Call Number: Mss 82

Title: John W. Dorsey fonds.

Dates: 1909-1924.

Extent: 0.5 m of textual records.

Biographical sketch: John W. Dorsey was born in Elliott City, Maryland. He graduated from Lehigh University in 1908 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. In 1910 he joined the faculty of the University of Manitoba as a lecturer in electrical engineering. He retired in 1952. Dorsey performed pioneering work in the use of high voltage mercury tubes in dust precipitators, conducted high voltage commutation experiments, and designed the Dorsey Booster Charging System. Due to his pioneering efforts in the area of high voltage direct current studies, Manitoba Hydro named the converter station located near Rosser, Manitoba, in his honour.

Custodial history: The fonds was donated to University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections by the University of Manitoba Faculty of Engineering in 1987.

Scope and content: The fonds consists of 24 volumes of Dorsey's lecture notes and diaries from 1910 to 1924. The diaries contain historical information on Winnipeg, life at the Broadway campus of the University of Manitoba, electrical engineering concepts and ideas, inventions, and descriptions of places and events.

Restrictions: There are no restrictions on this material.

Accruals: No further accruals to this fonds are expected.

Finding aid: A printed finding aid is available in the Archives reading room and an on-line finding aid is available at the link below:

MSS 82.