Papers and correspondence of William Renwick, 1924-1971

The papers are not extensive, relating essentially to the development of the EDSAC computer, 1947-1949, and include framed photographs of the machine and of its first printout in 1947.

Renwick was educated at Lanark Grammar School and Glasgow University, 1941-1943, where he graduated B.Sc. in Mathematics, Physics and Electronics. From 1943 to 1947 he worked on radar at the Admiralty Signals Establishment, and in 1947 was appointed University Demonstrator in the Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge where he became responsible for the direction and supervision of research and development in the Digital Computer Department and was one of the team which developed the EDSAC computer. He became Senior Assistant in Research at the Mathematical Laboratory, and in 1958 joined the Plessey Company at the Electronic Research Laboratory, Roke Manor, Romsey. In 1965, on the formation of the Company's Automatic Group at Poole, he became its first Research Manager, the position he held at the time of his death at the age of 47.

By section as follows: Biographical and personal, Research notes and lectures, Publications, EDSAC computer

Access to holders of full Reader's Tickets from Cambridge University Library.

Printed Catalogue of the papers and correspondence of William Renwick (1924-1971) by J. Alton and J. Latham-Jackson, CSAC 84/2/82, 9 pp. Copies available from NCUACS, University of Bath

Received for cataloguing by the Contemporary Scientific Archives Centre from Mrs J.K.M. Renwick, widow via Plessey Controls Limited and through the good offices of Professor M.V. Wilkes. Deposited in Cambridge University Library in 1982.