Joan Mary Eyles (15 June 1907 – 14 June 1986, Biggs) was a British geologist and historian of science, who was an expert on the geologist William Smith. Eyles donated the Eyles Collection of papers on the history and practice of geology to the

University of Bristol , mottoeng = earningpromotes one's innate power (from Horace, ''Ode 4.4'') , established = 1595 – Merchant Venturers School1876 – University College, Bristol1909 – received royal charter , type ...

. She was one of the founding members of the

British Society for the History of Science The British Society for the History of Science (BSHS) was founded in 1947 by Francis Butler, Joan Eyles and Victor Eyles. Overview It is Britain's largest learned society devoted to the history of science, technology, and medicine. The society's ...

Early life

Joan Mary Biggs was born on 15 June 1907, in Neath. She grew up in

Bridgend Bridgend (; cy, Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr or just , meaning "the end of the bridge on the Ogmore") is a town in Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of Cardiff and east of Swansea. The town is named after the medieval bridge over the River Og ...

and attended St Winefride's Convent school in Swansea.

Education

Biggs studied chemistry and geology at

University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire , latin_name = , image_name = Shield of the University of Cardiff.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms of Cardiff University , motto = cy, Gwirionedd, Undod a Chytgord , mottoeng = Truth, Unity and Concord , established = 1 ...

from 1924 and graduated in 1928. Biggs enrolled on a PhD at King's College London to study Scottish igneous rocks. One year later, she met Victor Eyles, whom she married after three months. Joan Eyles, as she then became, completed her research but did not take her viva because of "domestic pressures" and the need to travel frequently to follow her husband as he worked as a field geologist for the H.M. Geological Survey.

Collecting and research

Eyles developed a keen interest in the history of geology and began to collect books and maps. After the war, Eyles contributed centenary noteices of geologists to ''Nature''. Eyles and her husband were founder members of the

in May 1947. Eyles conducted "meticulous" research on William Smith. Eyles became a member of the History of Earth Sciences Society and the Society for the History of Natural History.

Legacy

Eyles donated her and her husband's book collection to the

References

1907 births Historians of science 1986 deaths 20th-century British geologists British book and manuscript collectors {{DEFAULTSORT:Eyles, Joan Mary