor Jones personal documents such as: his student workbooks and thesis, his letters to the editor, correspondence, and activities with his church and the Hart House Glee Club. Most of the records pertain to his professional activities and consist of documents such as: correspondence, publications, lectures and student marks. There are also a significant number of files that document his involvement in Faculty activities such as the Iron Ring Ceremony, the Hall of Distinction and the Centennial and Sesquicentennial celebrations. The work that he undertook for the Faculty providing calligraphy for the inscriptions on the awards and medals that were granted by the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering are also documented in many of the files. Finally, two series are dedicated to the articles that he collected documenting the history of the Faculty as well as the archival items that he acquired as Engineering Archivist.
Despite the fact that most of the records in this fonds document Professor Jones’ personal and professional activities after his retirement, they provide an interesting glimpse into his life while assuming the role of Engineering Archivist and Professor Emeritus. As the Engineering Archivist, Jones collected a variety of rich and interesting documents pertaining to some of the early pioneers within the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. In addition to collecting material, Jones also documented the Faculty by photographing notable individuals and events. This fonds would therefore be useful to those individuals interested in examining the life of Professor Jones, as well as researchers who wish to delve into the history of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering.
Records acquired in 2019 include drafts and notes related to the writing of his PhD thesis titled, “The undular surge in an open channel” (1941); early lecture notes and files relating to his teaching, in particular photography; further professional correspondence and memos related to his role as Engineering Archivist; additional items he collected as Engineering Archivist, in particular belonging to and/or about Prof. Louis B. Stewart and Prof. J.W. Melson; collected ephemera, artifacts, and photos about the University and the Faculty of Engineering.
Jones, L.E.
