GB 0098 B/HUMPHREY - HUMPHREY, Herbert Alfred (1868-1951)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0098 B/HUMPHREY

Title

HUMPHREY, Herbert Alfred (1868-1951)

Date(s)

  • Created 1883-1945 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

7 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Born, Gospel Oak, London, 1868; educated at Finsbury Technical College, Mechanical Engineering Department, Central Institution (later City and Guilds College), 1885; Associateship of the City and Guilds Institute, 1887; Manager of the Engine and Electrical Department at the Newton Heath Iron Works, Heenan and Froude Ltd, 1888; Manager of the Birmingham branch of Heenan and Froude, 1889; Manager of the Refined Bicarbonate and Crystal Department, Messrs Brunner Mond and Company, Northwich, Cheshire, 1891; Fellow of the City and Guilds Institute, 1893; started practice as a consulting engineer, 1901; patented the 'Humphrey Pump', 1906; worked for the Admiralty, 1914; elected member of the Royal Institution, 1914; Technical Adviser, Department of Explosive Supplies, Ministry of Munitions, 1915; Technical Adviser and Chief Engineer, Munitions Inventions Department, Ministry of Munitions, 1917; Director and Consulting Engineer to Synthetic Ammonia and Nitrates Limited, 1919; Consulting Engineer to Imperial Chemical Industries, 1926-1931; Fellow of Imperial College, 1932; Melchett medal of the Institute of Fuel, 1939; died, South Africa, 1951.
Publications: Papers on large gas engines, gas producers and similar subjects.

Archival history

GB 0098 B/HUMPHREY Created 1883-1945 Collection (fonds) 7 boxes Humphrey , Herbert Alfred , 1868-1951 , engineer
Born, Gospel Oak, London, 1868; educated at Finsbury Technical College, Mechanical Engineering Department, Central Institution (later City and Guilds College), 1885; Associateship of the City and Guilds Institute, 1887; Manager of the Engine and Electrical Department at the Newton Heath Iron Works, Heenan and Froude Ltd, 1888; Manager of the Birmingham branch of Heenan and Froude, 1889; Manager of the Refined Bicarbonate and Crystal Department, Messrs Brunner Mond and Company, Northwich, Cheshire, 1891; Fellow of the City and Guilds Institute, 1893; started practice as a consulting engineer, 1901; patented the 'Humphrey Pump', 1906; worked for the Admiralty, 1914; elected member of the Royal Institution, 1914; Technical Adviser, Department of Explosive Supplies, Ministry of Munitions, 1915; Technical Adviser and Chief Engineer, Munitions Inventions Department, Ministry of Munitions, 1917; Director and Consulting Engineer to Synthetic Ammonia and Nitrates Limited, 1919; Consulting Engineer to Imperial Chemical Industries, 1926-1931; Fellow of Imperial College, 1932; Melchett medal of the Institute of Fuel, 1939; died, South Africa, 1951.
Publications: Papers on large gas engines, gas producers and similar subjects.

The papers were presented by Dr J Humphrey, the son of H A Humphrey, in 1970. Much of H A Humphrey's papers were destroyed in 1948. His notebooks made when a student were probably presented to the College in the 1930s.

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.

The papers were arranged in packets or folders, and an alphabetical system was used to list the papers 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 in the reading room of the College Archives.

Records relating to Finsbury Technical College (FA), City and Guilds College (FC-FS) and City and Guilds of London Institute (F), held at Imperial College.

Sources: Who Was Who (A & C Black, 1961, volume V); British Library On-Line Public Access Catalogue 97; National Register of Archives. 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. November 2000 Admiralty Brunner Mond and Company Central Institution of the City and Guilds Institute x City and Guilds College Chemical industry Egypt El Mex Engineering Engineers Finsbury Technical College Humphrey , Herbert Alfred , 1868-1951 , engineer Hydraulic equipment ICI , Imperial Chemical Industries x Imperial Chemical Industries Industry International conflicts Manufacturing industry Mechanical equipment Metropolitan Water Board Military engineering Military equipment Ministry of Munitions North Africa Pumps Scientific personnel Scientists War Warfare Weapons World War One (1914-1918) World wars (events) World War Two (1939-1945) Wars (events) Equipment Engineering personnel Personnel People by occupation People

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The papers were presented by Dr J Humphrey, the son of H A Humphrey, in 1970. Much of H A Humphrey's papers were destroyed in 1948. His notebooks made when a student were probably presented to the College in the 1930s.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

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.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The papers were arranged in packets or folders, and an alphabetical system was used to list the papers 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 relating to Finsbury Technical College (FA), City and Guilds College (FC-FS) and City and Guilds of London Institute (F), held at Imperial College.

Finding aids

A catalogue is available in the reading room of the College Archives.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

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