Collection search - John Chapman fonds [multiple media]

Record information – Brief
1
John Chapman fonds [multiple media]

Hierarchical level:

Fonds

Date:

1937-1993.

Reference:

R5328-0-2-E, MG31-J43

Type of material:

Textual material, Photographs, Maps and cartographic material, Moving images, Sound recordings, Architectural and technical drawings

Found in:

Archives / Collections and Fonds

Item ID number:

106874

Context of this record:

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John Chapman fonds
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Record information – Details
Fonds includes:

7 lower level description(s)
View lower level description(s)

Date(s):

1937-1993.

Place of creation:

Canada

Added country of publication:

Greenland, United Kingdom, United States

Extent:

3.15 m of textual records.
177 photographs : 144 b&w and 32 col., 1 b&w negative ; various sizes.
5 maps : 2 col., 2 blueline prints, 1 blackline print.
4 film reels (55 min, 23 s).
1 video reel (35 min).
1 videocassette (35 min).
2 audio reels (ca. 1 h, 2 min).
2 technical drawings : blueline prints.
1 architectural drawing : blueline print.

Language of material:

English

Scope and content:

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Fonds consists of files relating to Chapman's Ph.D. at McGill and professional engineering associations: correspondence, reports and subject files relating to Chapman's research work at the Defence Research Telecommunications Establishment, 1946-1967; files on the early Canadian space program including Alouettes I and II plus early ISIS satellites; information about Canadian Science policy, 1962-1972; reference files on space research in general, 1943-1977.

The fonds also contains photographs depicting events, activities, and people associated with Chapman's career, including photos from Joint Staff Services Staff College, the Defence Research Telecommunications Establishment (DRTE); and the Canadian Space Program, [ca. 1950-1977].

Also included are maps of Canada and the United Kingdom relating to the development of radio waves and their application to long distance radio communication and radar in the ionosphere, 1944-1960. Included is a map of Canada ca. 1953 showing radar stations, a map of Resolute Bay, ca. 1959-1960 showing buildings and a map of the United Kingdon produced by the Royal Air Force, 1944 showing wing headquarters and wing detachments.

Finally, the fonds contains moving images and sound recordings of lectures given by Dr. Chapman, 1950-1971; and audio recordings of speeches by Rt. Honourable John G. Diefenbaker, Dr. Hartley Zimmerman, and James C.W. Scott at the opening of the Prince Albert Radar Laboratory, 1959.

Provenance:

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Chapman, John Herbert, 1921-1979
Additional name(s):

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United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Canada. Department of Communications

Canada. Defence Research Telecommunications Establishment (DRTE)

Canada. Privy Council. Science Secretariat

Great Britain. Joint Services Staff College (JSSC)
Biography/Administrative history:

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Chapman, John Herbert, 1921-1979 : John H. Chapman was born in London, Ont. on 28 Aug. 1921. After attending local schools, he studied physics at the University of Western Ontario. He joined the RCAF in 1940, studied radar operations in the UK and was posted to West Africa. After the war, Chapman returned to Western to complete his B.Sc. in radio physics and in 1949 he obtained a M.Sc. in physics from McGill University. He joined what soon became the Defence Research Telecommunications Establishment (DRTE) of the Defence Research Board in 1949. At the same time he returned to McGill to work on his Ph.D. He completed his dissertation, "The Fading of Radio Echoes from the Ionosphere", in 1951.

At DRTE Chapman became involved in research relating to the propagation of radio waves and its application to long distance radio communication and radar in the ionosphere. He was also involved in research for the McGill Fence and the Mid Canada Line radar networks. The launching of Sputnik in 1957 increased interest in space research. DRTE indicated to the US government that it wanted to build a satellite to study the topside of the ionosphere. DRTE's Topside Sounding Satellite, which became NASA's Satellite S-27, was launched by NASA as Alouette I on 28 Sept. 1962. It was extremely successful and sent back valuable data on the ionosphere for more than 11 years. DRTE built an even more sophisticated satellite, Alouette II, which was launched in 1965. This led the way for the Canadian satellites ISIS I and II and the later Anik communications satellites. As the Deputy Superintendent of DRTE, Chapman was director of this project.

In 1966 Chapman was asked by the Science Secretariat of the Privy Council to head a team to develop a Canadian space policy. Their report Upper Atmosphere and Space Programs in Canada (1967) set the course of Canadian development. In 1969 when a new Dept. of Communications was set up, space research was moved from DRTE to the new department, with Chapman as Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM), Research. In 1974 he was made ADM, Space Programs. From this position, Chapman pushed very hard to develop a Canadian space research and manufacturing capability. This led to his interest in government science policy. Chapman died suddenly on 28 Sept. 1979.

Chapman won many awards for his work such the Dellinger Gold Medal from the URSI, the McNaughton Award from the IEEE as well from the Assoc. of Professional Engineers of Ontario, the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute and others.

Finding aid:

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Textual records and graphic material (Electronic) Finding aid is a file list of content in volumes 1 to 18. MSS1960 (90: Open)
http://data2.archives.ca/pdf/pdf001/p000000518.pdf

Cartographic material (Paper) Finding aid consists of a detailed item listing and is available in the main reference room. 945029 (90: Open)

Moving images and sound recordings: (Electronic) See MISACS for item-level descriptions. (90: Open)

Architectural, technical drawings (Paper) Finding aid consists of a detailed item listing and is available in the main reference room. 945029 (90: Open)

Additional information:

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General note:

Acquired in 1993 from Marion Chapman of Ottawa.
Subject heading:

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Canada. Defence Research Board

Physics - Ionospheric Research

Nuclear Blasts

Radar Research

Radio Research - Communication

McGill Fence Project

Mid - Canada Line

Space Research

Satellites - Alouette I

Satellites - Alouette II

Satellites - ISIS

Manufacturers - Electronic

Science Policy

Electronic Industry

Satellites - Topside Sounder

McGill University - Research
Source:

Private

Related control no.:

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(1973-05-27)
(1993-10-09)
121-020119-4
121-060281-4
1974-0041 MISA
1993/0307
1994-0106 MISA
1994-376 DAP
94-130
945029 CA
MG31-J43

Former archival reference no.:

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MG31-J43
Ordering and viewing options

Conditions of access:

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Textual records

[Consultation90 Open]

Finding aid box [FA 1960] 143

[Consultation 10 Closed]

Graphic (photo)

[Consultation90 Open]

Volume [R5328] 17--18

[Consultation 90 Open]

Cartographic material

[Consultation90 Open]

Moving images (film)

[Consultation90 Open]

Moving images (video)

[Consultation90 Open]

Sound recordings

[Consultation90 Open]

Architectural: technical drawings

[Consultation90 Open]

Terms of use:

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Photographs: No restrictions. Various copyrights. Credit: Name of photographer / National Archives of Canada / Copy negative no.
Cartographic material: Please consult lower level description.
Moving images and sound recordings: Reproduction and use in any form requires the written permission of the copyright holder and in some cases of the donor; please see item level descriptions for details.
Architectural, technical drawings: Please consult lower level descriptions.

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Date modified:: 2024-04-09