GB 0098 KB - Botany Department and Biology Life Science Division of Imperial College

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0098 KB

Title

Botany Department and Biology Life Science Division of Imperial College

Date(s)

  • Created 1894-1992 (ongoing) (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

19 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Department of Biology had its origins in the teaching and research of biology in the Government School of Mines and Science as Applied to the Arts (later the Royal School of Mines) in 1851. The department moved to South Kensington in 1872, where T H Huxley was prominent in establishing modern teaching methods of the discipline. In 1881 the Royal College of Science was founded and took over the teaching of biology in two separate departments, Botany and Zoology. The Departments were united into a single Department of Biology in 1913 as part of Imperial College, with professors of Zoology, Plant Physiology, Woods and Fibres and Entomology.
The Department of Biochemistry opened in 1965. Before this, biochemical research and teaching at Imperial College operated within the Department of Botany.
The Division of Life Sciences was formed from the Departments of Botany, Zoology and Biochemistry in 1974. The Life Sciences Committee was established as a committee of the Board of Studies to consider all academic developments within the field and report to the Board as appropriate.
In 1981 the Department of Botany and Plant Technology was merged with the Department of Zoology and Applied Entomology to form the Department of Pure and Applied Biology, with the transfer of Microbiology from the Department of Biochemistry.

Archival history

Accumulated by Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine during the course of business.
GB 0098 KB Created 1894-1992 (ongoing) Series of Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine records 19 boxes Royal College of Science; Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
The Department of Biology had its origins in the teaching and research of biology in the Government School of Mines and Science as Applied to the Arts (later the Royal School of Mines) in 1851. The department moved to South Kensington in 1872, where T H Huxley was prominent in establishing modern teaching methods of the discipline. In 1881 the Royal College of Science was founded and took over the teaching of biology in two separate departments, Botany and Zoology. The Departments were united into a single Department of Biology in 1913 as part of Imperial College, with professors of Zoology, Plant Physiology, Woods and Fibres and Entomology.
The Department of Biochemistry opened in 1965. Before this, biochemical research and teaching at Imperial College operated within the Department of Botany.
The Division of Life Sciences was formed from the Departments of Botany, Zoology and Biochemistry in 1974. The Life Sciences Committee was established as a committee of the Board of Studies to consider all academic developments within the field and report to the Board as appropriate.
In 1981 the Department of Botany and Plant Technology was merged with the Department of Zoology and Applied Entomology to form the Department of Pure and Applied Biology, with the transfer of Microbiology from the Department of Biochemistry.

Accumulated by Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine during the course of business.

Records of the Department of Botany of Imperial College, 1894-1976, including press cuttings and reports, 1959-1972; correspondence relating to Agricultural Research Council grants, 1935-1940; correspondence of staff, including Professor Sir John Bretland Farmer, 1907-1932, Professor Vernon Herbert Blackman, 1912-1939, Professor Percy Groom, 1909-1924; correspondence concerning the Chair of Plant Physiology, 1910-1912; Plant Physiology building, 1911-1916; Biochemistry block, 1919-1923; Chair of Comparative Pathology, 1915; examination papers, 1894-1969; correspondence and papers of Sir John Bretland Farmer, 1916-1928, including rubber research, Departmental annual reports, 1921-1927, proposed field station; students' schedules for the Animal Biology Division, papers relating to mathematics for botany and biology students, 1933-1946; registers of students, 1900-1953, staff, 1945-1953; notes and logbooks relating to courses, lectures and laboratory work, 1896-1960; minutes of the Brownian Club, 1935-1939; minutes of the Imperial Botanical Conference Executive Committee, 1923-1926, 1934; papers relating to departmental appointments, including headship and chairs, 1966-1976; Rectors' correspondence with the department, 1955-1976 (KB);
papers relating to the Plant Physiology Research Institute, 1911-1964, including correspondence with the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 1911-1918, Rothamsted Laboratory, 1935-1960 (KBA);
papers relating to the Division of Life Sciences, 1952-1987, including brochures and reports, 1969-1987; Department of Pure and Applied Biology research reports, annual reports, and course prospectuses, 1981-1987; Division of Life Sciences newsletter, prospectus, 1973-1978; papers of the Biology Working Party, 1966-1975; Professor Arthur Rutter, 1973-1982; Rector's papers relating to proposed division, 1979-1980; Advisory Panel on Life Sciences, 1978; Life Sciences Steering Group, 1978-1979; proposed merger of Botany and Zoology departments, 1966-1980 (KBB);
papers relating to the Department of Biochemistry, including press cuttings, 1960; research and annual reports, 1992-1999; correspondence relating to finance, 1965-1967; Rector's correspondence relating to the Rank benefaction, 1967-1978, with Professor Chain, 1969-1979, Rank chair of Biochemistry, 1973-1975 (KBC);
correspondence relating to the Centre for Biotechnology, 1980-1990 (KBT).

The records are arranged in sections as outlined in the scope and content.

Researchers wishing to consult the Archives should first contact the College Archivist, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, for an appointment.

A photocopying service is available at the discretion of the Archivist. Photocopies are supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Archivist.
English

A catalogue is available at the College Archives.

Department of Zoology records (KZ), Field Research Stations and Harlington Athletics Ground records (KZF), records relating to the University of London (UL), papers of T H Huxley (B/HUXLEY) and Percy Groom (B/GROOM), held at Imperial College.

Correspondence of Sir John Bretland Farmer with Frederick Orpen Bower, 1912-1926, held at Glasgow University Archives and Business Records Centre.

Compiled by Julie Tancell as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997. October 2000 Agricultural Research Council Biochemistry Biology Blackman , Vernon Herbert , 1872-1967 , botanist Board of Agriculture and Fisheries Botany Chain , Sir , Ernst Boris , 1906-1979 , Knight , biochemist Economics of science Educational administration Educational courses Educational evaluation Examinations Farmer , Sir , John Bretland , 1864-1944 , Knight , botanist Groom , Percy , 1865-1931 , botanist Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine , Biology Life Science Division Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine , Centre for Biotechnology Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine , Department of Biochemistry Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine , Department of Botany Physiology Research grants Rutter , Arthur John , b 1917 , botanist Science finance Student evaluation University courses

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the Department of Botany of Imperial College, 1894-1976, including press cuttings and reports, 1959-1972; correspondence relating to Agricultural Research Council grants, 1935-1940; correspondence of staff, including Professor Sir John Bretland Farmer, 1907-1932, Professor Vernon Herbert Blackman, 1912-1939, Professor Percy Groom, 1909-1924; correspondence concerning the Chair of Plant Physiology, 1910-1912; Plant Physiology building, 1911-1916; Biochemistry block, 1919-1923; Chair of Comparative Pathology, 1915; examination papers, 1894-1969; correspondence and papers of Sir John Bretland Farmer, 1916-1928, including rubber research, Departmental annual reports, 1921-1927, proposed field station; students' schedules for the Animal Biology Division, papers relating to mathematics for botany and biology students, 1933-1946; registers of students, 1900-1953, staff, 1945-1953; notes and logbooks relating to courses, lectures and laboratory work, 1896-1960; minutes of the Brownian Club, 1935-1939; minutes of the Imperial Botanical Conference Executive Committee, 1923-1926, 1934; papers relating to departmental appointments, including headship and chairs, 1966-1976; Rectors' correspondence with the department, 1955-1976 (KB);
papers relating to the Plant Physiology Research Institute, 1911-1964, including correspondence with the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 1911-1918, Rothamsted Laboratory, 1935-1960 (KBA);
papers relating to the Division of Life Sciences, 1952-1987, including brochures and reports, 1969-1987; Department of Pure and Applied Biology research reports, annual reports, and course prospectuses, 1981-1987; Division of Life Sciences newsletter, prospectus, 1973-1978; papers of the Biology Working Party, 1966-1975; Professor Arthur Rutter, 1973-1982; Rector's papers relating to proposed division, 1979-1980; Advisory Panel on Life Sciences, 1978; Life Sciences Steering Group, 1978-1979; proposed merger of Botany and Zoology departments, 1966-1980 (KBB);
papers relating to the Department of Biochemistry, including press cuttings, 1960; research and annual reports, 1992-1999; correspondence relating to finance, 1965-1967; Rector's correspondence relating to the Rank benefaction, 1967-1978, with Professor Chain, 1969-1979, Rank chair of Biochemistry, 1973-1975 (KBC);
correspondence relating to the Centre for Biotechnology, 1980-1990 (KBT).

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The records are arranged in sections as outlined in the scope and content.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Researchers wishing to consult the Archives should first contact the College Archivist, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, for an appointment.

Conditions governing reproduction

A photocopying service is available at the discretion of the Archivist. Photocopies are supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Archivist.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Department of Zoology records (KZ), Field Research Stations and Harlington Athletics Ground records (KZF), records relating to the University of London (UL), papers of T H Huxley (B/HUXLEY) and Percy Groom (B/GROOM), held at Imperial College.

Finding aids

A catalogue is available at the College Archives.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Correspondence of Sir John Bretland Farmer with Frederick Orpen Bower, 1912-1926, held at Glasgow University Archives and Business Records Centre.

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine

Rules and/or conventions used

General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area