ABSTRACT
Among Eric L. Trist’s colleagues at the Institute between 1946 and 1967 were Ken Rice, Isabel Menzies Lyth, Elisabeth Bott-Spillius, Pearl King, Hugh Murray, Harold Bridger, Eric Miller, and Trist’s son, Alan. Between 1958 and 1993, Trist’s closest and most noted co-worker was Frederick Edmund Emery. When Emery and Trist returned after studying the coal mine, they would occupy Trist’s smoke-filled office for hours putting together their conception of the mine organization. During Emery’s five-year absence, from June 1952 to January 1958, Trist’s ideas on socio-technical systems were widely applied. Trist became an important figure among young contract workers at the Institute, one of whom was Elizabeth Bott-Spillius. To Bott, Trist appeared to have an endless curiosity. He encouraged her to read widely, to grow more sensitive in her relations with others on the staff, and show respect for Bion’s group theory.
