Professor Charles Angas Hurst (1923-2011)
Personal Papers 1952-1988

MSS 0008

This collection was transferred to University Archives in July 2018.

Biographical Note

Charles Angas HurstBorn in Adelaide on 22 September 1923, Professor Charles Angas Hurst was educated at the University of Melbourne (BSc 1948) and subsequently at Cambridge University (PhD 1952).

From 1952 to 1956 he was the Senior Lecturer in the Mathematics Department at the University of Melbourne and in 1957 accepted the position of Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematical Physics at the University of Adelaide. He held the position of Professor (1964-1988) until his retirement in 1988. He was appointed Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences in 1972.

Together with his co-Professor in Adelaide (Prof. H.S. Green), Hurst was responsible for the establishment of mathematical physics within Australia as a research field of international distinction.  His contributions have been recognised worldwide as a result of numerous visiting positions at leading institutions.  He was a prolific writer, producing 90 publications, including two books.

Professor Hurst's commitment, however, extended beyond the disciplines of Physics and Mathematical Physics. He served the Australian scientific community generally as a Member of the Council of the Academy of Science from 1983-1986 and as Vice-President 1984-1985. He was always interested in fostering links across disciplines and did so particularly with mathematics as a founding member (1956) of the Australian Mathematical Society.

In addition to his role as a Professor and Head of Department within the University, Professor Hurst again provided leadership in ways that went well beyond the demands of his position. He chaired the senior Committee of the University, the Education Committee, from 1973-1976 and served as a member of the University Council from 1975-1978.

The Council of the University appointed him acting Vice-Chancellor in 1985, an indication of the high esteem in which he was held within the University. He was then appointed Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research) from 1986-1988 and was responsible for a number of influential reports.

He was a member of the University of Adelaide (student) Union House Committee from 1964-1967, a member of the Union Council from 1964-1973 and Chaired the Union Planning Committee from 1965-1973.

He was concerned with the welfare of postgraduate students and was one of the prime movers for establishing the first Graduate College of the University of Adelaide, Kathleen Lumley College. He served on its Council from the inception in 1971 until 1974.

Since the 1960s Professor Hurst also volunteered his time and energy to support many community causes. He served his country in World War II, played an extensive and distinguished part in the management of the University of Adelaide and contributed actively to his local community.

In the Australia Day Honours list 2003, Professor Hurst was awarded Member (AM) in the General Division "for service to science, particularly in the field of mathematical physics as an educator, researcher and administrator."

 

Adapted from "Leader in math, physics dies", contributed to the Adelaidian, December 2011 issue, by Max Lohe.

 

Contents Listing

Part A.  Correspondence

1.  Correspondence with academic colleagues and research students/former students.  1952-1989.  15 cm.
Received in a number of sequences, viz United Kingdom correspondence, March 1952-March 1988; Canberra correspondence, January 1959-September 1987;  University of Adelaide students/former students, 1981-89;  University of Adelaide colleagues/former colleagues, 1983-88;  University of Melbourne colleagues, 1984-87; and outside colleagues, 1979-89.  As these sequences were not mutually exclusive, the correspondence with all colleagues and students has been interfiled in one alphabetical sequence.   A detailed list of the correspondents, with an indication of their original grouping(s), follows.

• Abraham, Douglas 1984, outside colleague
• Bass, Ludwig 1986, ditto
• Billigheimer, Claude 1960, Canberra
• Blakers, A.L. 1984, outside colleague
• Bracken, A.J. (Tony) 1982, 1987, Adelaide student
• Brearley, M.N. 1963, 1971, 1987, Adelaide colleague/U.K.
• Brown, Archie 1962-1964, 1967, Canberra
• Broadbridge, Philip 1982-1988, Adelaide student/Canberra
• Buchdahl, H.A. 1965, 1970, Canberra
• Campbell, J.A. 1962, 1964, 1973-1975, U.K.
• Cant, A. 1979, U.K.
• Carey, A.L. 1978, 1981, 1986, Adelaide student/U.K.
• Cherry, T.M. 1953, U.K.
• Chisholm, J.S.R. (Roy) 1952, 1960, 1986-1988, U.K.
• Cohen, H.A. 1984 and undated, Adelaide colleague
• Cornwell, J. 1976, 1978, U.K.
• Crompton, R.W. 1963-1965, Canberra
• Dalitz, R.H. 1962, 1973, 1976, 1979, U.K.
• de Laeter, John R. 1982, outside colleague
• Dunbar, D.N.F. (Noel) 1960-1962, Canberra
• Fisher, M.E.  1961, 1963-1965, U.K.
• Francey, J.L.A. 1969, U.K.
• Frederiksen, Jorgen 1984, Adelaide student
• Gottlieb, H.P.W. 1983, Adelaide colleague - includes a copy of his application for the Chair of Mathematics, University of Melbourne
• Gould, Mark undated, Adelaide student
• Green, H.S. (Bert) 1958, 1962, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1986-1987, Adelaide colleague/U.K.
• Hamilton, J.H. 1953, U.K.
• Harris, A.S. 1976, U.K.
• Hart, Vincent 1981, outside colleague
• Hearn, A.C. (Tony) 1961-1962, 1964, U.K.
• Home, R.W. 1981, outside colleague
• Huxley, L.G.H. 1962, 1970, Canberra
• Jarvis, P.D. 1973-1978, 1988, Adelaide student/U.K.
• Jefferies, Brian 1982, Canberra
• Jozsa, Richard 1988, Adelaide colleague - includes paper by Jozsa on The Pitowsky Model and Superluminal Signals
• Kemmer, N. 1955, 1962, 1964, 1978, U.K.
• Kenny, Brian 1981, 1988-1989, outside colleague - including  copy of his application for the Chair of Mathematical Physics at the University of Adelaide
• Kibble, T.W. 1961, U.K.
• Kursunoglu, Behram 1962, U.K.
• Le Couteur, K.J. 1960, 1963, 1965, 1967, Canberra
• Lo, S.Y. 1985, Melbourne - correspondence with University of Melbourne regarding Lo's application for appointment as Reader
• Lohe, Max  1975-1977, 1979-1980, U.K.
• McKellar, B.H.J. 1979, 1983-1984, outside colleague/Melbourne
  see also with Muirhead, E.G.
• McLaughlin, I.L. 1980, 1984, Adelaide student/U.K.
• Medlin, B.H. 1962, U.K.
• Miller, C.F., 1983   
• Mond, B. 1985, outside colleague
• Mortensen, Chris 1982, Canberra
• Moorhouse, G. 1961, U.K.
• Muirhead, E.G. 1984-1986, Melbourne - includes correspondence with Muirhead and B.H.J.McKellar re D.Sc. citation for Courtney Mohr
• Mutton, Ron (University Architect) 1983, Adelaide colleague
• Nash, Chad 1987, Melbourne - includes copy of his curriculum vitae
• Neumann, B.H. 1965, Canberra
• O'Brien, Denis 1985, Adelaide student
• Peaslee, D.C. 1963, 1966, 1976, Canberra
• Pilbrow, John R. 1985, outside colleague
• Pillow, Fenton 1989, ditto
• Pitman, Jane 1983, Adelaide colleague - re proposed Barnes-Michael fund
• Potts, R.B.  1975, U.K.
• Radhakrishnan, D. 1972-1973, U.K.
• Radok, R. 1961, U.K.
• Rees, J.A. 1972, Canberra
• Reeves, L.D.H. 1961-1964 U.K.
• Reinfelds, J. 1962, U.K.
• Robertson, H.S. 1971, U.K.
• Robinson, D.W., U.K.
• Ross, K.D. and Johnston, Robert  1983-1984 - regarding the C.J. Eliezer Award Fund
• Salam, Abdus 1961-1964, U.K.
• Screaton, G.R. 1962-1964, U.K.
• Silberstein, J.P.O. 1983, outside colleagues
• Smart, J.J.C. 1962, U.K.
• Smith, D.A. 1986   
• Smith, T.F. (Fred) 1986, outside colleague
• Stacey, P.J. 1984
• Streater, R.F. 1982, U.K.
• Szekeres, P. 1970, U.K.
• Taylor, John  G. 1960, 1979, U.K.
• Thirring, W.E. 1961, U.K.; 1988-89 Vienna
• Thompson, Colin J. 1985
• Tuckwell, Henry 1981, Adelaide student
• Ward, J.C. 1954, U.K.
• White, Neil. 1980, 1983, Adelaide student/U.K.
• Woods, L.C. 1966, U.K.
• Wright, J.D. (Jill) 1975-1978, 1982-1983, Adelaide student/U.K.
• Xue Yukang 1989, Adelaide student
• Yeomans, F.E. 1966-1968    U.K.]

2.  Miscellaneous correspondence.  1980-1987.  1 cm.

• [John Brunt, Director, Australian Institute of Marine Science, 1983 - courtesies following a visit to the Institute by Hurst.
•  E.R. (Roger) Goldsworthy, Minister of Mines and Energy, 1980-81 - concerning the Minister's criticism of Professor Green's assessment of the potential danger of a spill of ethylene dichloride at Redcliff.
• Amanda Vanstone, S.A. Senator, 1987 - regarding academic and applied research]

 

Part B. Papers relating to the University Union
Please see attached list (PDF)

 

Revised 24 November 2014
Lee Hayes