The papers of James Tinley Wilson consist of 1.5 linear feet of manuscript, photographic and printed material covering the years, 1940-1978. There is material from most aspects of Wilson's professional activities, but nothing relating to his private life.
The papers of James Tinley Wilson are most valuable as supplementary to other archival materials available at the Bentley Historical Library. Of most importance are the records of the Institute of Science and Technology. Unfortunately, as an independent research source, the usefulness of the collection is more limited. The full span of Wilson's professional life is documented, but not in any great depth. Researchers interested in the development of seismology as a field of scientific endeavor would possibly find Wilson's papers helpful, but those seeking information about any of the professional associations or the workings of the IST should be aware of the sparseness of these records.
The papers have been arranged in the following series: Biography, Associations, Conferences, Consulting, Correspondence, University of Michigan, Writings, Photographs.
James Tinley Wilson was born in Claremont, California on November 13, 1914, the son of Raleigh and Mary Brooks Wilson. He was educated at Porterville Junior College, and the University of California, Berkeley. (A.B. 1935, geology; Ph.D. 1939, seismology). He studied under Professor Perry Byerly.
In 1940, Wilson came to the University of Michigan as an instructor in the Geology Department. During the war, Wilson and his wife Martha Wheeler (married 1943) went to Mineola, Long Island, where Wilson joined Columbia University's Division of War Research. He helped work on some of the earliest forms of sonar.
After the War, the Wilsons returned to Ann Arbor. By 1955, Wilson was appointed Professor of Geology. The following year he became the Chairman of the Department, a position he held until 1961. In 1960, he joined the Institute of Science and Technology (IST) as associate director. Two years later he was made acting director, and became the director in 1964. Under his leadership the IST expanded greatly, especially in its interdisciplinary programs.
Wilson's interests were primarily in seismology, particularly in the areas of earthquake reduction and the monitoring of (underground) nuclear explosions. He was best known for his work on the effects of crystal structure upon the dispersion of Rayleigh and Love Waves.
Wilson was involved in numerous professional societies, some of which included the Seismological Society of America (Vice-President 1959, President 1960), the American Geophysical Union (President of the Seismology Section, 1974), the Geological Society of America, the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, and the Royal Astronomical Society.
Wilson had a heart attack and died suddenly on May 25, 1978.
