Bound typescript autobiography, 'The Record of a Busy Life', by William Adams, 1891, detailing his life in Chile, London, and the Midlands, including family history, family and associates, business, and other reminiscences, with a two-page printed biography from the Minutes of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers (vol cxxiv, Session 1895-1896, pt ii) inserted.

Records of the Amalgamated Engineering Union. The collection has large gaps in the records. However, most of the material contains valuable details on engineers who were members of the union, and on those receiving benefits, for reasons including illness, accidents and deaths.

Seventy-seven volumes of handwritten quarterly report forms from branches of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Machinists, Millwrights, Smiths and Pattern Makers all over the country, including notes and figures on income and expenditure, membership numbers, excluded members, quarterly admissions, superannuated members, members gone abroad and the death of members or the wives (1853-1879).

Papers of Sir Eric Ash, 1986-1990, comprising addresses and speeches, 1986-1990, notably President's inaugural lecture, Institution of Electrical Engineers, 1980; lunchtime lectures, 1986, 1990; biographical press cuttings, 1989-1990.

Records of Associated Metropolitan Water Companies, comprising minutes and accounts of the Metropolitan Water Companies Meetings of Chairmen; minutes of sub committees including the Intercommunication Committee of Engineers of the Metropolitan Water Companies and the Committee for the Management of Works of Intercommunication; and correspondence.

Typescript of unpublished autobiography of Wilfred Blackwell Beard, titled Along This Way, written c1966-1967, and covering his early life and education in Manchester, his work as an apprentice and journeyman patternmaker in Manchester, Stockport, Bradford and Newcastle, c1905-1929; his membership of the United Patternmakers' Association, from 1912, and his work as a full time Union Official from 1929-1966; and his membership of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) General Council, 1947-1967, particularly his year as Chairman of the TUC, 1955-1956.

Letterbook, May-October 1888, of John Joseph Bithell concerning South American railway construction.

Papers of Professor Henry Taylor Bovey, [1892]-1908, comprising research papers and notes relating to the strength of materials, hydraulics and electrical engineering, design of bridges and the pin-connected principle, [1892-1902]; papers relating to engineering and mining courses, [1898-1908]; address as Imperial College Rector, 1908.

Papers of Ivor Bowen, 1926-1973, relating to his career in aeronautics, comprising manuscript volume entitled 'Bomb and Bombsight figures'; photographs, some captioned, relating to a long haul flight to Singapore, 1946, including exterior and interior details of plane and an aerial view of Singapore; Air Ministry Laboratory report, 'Bomb ballistics experiments, Orfordness, 1926', written by L C Bygrave and Ivor Bowen, including aerial photographs, photographs of recording equipment, bomb at moment of release, cine film stills of explosion, detailed technical drawings of recording equipment and periscopic bomb sight, and graphs of time lags, trail angles and fall times of bombs; publications relating to aeronautics including Air Ministry manuals, chiefly on air navigation, 1926-1941; typescript draft handbook, 'Aircraft compass installations', by C S Hudson, for publication by HMSO, [1949]; patents issued to General Precision Laboratory, USA, 1956-1959; lecture text, 'The development of visual landing for flight simulators' by G M Hellings, Chief Scientist, General Precision Systems Ltd, Oct 1961; technical product descriptions including for Miniature Inertial Navigation System (MINS), produced by Kearfott Division, USA and Kearfott C702519001 floated rate-integrating gyro, Aug 1962; performance data for floated rate-integrating gyro King II, produced by Kearfott Division, USA, Dec 1962; offprint articles on aeronautics, 1962; memoranda and minutes of meetings of the Air League, 1963-1973; 'Unservile State Papers, no 15: A Defence for Britain' by Anthony Paice, Liberal Publication Dept, [1966]; letter from I J Bettison, General Equipments Ltd, Adelaide, Australia, 3 Jun 1963, on selling flight simulation training systems; and 'extracts from the technical supplement to the annual report of the Aeronautical Research Council', 1 Apr 1965.

This small collection consists of two minute books (containing records of both Directors' and Annual General Meetings) which from 1921, the year in which Caffin and Company was incorporated. There are also various miscellaneous papers, a draft debenture agreement, and a document relating to Caffin (Africa) Limited.

Notes on physics and mathematics.

Papers of John William Couchman and Harold Seymour Couchman, surveyors, agents to the lords of the manors of Tottenham and Edmonton and civil engineers, 1789-1938. The majority of the papers are those of John William Couchman who was a civil engineer (in particular, apparently, a waterworks expert) and a surveyor and valuer, but a few later ones relate to his successor, Harold Seymour Couchman.

John William Couchman acted as surveyor and agent to the lords of the manors of Tottenham and Edmonton. Most of the manorial documents are valuations for enfranchisement of copyhold property. These cover the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and are arranged alphabetically under the names of the copyholders. There is also, however, a survey of Tottenham manor of circa 1830 and two rentals of quit and waste rents for Tottenham and one for Edmonton, together with correspondence with the local urban district councils over their purchase of manorial waste.

The remainder of the collection consists of documents concerning property of the Sperling family and of others for whom Couchman acted as agent; his own papers relating to various engineering projects - notably that to provide a drinking water supply for Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, papers concerning the Tithe rent charges for Tottenham (for which he acted as valuer), various sales particulars including one of 1789 for Bruce Castle and Mount Pleasant, and two albums of photographs taken at the end of the last century which are of considerable interest.

Papers of the East London Waterworks Company relating to water supply and distribution, including Engineers' reports; Engineers' correspondence; volumes of accepted tenders; water supply agreements; Collectors' and Inspectors' letter books; indexes to the locations of meters; rating volumes; accounts; plans and diagrams.

Records of the Grand Junction Waterworks Company relating to water supply and distribution, including water supply agreements; laying on books; meter agreements; meter readings; fire report books; water rentals books; pipes records; examination of mains books; papers relating to alterations to pipes and fittings; meter charges; supply and engineering records.

Records of the Greater London Council, 1810-1988. Papers of the Architect's Department including the Building Regulations Division, Street Naming Section, District Surveyors, Education Division, Maintenance Division, Engineering Division, Structural Engineer, Historic Buildings Division, Housing and Town Development Branch, Technical Publications, Photograph Library, Plan Registry, Special Works Branch and Technical Policy Division; and papers of the GLC London Community Builders.

Papers of the Director-General's Department, including papers of the Administration Division, Finance Division, Personnel Division, Registry and Dispatch Division, Record Office and Library, Director-General's Board, Public Health and Safety Programme Board, Ceremonial Office, Entertainments Licensing Group, Ethnic Minorities Unit, Housing and Technical Services Committees, Industry and Employment Branch, Intelligence Unit and Policy Study Groups, Judicial Services Section, Majority Party Secretariat, Member's Support Unit, Minority Party Secretariat, Police Committee Support Unit, Professional and General Services Committee, Programme Office, Policy and Resources Group, Public Relations Branch, Public Services and Fire Brigade Department, Planning Transport and Industry Group, Scrutiny Committee, Secretariat, Scientific Services Branch, Town Development Committee and Women's Committee Support Unit. Also Committee agendas, minutes and papers, periodicals, and publications of the Council.

Papers of the London Fire Brigade administrative branch. Papers of the Public Health Engineering Department, including the Rivers Branch and the Solid Waste Management Branch. Papers of the Housing Department, including the Controller of Housing and Technical Services, the Directors of Housing, the Development Branch, Management Branch, Professional Services Branch, Renewals Branch and Thamesmead Branch. Papers of the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Department including the Design and Technical Policy Branch and the Maintenance Branch.

Papers of the Medical Adviser's Department including the School Health Division, Health and Housing Division, Inspectorate, Mental Deficiency case files and Slum Clearance case files. Papers of the Recreation and Arts Department including papers of the Director of Development and Controller of Operational Services, papers of the General Landscaping Division, Housing Landscaping Division, Thamesmead Landscaping Division, Planning and Strategy Division, Architectural Design and Construction Division, General Practice Surveying Division, Entertainments and Fairs Division, Information and Publicity Division, Sports Division, Grants Branch, Open Space and Recreation Branch, Horticulture Division, Open Air Entertainments Division and Parks Department.

Papers of the Supply Department. Papers of the Transportation and Development Department, including papers of the Controller of Transportation and Development, papers of the Construction Branch, Statutory Division, Local Plans Division, Land Use Section, Programme Management and Resources Branch, Cycling Project Team, Chief Traffic Engineer, Traffic Control Division, Plan Registry, Traffic Management Section, Transport Planning Branch, Environmental Management Division, and Policy and Projects Division. Also Greater London Development Plan files, photographs, technical publications, and Greater London traffic surveys.

Also papers of individual members of the GLC including Ken Livingstone, GLC Leader 1981-1986; Paul Boateng, Chairman of GLC Police Committee, 1981-1986; Sir Horace Cutler, GLC Leader, 1977-1981; papers of staff clubs and societies and non-GLC publications concerning the Council and its work.

Manuscript record of experiments labelled 'Laboratory Notes', kept while studying engineering at University College London.

Records of Harry Neal Limited, building and engineering contractor, 1937-1957, including files relating to building projects worked on by the company including:

• 1/3 Princes Gate

  • 160 Shaftsbury Avenue
  • 5 Portland Place
  • 16 Berkeley Square
  • Grosvenor Square
  • Saint Pancras Way Housing Scheme
  • Oxford Street
  • 117 Baker Street
  • 31 Montagu Square
  • Brompton Road
  • BBC building at 1 Portland Place
  • BBC telephones
  • 11 and 12 Mount Street
  • Dunster House.

  Also office files, financial accounts and file relating to builders accidents.

Papers, 1930-1962, concerning lectures and publications by Hart, notably correspondence, 1951-1961, mainly relating to lectures on Leonardo da Vinci, aeronautical engineering and other subjects; correspondence relating to the writing and publication of his work, including James Watt and the history of steam power (Henry Schuman, New York, [1949]), 1948, and The world of Leonard da Vinci, man of science, engineer and dreamer of flight (Macdonald, London, 1961), 1960-1962; typescripts of lectures on textile education, 1951, the scientific basis for Leonardo da Vinci's work in technology, 1952, and handicraft instruction; typescript of The world of Leonard da Vinci, man of science, engineer and dreamer of flight (Macdonald, London, 1961), 1960; copies of published articles by Hart on medieval and modern science, 1930-1955.

Manuscript of paper 'Notes on the Peat and Underlying Beds observed in the construction of the Albert Dock Hull', by John Clarke Hawkshaw, 1871. Paper is illustrated at the back with diagrams of sections of borings taken before and during the progress of works.

Papers of Herbert Alfred Humphrey, 1883-1945, comprising volume of testimonials, letters of introduction, 1887-1915; correspondence, 1900-1918, notably with the Admiralty concerning proposals for a torpedo, 1914, Ministry of Munitions concerning chemical plants, 1917-1918; correspondence with Brunner, Mond and Co, 1890-1919, relating to his employment with the company, experiments with TNT, 1890-1919, and notes and diagrams on the manufacture of calcium nitrate, 1916; correspondence relating to Industrial Chemical Industries, 1920-1946, concerning chemical manufacture, his employment; papers concerning Brunner, Mond and Co, [1930]-1948, comprising notes concerning the history of the chemical plant at Billingham, [1930];
correspondence concerning enemy attack, technical education, 1940-1948; reports and correspondence relating to the Department of Explosive Supplies, Ministry of Munitions, 1915-1917, concerning TNT, manufacture of ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, explosives trials; reports relating to war service, 1914-1919, concerning the purification of TNT, shells, Hausser process; correspondence and printed papers relating to war service, 1916, inventions, 1939-1944;
correspondence with professional institutes, 1887-1938; letters, papers and reports relating to visits, annual dinners, 1886-1945; patents, 1895-1934, relating to engines, purifying gases and raising liquids; papers relating to the Metropolitan Water Board, 1909-1913, concerning water pumps; engineering drawings of pump schemes never built [1910-1912]; papers and diagrams concerning projected installation of Humphrey pumps at El Mex, Egypt, 1911-1914; articles, mostly concerning the Humphrey Pump, 1909-1936; photographs and papers relating to the Humphrey Pump, 1913;
student notebooks made whilst a student at Finsbury Technical College and Central Institution, 1883-1887.

Four diaries of Bernard Hunt, 1896-1899, giving an account of his experiences in Peru as a mining engineer; extracts from the diaries by his son, Philip B Hunt, 1986.

Records of J Tylor and Sons Limited, brass founders and manufacturers of sanitary appliances, including registers of patents granted to the company; specifications for water meters and sanitary appliances; patent certificates; certificates of registration of design, with designs attached; sales catalogues; and company histories.

Papers of Lord Willis Jackson, 1916-1970, comprising papers transferred from his office in Imperial College, namely personal and biographical papers, 1923- 1970, including student notebooks, [1923], visits abroad, 1961-1968, speeches and addresses, 1950-1970, family correspondence, Parliamentary correspondence, 1957-1970, photographs [1916]-1967, mainly of official events, laboratories and apparatus, Willis Jackson; papers relating to Associated Electrical Industries and Metropolitan-Vickers, 1951-1969, notably appointment as Director of Research and Education, 1953, correspondence and press cuttings, 1951-1969, engineering and staff courses, 1954-1959; papers relating to Imperial College, 1950-1969, notably lectures and speeches, 1950-1968, correspondence, 1953-1970, including with Professor Colin Cherry, 1950-1969, the Rector, Lord Penney, 1967-1970, papers concerning academic matters, 1955-1968, Committees, 1963-1969, societies and associations, 1950-1970, Electrical Engineering Department, 1964-1969; correspondence with Ministers, reports and papers relating to Government Departments, principally concerning committees and advisory councils, 1944-1970, notably the Admiralty (later Ministry of Defence), 1950-1968, Ministry of Education, 1954-1969, Ministry of Technology, 1965-1970, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1944-1965, Ministry of Overseas Development, 1965-1969, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (ORCD), 1961-1969, University Grants Committee, 1953-1969, Royal Commission on the Civil Service, 1953-1958, Delhi Institute of Technology, 1957-1970; correspondence, reports and committee papers relating to the Institution of Electrical Engineers, 1950-1968; correspondence, 1950-1970, notably with professional institutions and associations, such as the Association of Supervising Engineers, 1960-1968, Educational establishments, notably the University of London, 1953-1970, Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, 1951-1970, Sir Eric Ashby, 1959-1966, Bertram Vivian Bowden, 1958-1968, Patrick Maynard Stuart Blackett, 1957-1969, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), 1961-1969, Sir John Douglas Cockcroft, 1953-1964, Dennis Gabor, 1951-1969, Sir Harold Hartley, 1961-1968, Eric Balliol Moullin, 1953-1958, Kathleen Mary Ollerenshaw, 1958-1964, John Arthur Saxton, 1960-1967, Joseph Sidney Weiner, 1967-1968.

autobiographical scrapbooks, 1916-1970, from Lady Jackson, comprising 91 loose-leaf binders compiled from 1952, containing heterogeneous papers, including photographs, biographical material such as letters of appointment, comments and narratives, manuscript and published texts of lectures and speeches, press cuttings, social correspondence, travel schedules and reports on visits.

Records of J J Lane Limited, engineers, 1873-1957, including letter books, printed catalogues and brochures illustrating the company's products, Sales particulars for disposal of plant, machinery, stores and equipment on winding-up of company and article from journal "Laundry Record and Journal" giving brief history of company.

Papers of the Parkes family, 1634-1865. The main part of the collection consists of letters to Joseph Parkes. In addition, there are a few letters to his elder brother Josiah, to their father John, and to other members of the family. There are also a few miscellaneous papers. The Parkes family deeds are also part of the collection, consisting of family deeds, subsidiary title deeds, grants of mineral rights, deeds held as Trustees, and miscellaneous. The deeds are dated 1634-1800 and the correspondence is dated 1801-1865.

Records of the Kent Waterworks Company relating to water supply and distribution, including engineer's reports; water supply agreements; records of supplies laid on and cut off; meter books and water rent books.

Records of the Lambeth Waterworks Company relating to water supply and distribution, including engineer's report books; Inspector's report books; water supply applications and agreements; supply registers; water meters; constant supply registers; registers of fires; water rent registers; engine time books and statistics; house surveys and works in progress.

Letters received by Henry Lee, naturalist, 1866-1887.

Board minutes relating to production of the trade magazine Lightning.

Proposals prepared by the County Engineer and County Architect, Middlesex County Council, including:

proposed extensions to Willesden Polytechnic, 1902

estimate for a new bridge across the River Colne near the Upper Mill, Stanwell Moor, 1904

alterations to Town Hall, Feltham, 1905

estimate for Magistrates' Court House, Uxbridge, 1906

specification for reconstruction of Colham Bridge over the Grand Junction Canal at Yiewsley, 1906.

Minute book of the Mining and Metallurgical Club, 1910-1916, with a note dated 2010.

Two notebooks of Paul Minton, relating to his studies at the City and Guilds College, 1949-1951, labelled "Heat Lab", 1949-1950, and "Strength of Materials", 1949.

Records of the New River Company which were separated from the main collection and used for exhibitions, including minutes; papers of the Surveyor; papers of the Engineer; negotiations for the supply of water; property papers; correspondence; reports; royal charters; agreements; legal papers; newspaper cuttings; papers relating to shares; contracts and specifications of works; and papers relating to staff.

Correspondence files of the New River Company, including Secretary's letter books; letter books of staff members including engineers, supervisors and surveyors; general letter books and estate letter books.

Records of the New River Company relating to water supply and distribution, including pipe order books; papers relating to works carried out; Engineer's papers; materials and fittings; papers relating to water supply; standpipe books; papers relating to Collectors; water rent account books and water rent rates; river and water gauges; pipe order books; river and water gauges; statistical returns and reports.

Papers of Professor Alfred John Sutton Pippard, 1909-1970, comprising biographical papers, 1909-1969, including an unpublished autobiography written towards the end of his life, two scrapbooks covering his career, two scrapbooks relating to his Presidency of the Institution of Civil Engineers, 1958-1959;
papers relating to scientific work, 1918-1969, largely concerned with research on aircraft structures, including committee papers and reports prepared for the Aeronautical Research Council in the interwar years; papers relating to the Thames Pollution Committee including Pippard's own account of its work;
papers relating to lectures, articles and broadcasting, [1920-1969], covering a variety of topics, including aircraft and aviation, engineering structures, education and training of engineers; BBC radio broadcasts, notably scripts for two series of talks to schools,1920s; correspondence, 1956-1967.

Letters to his father, Maj Robert Poore, describing his work as a mining engineer in the New Mashonaland Development Company Ltd, Rhodesia, 1900-1901.

Notebooks and papers of Benjamin Robins, consisting of a miscellaneous notebook primarily on gunnery and fortification (MS 39), a commonplace book (MS 46), a box of miscellaneous papers (MS 130) and a letter to Martin Folkes enclosing a written message from the Chevalier Ossorio, Envoy from the King of Sardinia, on the proper charge of cannon (MS 139).

Records of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, 1849-2002, comprising minutes of the Commission, 1850-1993; minutes of the Board of Management, 1872-2002; minutes of Science Scholarships Committee, 1890-2002; reports of the Commissioners to Parliament, 1850s-1960; annual reports of the Board of Management and committees, 1880s-2002;

correspondence, 1850-1855, relating to the Exhibition, including transport and reception of exhibits, site for the building, organisation of activities and visits for overseas visitors, medal design, music for the opening ceremony, appointment of jurors, negotiations with the contractors Fox & Henderson, award of gratuities, removal of the Crystal Palace to Sydenham, use and disposal of the surplus funds, purchase of the South Kensington Estate;

correspondence concerning the South Kensington estate, 1851-2002, including the establishment, building and subsequent development of institutions such as the Royal Albert Hall, Royal College of Music, Royal College of Art, Science Museum, Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Royal College of Organists, Imperial Institute (later Commonwealth Institute), Queen Alexandra's House, Royal Horticultural Society and Imperial College; correspondence concerning private properties on the estate, such as Queen's Gate; correspondence with the Royal Geographical Society, 1913-2001;

files relating to science research scholars, research fellows, overseas scholars, industrial fellows, industrial bursars, industrial design students and naval architecture scholars, including some research papers, 1891-2002;

maps, plans, drawings, photographs, including ground plans of the Exhibition, 1851; architectural drawings of the proposed estate, 1850s;

Windsor Archive concerning the 1851 exhibition, 1849-1886.

Pocket book entitled "Tables and Memoranda for Engineers", published by M T Shaw and Company Ltd, containing useful information for engineers such as mathematical formulae, calculations, the strengths of various materials, the width of types of pipe, the hardness of different soils, the areas of circles and so on.

Articles of partnership in the company of Simpson and Thompson, engine makers, 1825.

The working drawings of John Smeaton, civil engineer. They illustrate his researches on waterwheels and applied mechanics, and the relative efficiency of overshot as opposed to undershot wheels. With supplementary engravings and manuscript notes.

Records of the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company relating to water supply and distribution, including Engineers' report books; Supervisors' report books; service pipe agreements; meter agreements; trade supplies report books; constant supply orders; building supplies registers; meter supplies records; fire report books; engine and coal accounts; calculations and statistics; works diaries; mains supply map books and registers of complaints.

Records of the Staines Reservoir Joint Committee, comprising progress reports from the Engineer.

Letter from John Taylor of London to Richard Taylor, Esq [probably the writer's son or brother], 5 Jul 1837. 'The bearers Messrs. [Gabriel] Daubrée and Sentis have studied at the Ecole des Mines at Paris and are strongly recommended by Messrs. [François] Arago and Combes. I have furnished them with introductions to some of our agents, but if you will give them further advice and assistance in Cornwall I shall be obliged to you.'

Autograph, with signature.

Papers of Professor William Cawthorne Unwin, 1856-1952, comprising correspondence, principally concerning engineering matters, 1856-1931, 1950,1952, notably with Edward Dean Adams, including the Niagra Falls Scheme, 1890-1929, Sir Benjamin Baker, including the Forth Bridge, dam schemes, 1882-1898, Sir William Fairbairn, including experiments, appointments, 1856-1874, Thomas Hardy, concerning astronomy, 1881, Imperial College, 1910-1926 (as representative of the Institution of Civil Engineers);
research papers, 1859-1924, notably Fay and Newall brakes, 1859, observations on the Thames, 1882-1883, Nile Project Committee, 1919, dam schemes, 1899-1905;
speeches and addresses to various institutions, including presidential addresses to the Institution of Civil Engineers, 1912, and Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 1916; engineering drawings, 1875-1906, of apparatus, machinery, sections of the Thames, Telok Ayer key wall, Singapore; two portraits of Unwin, undated;
additional material, comprising papers relating to Windsor Water Works arbitration, 1884; reports on compression gauges, 1886-1887; Birmingham dams, 1895; notes on dam theory, 1905; papers relating to Stockport water supply and Kinder Dam, 1905; notes relating to schemes for Niagra and central London.

Deed of partnership between Cuthbert Coates Smith and Bernard Edgar Aylwin to trade for five years as engineers as The Vaal Motor and Launch Company, 9th January 1902.

Typescript copy, 1991, by Elizabeth Mardel of journal (1891) of William Walmsley, chronicling his journey to Zanzibar, everyday events, his impressions of customs and life in Zanzibar, including slavery, and his illness. The diary stops a few days before Walmsley's death.

Plans made by the Engineer's Department, West Ham Borough Council, 1894-1966. The collection includes building plans, site plans, proposals for projects and Ordnance Survey maps. The maps have been amended by the engineers to show proposals or extent of works. The proposals include swimming pools, recreation grounds, public baths, sewers, new roads and unemployment relief works. There is a large amount of material relating to Whipps Cross Hospital, including contract plans. A detailed index of the plans can be found in hard copy at the LMA Information Area.

Records of the West Middlesex Waterworks Company relating to water supply and distribution, including Engineer's reports; Engineer's diaries for technical matters and workmen's time; Inspectors' technical diaries; revenue survey volumes; water supply and distribution volumes and files.