Papers of Professor Raphael Meldola, [1866-1907], comprising notes on experiments in qualitative analysis at the Royal College of Chemistry, [1866]; physical lectures by Dr Tyndall, [1867]; course on physics by Dr Guthrie, 1873; notes as a Demonstrator at Science Schools, 1877-1878; research notes, 1879, 1900; diary of eclipse expedition, 1875; lecture notes on organic chemistry, 1885-1890, including coal tar products, 1890; laboratory notes, 1904-1906; correspondence concerning the portrait fund for Sir John Evans, 1899-1900; Perkin Memorial Fund, 1906-1907, including letters from several German chemists; correspondence about a Maccabeans Dinner, 1905; general correspondence, 1862-1915; correspondence concerning a memorial for Herbert Spencer, 1904-1908; and a memorial for James Sylvester, 1897-1900; correspondence on the subject of thinnings in Epping Forest, 1894-1895; a scientific autograph collection, 1864-1907; plus additional autographs and press cuttings 1889-1915.

Papers of Sir James Dewar include: (DI-DII) correspondence and general papers relating to membership of institutions, scientific work and the views of individuals, written papers. (DIII) Biographical papers and cuttings 1911-1925 and personal and (DB11) biographical papers c.1891-1924, relate to Dewar and his work. (DIII) Photographs 1890-1894, relate to various aspects such as rooms in the Royal Institution of Great Britain (RI) and apparatus; (DE15) photographs and reprints including discourses 1875-1923 include an album of photographs of soap films, reprints of Dewar lectures at the RI, notes on courses and lectures by Dewar and others such as John Tyndall. Notebooks relate to (DIII) experimental observations 1907-1909; (DB4) notebooks on radiation, dissociation, analyses; (DB5) low temperature work 1874-1919, notebooks and other papers; (DB6) spectroscopy notebooks 1879-1912; (DB7) rare gases 1885-1923, notebooks and papers; (DB8) laboratory apparatus notebooks, 1881-1905; (DB9) notebooks and papers on bubbles, 1917-1923; (DB10) notebooks on the work of Marcellin Berthelot and Henri Moissan, 1907; (DE10) lecture notebooks and experimental notes 1869-1918, relate to topics such as hydrogen, thermal values, latent heat and decomposition of gases. Notes on lectures include (DIV) lecture notes and lists 1878-1891, relates to soap bubbles, and Christmas lectures at the RI; (DB3) lecture notes 1877-1906, relates to lectures at the RI; (DE16) lecture notes and correspondence 1885-1940, relates to lectures at the RI including Christmas lectures and correspondence of various recipients particularly with William J. Green. (DE14) Discourses 1894-1923, relate to the Friday Evening Discourses at the RI as well as other notes on experiments. Various forms of notes include: (DB1) general laboratory notes 1864-1923, on temperature, thermo electric properties, analysis of water; (DB2) sound experiments; (DV) notes on scientists and scientific work 1845-1903, relate to Dewar; (DE1) experimental notes 1904-1922 and (DE2) 1919-1923, relate to topics such as dielectric constants of liquid hydrogen, soap films, vacuum tubes, radium, low temperature and radiation from the sky; (DE3) laboratory notes 1897-1930, (DE4) 1914-1920, (DE7) pre-1900 and (DE8) 1875-1910, relate to topics such as silvered vacuum flasks, specific heats, diffusion, apparatus, charcoal absorption and spectroscopic examination of gases; (DE5) bubble measurements 1815-1822, notes and observations; (DE13) experimental notes and correspondence 1893-1922, relate to topics such as densities at low temperature, charcoal, soap film and gases; (DE6) miscellaneous experimental notes 1878-1922 and (DE9) miscellaneous notes 1871-1925, relate to topics such as critical temperature of gases, radiation curves and bubbles. (DE11) Reprints 1866-1913, relate to issues such as Friday Evening Discourses at the RI, the Michael Faraday Centenary of 1891, Christmas lectures at the RI and notes and reports on experiments. (DE12) Royal Institution 1885-1924, relates to messages and letters to, from or concerning Dewar, his role at the RI and general administrative issues. (DE17) Diplomas, drawings and graphs relate to Dewar's Fullerian Professorship at the RI, apparatus and experiments. (DG1-DG3) W. J. Green papers include correspondence, notes, photographs and notebooks on experimental discussions and personal issues such as health. (DCI) Scott controversy 1911, Gordon case 1912-1917, (DCII) early Scott case 1891-1892 and Ruhemann controversy 1890-1891, correspondence and papers. (DVI) J. E. Petavel papers - St Louis exhibition 1904, relates to the reproduction of Dewar's low temperature work for the exhibition with notes on the exhibition. (DVII) War work 1915-1918, includes letter and papers on work for the war effort, World War One.

Correspondence and papers relating to the Royal Society relations with the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU), current files contain:

a) British National Committee for Geodynamics (BNC Geodynamics) 8 files, 1970-1980

b) International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) 24 files, 1963-1980

c) International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) loose papers, 1980-1982

d) International Union of Radio Science (URSI) 6 files, 1968-1976

e) International Biological Programme (IBP) 4 files, 1970-1975 (but a much larger collection of IBP papers from the Society's modern records centre has been microfilmed between 2001-2005 and the originals destroyed because of their poor physical condition). The archive holds mateial relating to the International Geophysical Year (IGY), 1957-1958, particularly the establishment, administration and scientific results from the Royal Society Base at Halley Bay, Antarctica.

'Records and recollections' by Arthur Herbert Church, published in Gloucester: John Bellows 1940. Number 4 of 40 copies with 4 photographs and obituaries.

Papers, 1913-1923, 1945, and 1984, relating to Geraldine McNee's time as a student at Bedford College, University of London, notably University of London matriculation examination papers, 1913, in English, Arithmetic, Geometry, Latin, French and Zoology; Notice of Registration as an internal student of the University of London in the Faculty of Medicine, 1915; photograph of a science laboratory at Bedford College, 1915; papers, 1920, relating to the BSc Chemistry Degree at the University of London, including a booklet of the regulations in the Faculty of Science, a timetable of BSc Honours examinations, and University of London BSc examination papers for Chemistry; correspondence, invitations and programmes, 1921 and 1923, relating to graduation ceremonies for her BSc and MSc; correspondence, 1984, relating to the deposit of the papers of Geraldine McNee in the Bedford College Archives.

Papers relating to Smith's academic career, [1929-1970], including manuscript and typescripts lecture notes on various scientific topics, mainly chemical experiments, equations and theory, personal notebooks containing details of scientific papers by others, notes on famous scientists, and a copy of Smith's DSc thesis on 'Studies in intensive drying and related phenomena; manuscript and typescript drafts and fair copies of scientific papers by Smith for publication; index cards of chemicals; correspondence with academics and industrialists.

These papers show Davy's first ideas for an electric telegraph from his early sketches in 1836 of a frictional electric telegraph to one worked by electromagentism which he developed 1836-1839. His first patent was lodged in 1837 in opposition to Cooke and Wheatstone's first patent. The papers indicate his efforts to find a purchaser for the patent rights and to establish a company to develop the telegraph. He made agreements with several business men but none of these arrangements bore any fruit. He also negotiated with the railway companies and demonstrated the telegraph for them. The papers record the efforts of his father, Thomas Davy, and several others, to continue Davy's negotiations with the railway companies and the arrangements which were made to re-exhibit a working model of the telegraph. The papers also relate to the sale of the patent to the Electric Telegraph Company in 1847. Fahie's memoir on Davy is included in the papers.

Lectures on chemistry: three sets of holograph notes of Joseph Black's lectures taken by students at Edinburgh University. Students taking the notes include the future Sir Charles Blagden (1748-1820) (MSS.1219-1227). Produced in Edinburgh.

Papers of Hugh Charles Herbert Candy, 1906-1931, including notes relating to chemical analyses, a report on the post-mortem examination on Doris Barwood, and notes and correspondence on two cases of poisoning, but largely concerning a suicide in Barking, Essex containing a police statement from the attending G.P., letters from the borough coroner, and records of post-mortem examinations conducted at Severalls Mental Hospital, Colchester and the London Hospital Medical College, Mile End.

Collection of alchemical, chemical, medical and scientific works entitled 'Bibliothek Ernst Darmstaeder; Aeltere Wissenschaften', in typescript, with numerous holograph notes and additions. Inserted are three typescript lists with pencilled valuations, etc. by the Librarian. List A. Books at first missing from the main Collection (5 ff.). B. Books offered in replacement: with pencilled valuations by the Librarian (11 ff.). C. Books from the original Collection found later (1 f.). Checked copy of the original typescript Catalogue, with notes etc. by the Librarian (MS. 2039). Another copy with valuations by the Librarian (MS. 2040). Copy checked against the books received (MS. 2041). Second copy (MS. 2042). Produced in Munich.

Notes on Sir Kenelm Digby's experiments, plus copies of deeds relating to property in Alwich Close, London, held by Digby.

Student notes of lectures delivered by Antoine Fizes in Montpellier.

'Recueil de divers secrets rares et éprouvés concernant la Chymie, l'Alchymie, la Médecine, la Philosophie Hermétique, le tout tiré des plus célèbres Médecins et Artistes de l'Europe. Traduit du latin et de l'italien par G.G., Interprète juré des langues orientales', with other extracts and receipts from alchemical and medical authors. The third volume contains 37 full-page symbolic alchemical water-colour drawings with 68 figures (pp. 304-369): there are two symbolic diagrams in red and black on p. 190 and illustrations of alchemical apparatus on pp. 419, 430, 547. These three MSS. have been tentatively dated c 1765, as on the fly-leaf of Vol. II is an inscription: '1762. 16 aout. Tome 2ème'. Below this is the date 1785, but by the script, they seem to have been written consecutively within a few years.

'Dictata in Chemiam', notes taken down by George Paterson [1734-1817] of Lectures at Leyden University. Produced in Leyden.

Cours de Chimie. Rédigé d'après les Leçons de Mr. Rouelle et transcrit en 1762. The half-title of Vol. I is 'Cours de Chimie. 1761'. The second volume is headed: 'Cours de Chymie rédigé d'après les Leçons de Mr. Rouelle, et transcrit en 1762. Commencé le IIe fevrier de cette présente année sur les cahiers de Mr. Vincent de Billi, venus de M. Huet par M. David qui les tenoit de M. Diderot'. At the end of the volume is a note: 'Mr. Rouelle a fini son Cours de Chymie ce 29e mai 1762 ... et il l'a commencé le 16e novembre 1761'. Produced in Paris.

Papers and research notes of Alec Haggis relating to medical history. Many relate to Haggis's research into medical licensing in England and Wales prior to the Act of 1858.

'Abyssum duplicatum cum Hyrogliphis', illustrated by a few pen-drawings of alchemical apparatus, and 14 water-colour symbolic figures from the 'Viridarium chymicum' of Daniel Stolcius, published at Frankfurt in 1624. The contents of Volume I seem to be a transcript of Anton Joseph Kirchweger's 'Aurea catena Homeri', the title of which, beginning 'Eine Beschreibung von dem Ursprung der Natur [etc.]', is found on the third leaf. This work was first published at Leipzig in 1723 [cf. Ferguson, 'Bibliotheca Chemica', Volume I, pp. 469-471]. The second volume is concerned with the 'Introitus apertus ad occlusum regis palatium' by Eirenaeus Philaletha [cf. Ferguson op. cit. Vol. II, pp. 190-194], and it is noted that the German translation of this work published at Hamburg in 1705 has the title beginning 'Abyssus Alchymiae exploratus'.

The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence: the Singers were clearly vigorous letter writers and both Charles and Dorothea had an enormous number of family, friends and acquaintances. Unfortunately many of their letters were hand written and very few carbon copies survive. Very occasionally an attempt at methodical selection and arrangement is evident: on the whole correspondence had been kept in alphabetical order, and this has been retained in the arrangement of the collection. Dorothea and Charles' correspondence was fairly mixed (reflecting their working life together) with the exception of two distinct groups: correspondence about Dorothea's research on alchemical manuscripts, and later correspondence about her hearing aids.

The main part of the collection centres on the correspondence; this has been grouped together in a self-evident sequence: writings and biographical personal papers follow. Certain of Dorothea's papers remained clearly distinct and these have been kept together. Section E contains a variety of material relating to Jewish refugees, which had been placed on one side by Dorothea after the war for permanent preservation. It has not been listed in detail but sorted into three broad categories. The last section, comprising additional correspondence of the Singers with Sir Zachary Cope, Sir Arthur Salusbury MacNalty and Dr F N L Poynter, is not strictly part of the collection, but these groups of correspondence were given to the Institute to be placed alongside the Singer papers.

Papers of Thomas Newborn Robert Morson, (1800-1874), and Thomas Morson and Son Ltd, comprising T N R Morsons's Parisian journal, 1818; personal and professional papers, 1834-1871; personal, family and other correspondence, 1826-1957, including correspondence with Jacob Bell (1810-1859) founder of the Pharmaceutical Society, and Charles Dickens, novelist; legal papers and agreements, 1879-1963; business correspondence and papers, 1866-1970; accounts and other financial records, 1868-1979; recipes, production and sampling records, c 1848-1957; advertising records, 1821-c 1970; sales records, 1887-1955, including an order book containing a record of orders placed by the Secretary of State for India, 1887-1947; company scrapbooks and press cuttings, c 1906-1950; records of premises, c 1870-1965, including a series of photographs by Henri Claudet, of the works at Hornsey Rise; staff records, 1878-1971; historical publications and company history, 1916-1988; portrait photographs, c1850-1938 including T N R Morson and members of his family, and contemporary scientists, authors and others including Thomas Bell FRS, William Thomas Brande, Thomas Graham, Michael Faraday, and Heinrich Rose; other publications, 1751-1957; and the historical research papers of Anthony Morson.

The collection includes two of his diaries (1854 and 1875), letters of condolence on his death and many of his personal letters. Some of the letters pertain to his work in the explosives industry while many are correspondence between him and his social and professional contemporaries: Sir William Armstrong, Sir James Dewar, The Duke of Devonshire, Michael Faraday, Thomas Graham, Carl Haag, A W von Hofmann, William Odling and William Rockerfeller as well as the private secretaries acting on behalf of Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales (latterly King George V).

Papers of William Cullen, comprising notes of his lectures, taken by an unidentified student, 1771, entitled 'Methodus medendi febrium', including lectures on arthritis and gout, malaria and measles.

Papers of John Lowndes comprising typescript papers titled `Departmental Story', An account of the history of Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, St Thomas's Hospital Medical School, John Lowdes FRIC, 1957; manuscript list of lecturers in Chemistry, Professors of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Also contains some related letters of Thomas McLachlan, Secretary of St Thomas Hospital, concerning the accuracy of some details, 1982-1984.

Private papers of Professor Stephen Finney Mason, [1859-2007], including published articles and reprints by Mason, [1945-1990]; articles and photocopies of articles by others on Mason’s research interests, [1859-2000]; lectures given by Mason; research notes and correspondence, including correspondence about scientists and historians including Professor Reiko Kuroda, Dr Robert Davis Peacock, Professor Mike Lappert, Professor Anthony James McCaffery, Dr George Tranter, Dr M P Melrose, Dr Tom Ziegler, Professor Martin Quack, Professor David Parker, Keith Hutcheon and Dr Jack Morrell.

Typescript lecture notes for a course in 'Physical Chemistry Z3'. There are 2 copies of the notes, one with additional manuscript notes and calculations.

The collection contains correspondence and papers of Sir William Ramsay and of Morris W Travers. The bound volumes contain letters to Ramsay, chronologically arranged by Travers, and copies of related printed papers. The remaining Ramsay papers are grouped according to their contents: laboratory notebooks, lecture notes, miscellaneous papers and published works. Professor Travers grouped Ramsay's published scientific papers into ten 'volumes'. Travers's own papers are divided into two main sections: firstly papers relating to his work on Ramsay, including various papers having some bearing on Ramsay's work and material concerning his arrangement of the Ramsay papers; and secondly papers relating to Travers' own career, including papers on awards and distrinctions, scrapbooks, and miscellaneous material.

Papers of Professor Henry Edward Armstrong, 1866-1939, comprising correspondence, 1867-1939, notably from Sir Frederick Abel, 1884-1894; City and Guilds of London Institute, 1879-1913; Marie Curie, 1909; August Wilhelm von Hofmann, 1884-1891; William Odling, 1870-[1891]; Edward Cookworthy Robins, concerning policy and staff at the Central (later City and Guilds College) and Finsbury Technical Colleges, 1880-1890; Ernest Rutherford, 1926-1934; Sidney James Webb, 1905-1906; Herbert George (H G) Wells, undated; papers relating to diplomas, 1866-1934; notes on a course of practical work for Science mistresses by Armstrong, 1897; notebooks of scientific experiments by Nora and Harold Armstrong, 1898.

Papers of Francis Howard Carr, 1890-1969, comprising research notes on laboratory work on aconitine (poison taken from aconite plants), [1892], at the Pharmaceutical Society Research Laboratory, and Imperial Institute, [1896-1898]; papers and correspondence, notably photographs of Leverkusen, Germany, 1919; lecture manuscripts, 1890-1960, including an essay on lectures by Professor Raphael Meldola; press cuttings, 1908-1967; obituary for Dr Carr, 1968-1969.

Letter from Robert Rawson of 84 Great Ducie Street, Manchester to Augustus De Morgan, [1845]. Covering note accompanying copies of a pamphlet On the summation of series ..., read before the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester on 12 Nov 1844. Describing his experiences working as a child coal miner. Proposes 'a new ... chymical theory'.

Autograph, with signature.

Notes from the lectures of George Fordyce at his house in Essex Street, Strand, for a period extending over 30 years on subjects including clinical lectures, acute diseases, chemistry, chronic diseases, diseases of women and children, materia medica and the natural history of the human body. Transcribed, mainly from short-hand notes, by Henry Rumsey, one of his pupils, 1785-1787.

Papers relating to Joseph Black, Professor of Chemistry and Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, and Dr George Pearson, lecturer in Chemistry at St George's Hospital, mid to late 18th century, comprising a volume of manuscript notes, by an unknown hand, taken at chemistry lectures by Black and Pearson. Including some notes on natural philosophy.

Papers of Lyon Playfair, 1857, comprising a letter from Lyon Playfair to Richard Owen, 22 Jun 1851. Relating to the examination of a specimen of charcoal.

The papers of Sir Eric Rideal relate to various aspects of his work including: articles, speeches and writings on ecology and chemistry; proofs and articles such as 'the absorption of gases and vapours by solids', 'intermolecular forces in two-dimensional systems' (published in Physica 4, 1937) and 'some experiences on heterogeneous catalysis' an article for Shokubai, 1971. Notes, drafts and working papers are generally undated and fragmentary and relate to topics such as enzymes, catalysis, chemical reactivity, diachisis and disjoining pressure. Papers relating to committees, conferences and organisations refer to the International Union of Pure Applied Chemistry for the period 1967-1971; the Ministry of Supply for the period of 1953-1958; with various other papers on committees and conferences such as the Biological Research Advisory Board, the Chemical Engineering Committee, the High Explosives Committee and the Rideal conferences on chemisorption and catalysis. Scientific correspondence refers to barnacles, ion exchange and surface energy anisotropy in metals. This is evidently a very small portion of the records that he would have generated.

Papers of Sir Humphry Davy are extensive including the bond of indenture of apprenticeship, 1795 with its release, 1798; lecture notes of 1805-1812 relating to subjects such as the history of electricity, vegetable chemistry, electrochemical science, agricultural chemistry and geology; honours and diplomas relating to various institutions such as the Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg for 1826, the Danish Royal Society of Sciences for 1821 and the Pilman Society of Edinburgh for 1823; laboratory notebooks of 1805-1829 relating to experiments on galvanism, sulphur and phosphorous, ammonia on potassium, sodium, metals, muriatic and oxymuriatic gas, copper, and decompositions amongst others; RI laboratory notebooks of 1830-1861 which includes Davy's work on copper and water; correspondence relating to his work and personal life, to and from his mother, Mrs Jane Apreece, Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) and others; personal notebooks c 1795-1829; mathematical notebooks; scientific observations notebooks of 1799-1800 relating to phosphorous, the combustion of iron and the philosophy of heat and light; papers relating to his published works such as the Elements of Chemical Philosophy, Consolations in Travel and Salmonia; papers collected by Michael Faraday (1791-1867) which includes some of the above mentioned notebooks; papers collected by John Davy (1790-1868) his brother, relating to extracts from Humphry Davy's journals and John's observations of his brother; papers of his poetry and sketches; his Commonplace book 1812-1815; a ledger of Edmund Davy (1785-1857) his cousin and appraisal for the miners safety lamp of 1815.

Lecture notes on organic chemistry by Professor Edward Frankland.

Letters from Sir Robert Moray to his friend Alexander Bruce, Earl of Kincardine, 1657-1673. Also known as 'The Kincardine Papers'. Bruce was sick of the ague in Bremen for part of this time, and the letters were written to alleviate the tedium of his illness, hence ranging over topics which might not otherwise have been the subjects of correspondence. They include accounts of chemical experiments in his laboratory, his interest in magnetism, medicine in all its aspects, horticulture, fuel, whale fishing, its risks and profits, coal mining, water wheels and tide mills, stone quarrying and the various qualities of different stones, the pumping works needed for undersea coal mines at Bruce's home at Culross in Fifeshire, even to the trees whose wood was best for pipelines, and the diameter of the bore best suited to the purpose. Familiarity is shown with mathematical and surveying instruments, with music, and all sorts of mechanical devices and especially clocks and watches, more particularly the taking out of a patent in respect of a clock for use at sea for finding longitude. Bruce is advised on the choice of books over a wide range of subjects. Moray includes anecdotes to amuse his ailing correspondent; he describes his quiet life and is enthusiastic about many of his chemical experiments. Notable at the end of the letters Moray added what he described as his Masonic signature - a pentagram which also occurs in his crest.