SECTION G: VISITS AND CONFERENCES, 1947-1983

Section G, Visits and conferences, has two main parts. The first presents a partial record of Pollock's visits and attendance at conferences from 1947. Among the visits recorded here are those to India in 1973 and 1980, to Mexico and Cuba in 1961 and Mexico in 1983, and a 'World Tour' in 1957. However, the correspondence in section L includes frequent references to visits made or planned that are not documented at all in this section, including his visits to the USA. The second main component of the section, comprising the bulk of the material, relates to a 1981 Conference on Common Denominators in Art and Science held at the University of Edinburgh. Although Pollock had retired from Edinburgh some years earlier, this conference was very much Pollock's inspiration. It brought together scientists, philosophers and artists to discuss similarities and differences between their approaches to knowledge. Pollock helped organise the conference - there is a remarkably comprehensive sequence of his correspondence with prospective speakers and participants, possible funding bodies etc - and the publication of the proceedings. At G.82 are a number of invitations to visit declined by Pollock or for which there is no evidence of acceptance. Pollock visited a number of countries to give specific lectures; some of this material can be found in section F, Lectures and broadcasts. Material relating to symposia organised by the Ciba Foundation can be found in section H.

The material in this series covers some of Martin Rivers Pollock's visits and attendance at conferences from 1947. The bulk of the material, however, relates to a 1981 Conference on the Common Denominators in Art and Science, University of Edinburgh that Pollock helped organise. This includes an extensive sequence of correspondence with prospective speakers, participants and funding bodies. At Coll-1586/G/3/G.82 are a number of invitations to visit declined by Pollock or for which there is no evidence of acceptance. Pollock visited a number of countries to give specific lectures; this material can be found in section Coll-1586/F, Lectures and Broadcasts. Material relating to symposia organised by the Ciba Foundation can be found in section Coll-1586/H.