T. T. Paterson
Encyclopedia
Doctor Thomas Thomson Paterson (1909-1994), archaeologist, palaeontologist, geologist
, glaciologist, geographer
, anthropologist, ethnologist, sociologist, and world authority on administration, was curator
of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
in Cambridge from 1937 to 1948. He gained his Ph.D. at Cambridge
and became a Fellow of Trinity College
.
In the 30s Paterson participated in several Arctic expeditions, during which time collected many string figure
s, leading to his 1949 article, "Eskimo String Figures and Their Origin," Acta Arctica 3:1-98. He also participated in expeditions to East Africa, India, Greenland and Northern Canada.
A trouble-shooter
for the Royal Air Force
during the Second World War
, after which he studied industrial relations in the British National Coal Board
in detail.
While at the University of Glasgow
in the Department of Social and Economic Research he founded Methectics, now Methexis
. He then transferred to the University of Strathclyde
and built its School of Administration to the largest in Europe. He spent time researching in South Africa
before moving to Canada
.
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
, glaciologist, geographer
Geographer
A geographer is a scholar whose area of study is geography, the study of Earth's natural environment and human society.Although geographers are historically known as people who make maps, map making is actually the field of study of cartography, a subset of geography...
, anthropologist, ethnologist, sociologist, and world authority on administration, was curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge
The MAA : Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge houses the University's collections of local antiquities, together with archaeological and ethnographic artefacts from around the world...
in Cambridge from 1937 to 1948. He gained his Ph.D. at Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and became a Fellow of Trinity College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
.
In the 30s Paterson participated in several Arctic expeditions, during which time collected many string figure
String figure
A string figure is a design formed by manipulating string on, around, and using one's fingers or sometimes between the fingers of multiple people. String figures may also involve the use of the mouth, wrist, and feet. They may consist of singular images or be created and altered as a game, known as...
s, leading to his 1949 article, "Eskimo String Figures and Their Origin," Acta Arctica 3:1-98. He also participated in expeditions to East Africa, India, Greenland and Northern Canada.
A trouble-shooter
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem so that it can be solved, and so the product or process can be made operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to develop and...
for the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, after which he studied industrial relations in the British National Coal Board
National Coal Board
The National Coal Board was the statutory corporation created to run the nationalised coal mining industry in the United Kingdom. Set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, it took over the mines on "vesting day", 1 January 1947...
in detail.
While at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in the Department of Social and Economic Research he founded Methectics, now Methexis
Methexis
In theatre, methexis , is "group sharing". Originating from Greek theatre, the audience participates, creates and improvises the action of the ritual....
. He then transferred to the University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
and built its School of Administration to the largest in Europe. He spent time researching in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
before moving to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Further reading
- Paterson, Dr. E. T. (1996). "Thomas Thomson Paterson (obit.)", Yearbook of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1289.