Papers and correspondence of Ivor Evans, b 1918

The collection was assembled by Evans from his own papers to document the development of Operational Research during the Second World War with special reference to the Army Operational Research Group. The material consists of memoranda and reports, 1941-1952, and some historical accounts of the development of Operational Research. It includes the report (by Evans and N.F. Mott) which became the first official AORG report.

Evans was born at Beaufort, Monmouthshire and educated at Ebbw Vale County School and University College, Cardiff, graduating in 1939 with first class honours in physics. In October 1940 he was selected by P.M.S. Blackett at an interview to join his 'Anti-Aircraft Command Research Group'. This later developed into the Army Operational Research Group. He served from 1940 to 1952 on a variety of topics: AA Gunnery, Field Gunnery, Lethality of Weapons, Battle Analysis and Tank Mobility. He worked at the Fighting Vehicles R&D Establishment, 1952-1954, the Mining Research Establishment, National Coal Board, Isleworth, 1954-1969 (Assistant Director 1958), and the Mining R&D Establishment, Burton-on-Trent, Deputy Director and Head of Mining Sciences Division from 1969.

By section as follows: Historical accounts of the development of Operational Research, Memoranda and reports on Operational Research. Index of correspondents.

The Department of Documents is, subject to the discretion of the Keeper, open to all members of the public over the age of 15. Access to some collections is governed by special conditions which readers are bound to observe.

Printed catalogue of the papers and correspondence of Ivor Evans (b 1918), by J. Alton and J. Latham-Jackson, CSAC catalogue no. 73/3/80, 7 pp. Copies available from NCUACS, University of Bath.

Received for cataloguing in 1978 by the Contemporary Scientific Archives Centre from Evans. Deposited in the Department of Documents, Imperial War Museum in 1980.