Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- Created 1876-1996 (ongoing) (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
16 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Department of Geology has its origins in the Museum of Economic Geology, a collection of minerals, maps and mining equipment made by Sir Henry De la Beche, and opened in 1841. The Museum also provided some student places for the study of mineralogy and metallurgy. Sir Henry was the director of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, and when the collections outgrew the premises the Museum and the Survey were placed on an official footing, with Government assistance. The Museum of Practical Geology and the Government School of Mines Applied to the Arts, with its Geology Department, opened in a purpose designed building in Jermyn Street in 1851. The officers of the Geological Survey became the lecturers and professors of the School of Mines (renamed the Royal School of Mines in 1863). Sir Andrew Ramsay was appointed to the first Chair of Geology in 1851 and retired in 1876. The department moved to South Kensington in 1877, and was transferred from the Royal College of Science to the Royal School of Mines in 1966.
The Technology of Oil (later Oil Technology) programme was established in 1913, with Applied Geophysics being introduced in the 1930s. Previously, the Departments of Physics, Mathematics, Meteorology and Chemistry had contributed towards research in Geophysics. Geochemistry studies were first undertaken in the Department in 1948, leading to the establishment of the Geochemical Prospecting Research Centre in 1954 (by 1965 the Applied Geochemistry Research Group). In the early 1970s Oil Technology was divided into Petroleum Geology and Petroleum Engineering, with the latter being incorporated into the Mineral Resources Engineering Department of the Royal School of Mines.
In 1998 the T H Huxley School of Environment, Earth Sciences and Engineering was formed from the Department of Geology, Earth Resources Engineering, the Centre for Environmental Technology and the Environment Office.
The Murchison Museum was disbanded in 1990.
Archival history
Created and accumulated by the Royal School of Mines and Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine during the course of business.
GB 0098 KG Created 1876-1996 (ongoing) Series of Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine records 16 boxes Royal School of Mines
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
The Department of Geology has its origins in the Museum of Economic Geology, a collection of minerals, maps and mining equipment made by Sir Henry De la Beche, and opened in 1841. The Museum also provided some student places for the study of mineralogy and metallurgy. Sir Henry was the director of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, and when the collections outgrew the premises the Museum and the Survey were placed on an official footing, with Government assistance. The Museum of Practical Geology and the Government School of Mines Applied to the Arts, with its Geology Department, opened in a purpose designed building in Jermyn Street in 1851. The officers of the Geological Survey became the lecturers and professors of the School of Mines (renamed the Royal School of Mines in 1863). Sir Andrew Ramsay was appointed to the first Chair of Geology in 1851 and retired in 1876. The department moved to South Kensington in 1877, and was transferred from the Royal College of Science to the Royal School of Mines in 1966.
The Technology of Oil (later Oil Technology) programme was established in 1913, with Applied Geophysics being introduced in the 1930s. Previously, the Departments of Physics, Mathematics, Meteorology and Chemistry had contributed towards research in Geophysics. Geochemistry studies were first undertaken in the Department in 1948, leading to the establishment of the Geochemical Prospecting Research Centre in 1954 (by 1965 the Applied Geochemistry Research Group). In the early 1970s Oil Technology was divided into Petroleum Geology and Petroleum Engineering, with the latter being incorporated into the Mineral Resources Engineering Department of the Royal School of Mines.
In 1998 the T H Huxley School of Environment, Earth Sciences and Engineering was formed from the Department of Geology, Earth Resources Engineering, the Centre for Environmental Technology and the Environment Office.
The Murchison Museum was disbanded in 1990.
Created and accumulated by the Royal School of Mines and Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine during the course of business.
Records of the Department of Geology of Imperial College, 1876-1996, including histories and notes on the department, [1851]-1996; papers relating to courses, 1878-1949, comprising notes, 1896-1942, including laboratory work, 1878-1883; courses for teachers, 1895-1908; lectures and addresses by Professor Herbert Harold Read, 1942-1949; Rectors' correspondence, 1955-1981, concerning grants, headship, transfer of the department, courses; newletters, 1969-1995; research report, 1988; papers of Professors' and Heads of Sections' Meetings, 1969-1988; papers of historical interest accumulated by the department, 1876-1964, including Professorial correspondence, 1876-1916; departmental reports, 1907-1930; financial papers, 1906-1936; war work, 1914-1919; papers of Professor Percy George Hamnall Boswell, 1932-1960; Professor Charles Gilbert Cullis, 1923-1937; Professor Herbert Harold Read, 1944-1964 (KG);
papers relating to Geochemistry, concerning the opening of new laboratories, 1956; Wolfson Foundation grant, 1978 (KGC); items from the Murchison Museum, [1773-1825] (KGM); papers relating to Geophysics, including correspondence with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Royal Society concerning the foundation of a postgraduate school, 1929-1943; leaflet, 1956 (KGP3); papers relating to Oil Technology (KGO).
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.
Records of the Royal School of Mines and Royal College of Science (D), Royal College of Science (E), papers of Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay (KGA RAMSAY), Professor John Wesley Judd (KGA JUDD), George Slater (KGA SLATER), records of the Department of Materials (KMET), records relating to the University of London (UL), held at Imperial College.
Papers of Percy George Hamnall Boswell, comprising correspondence, papers and autobiography, 1912-1960, held at Liverpool University, Department of Special Collections and Archives (reference: D4); correspondence with John Linton Myres, 1931-1948, held at the Bodleian Library, Special Collections and Western Manuscripts (reference: MSS Myers).
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 Academic buildings Boswell , Percy George Hamnall , 1886-1960 , geologist Cullis , Charles Gilbert , 1871-1941 , geologist Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Economics of science Educational buildings Educational courses Educational personnel training Geochemistry Geology Geophysics Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine , Department of Geology Industry International conflicts Murchison Museum Petroleum industry Power industry Read , Herbert Harold , 1889-1970 , geologist Research grants Royal Society Science finance Teacher education University courses University laboratories War World War One (1914-1918) World wars (events) Wars (events)
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Department of Geology of Imperial College, 1876-1996, including histories and notes on the department, [1851]-1996; papers relating to courses, 1878-1949, comprising notes, 1896-1942, including laboratory work, 1878-1883; courses for teachers, 1895-1908; lectures and addresses by Professor Herbert Harold Read, 1942-1949; Rectors' correspondence, 1955-1981, concerning grants, headship, transfer of the department, courses; newletters, 1969-1995; research report, 1988; papers of Professors' and Heads of Sections' Meetings, 1969-1988; papers of historical interest accumulated by the department, 1876-1964, including Professorial correspondence, 1876-1916; departmental reports, 1907-1930; financial papers, 1906-1936; war work, 1914-1919; papers of Professor Percy George Hamnall Boswell, 1932-1960; Professor Charles Gilbert Cullis, 1923-1937; Professor Herbert Harold Read, 1944-1964 (KG);
papers relating to Geochemistry, concerning the opening of new laboratories, 1956; Wolfson Foundation grant, 1978 (KGC); items from the Murchison Museum, [1773-1825] (KGM); papers relating to Geophysics, including correspondence with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Royal Society concerning the foundation of a postgraduate school, 1929-1943; leaflet, 1956 (KGP3); papers relating to Oil Technology (KGO).
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
Records of the Royal School of Mines and Royal College of Science (D), Royal College of Science (E), papers of Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay (KGA RAMSAY), Professor John Wesley Judd (KGA JUDD), George Slater (KGA SLATER), records of the Department of Materials (KMET), records relating to the University of London (UL), 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
Papers of Percy George Hamnall Boswell, comprising correspondence, papers and autobiography, 1912-1960, held at Liverpool University, Department of Special Collections and Archives (reference: D4); correspondence with John Linton Myres, 1931-1948, held at the Bodleian Library, Special Collections and Western Manuscripts (reference: MSS Myers).
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Educational buildings » Academic buildings
- Economics of science
- Educational buildings
- Educational courses
- Educational personnel training
- Geophysics » Geochemistry
- Geology
- Geophysics
- Industry
- International conflicts
- Industry » Power industry » Petroleum industry
- Industry » Power industry
- Economics of science » Science finance » Research grants
- Economics of science » Science finance
- Educational personnel training » Teacher education
- Educational courses » University courses
- Educational buildings » Academic buildings » University laboratories
- International conflicts » War
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
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