Papers of Professor James Dwyer McGee, 1937-1979, comprising biographical information; lectures and correspondence, 1954-1979, notably with Patrick Maynard Stuart Blackett, 1955-1972, concerning Imperial College Physics Department and Anglo-Australian Observatory; Bertram Vivian Bowden, 1955-1963, concerning research work and workers; Carnegie Institute of Washington, 1960-1977, concerning McGee's Associateship, research grant; Denis Gabor, 1956-1972; Merle Walker, concerning the installation of a Spectracon, 1962-1979; Imperial College Rectors, 1955-1971; papers relating to Imperial College Physics Department, 1954-1972; papers relating to the Institute of Electrical Engineers, 1954-1968; Institute of Physics, 1965-1976; observatories in Britain and abroad, 1962-1975, including the Royal Greenwich Observatory; Royal Society, 1956-1972, notably concerning grants.

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.

Papers of Lord Penney, 1967-1991, comprising Royal Society memoirs, [1967-1968], including for John Douglas Cockcroft, (W Penney joint author) and transactions, 1970; addresses, lectures and some related correspondence, 1967-1973, delivered at various institutions and events, including memorial lectures, openings of buildings, dinners, services; correspondence with Sir Harold Hartley, [1968], retirement arrangements, 1972-1973; obituaries, 1991.

Presentation volume given to Professor James Charles Philip on his retirement from Imperial College, 1938, containing signatures of colleagues and pupils; illuminated address given to Professor Philip after twenty one years' service at Imperial College, 1921, containing signatures of colleagues and pupils, and a record of Professor Philip's work at the University of Göttingen, 1896-1897.

Papers of Professor Alfred John Sutton Pippard, 1909-1970, comprising biographical papers, 1909-1969, including an unpublished autobiography written towards the end of his life, two scrapbooks covering his career, two scrapbooks relating to his Presidency of the Institution of Civil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.

Letter from John Burn of Orton, [Westmorland] to Thomas Cadell [the elder] Esq, 'bookseller, Strand, London', 26 Mar 1792. 'I have by the coach this day sent you Barry's Justice [i.e. E Barry Present practice of a justice of the peace (1790)] & in the margin have marked the vs & pages in our Justice [i.e. R Burn The justice of the peace and parish officer (1755 and many susbequent editions)] from which he has copied. I may safely say there is not one hundred pages, put the whole together of his 4 volumes, which is not copied from my father...'.

Autograph, with signature. Franked: 'Appleby'[-in-Westmorland].

3 letters from John Thomas Graves of 29 Grosvenor Place, Cheltenham to Augustus De Morgan, 28 Jan, 4 Feb and 4 Jun 1853. Relating to the works of Simon Stevin and other mathematical literature.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Thomas Hay Sweet Escott of 33 Sackville Road, Hove, Brighton, [Sussex] to John Collins Francis, 1 Apr 1916. Mentioning several writers for the Standard: 'During all my Standard time Alfred Austin the Poet Laureate was one of the chief writers. After my time I believe that Sidney Low, formerly under [Frederick] Greenwood of the Pall Mall, a certain [Samuel Henry] Jeyes and a certain Richardson Evans were considered important writers ...'.

Autograph, with signature.

(i) Letters to Sir Graham Eden Hamond and Lady Hamond, 1850-1865. Mainly concerning references and testimonials for domestic servants, either formerly employed in or potentially to be engaged by the Hamond household. Including 1 receipt for £6 wages and a letter mentioning the 1852 general election.

(ii) Letter from Charles Scovell of Bembridge, Isle of Wight, to Mr Escount, 16 Feb 1865. Relating to the business affairs of Sir Andrew Hamond [Sir Graham Hamond's son and successor as baronet].

Letter from Thomas Dares to Mr Darmer, 7 May [1670]. Discussing employing a servant: 'Syr being destitute at this time of a servant your man made meanes yt I would intertaine him, wch (if it shall neither unfurnishe you and that upon your commendation I may have him [?...], I shall be willing therunto ... therfore unlesse it be yt he were to goe from you and you not to be unprovided youre slefe, and likewise yt by your paritcular letter ... I may asssure my slefe of an orderly servant free from excesse of drinking and disorder, I shall be unwilling to intertaine him, besides I am in want of one presently by reason yt I knew not of ye so soudaine departure of my owne man ...'.

Autograph, with signature. The hand suggests that a date of c1670 is plausible.

Letter from N Geary of Fareham, [Hampshire] to Mr Gunner, Waltham, Hampshire, 14 Jan 1815. Asking Gunner to remind the magistrates of the Droxford Bench that they were to inspect the public roads over the Forest of Bere, which Geary had made 'remarkably good'; but since 'the whole of the public money is expended, and the roads are getting bad', he asks the magistrates either to discharge him, or give 'assistance and support without which it will be impossible for me to proceed without much injury to the parishes, and disgrace to myself ...'.

Autograph, with signature. Some pencilled queries in another hand appear on the dorse, e.g. 'Does it lega[ll]y come before us?'

3 letters from Mrs Bentham of Ryde, [Isle of Wight], 3 letters to Richard Wilson, Esq, of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, 1816-1818. Enquiring about payments of money to her as she has very little, and her rheumatism is the cause of heavy expenditure on doctors' bills; the doctor had charged 10s 6d a visit and had advised her to move to Bath rather than risk another winter on the Isle of Wight. She had received a quarterly payment of £25 from a Charles Bacon, withdrawn for the year 1817-1818. Enquiring about payment from Mr Bentham [?her husband], to be arranged through Sir James Graham, and about money owing to her from 3 shilling stock, for which she has apparently waited 10 years. Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Dorothea Watson of Middleton Tyas, Yorkshire to an unknown female recipient, 24 Sep 1688. Has heard from Mrs Watson of Danby Wiske, [North Riding of Yorkshire], that a servant (a niece of Mrs Watson) was leaving the recipient's service at Martinmas (11 November); asks her 'to answer the queries on the [o]ther side ... and were Master and Mistresses to [be] upon honor, in their character of servants, there woud [so] on be an end of all complaints of bad ones'. Autograph, with signature. Some traces of the questions from the dorse are visible in reverse on the face of the letter.

Letter from Richard Smith of 'Bordeaux River', [France] to Seth Barton, merchant, Baltimore, [USA], 1794. Giving the terms of a charter party between James Swan and Co and Thomas Harris, on the London Packet (c 260 tons), which was to take on a cargo of wines and brandy at Bordeaux, to carry to Baltimore; discussing expenses and asks Barton to take out £400 insurance for him.

Autograph, with signature.

(1) Letter from William Manning of 14 New Street, Spring Gardens, [Westminster] to Thomas Tyrell, Esq, 29 Nov 1800. Concerning proposals for the regulation of a new coal market. Asking whether Tyrell sees any difficulty in it being managed by the Lord Mayor of London and whether the Corporation interferes with any market in the City. The building in Mark Lane is open to all on market days, but the Coal Exchange is open to subscribers only; the first buyers do not exceed about one hundred.

(2) Letter from William Manning of Totteridge, Hertfordshire to Thomas Tyrell, Esq, 4 Apr 1801. Discussing the fees to be incurred in passing the Coal Bill through the two Houses of Parliament [ordered Mar 1801; order for second reading discharged 12 May 1801], and the means of paying them. Asks Tyrell to show the letter to Mr Stracey, 19 Fludyer Street, and to confer with him about it.

Both letters are autograph, with signatures, and headed 'private'.

Letter from William Ward Jackson of Normanby, [North Riding of Yorkshire] to George Brigham, near Hutton, Rudby, [North Riding of Yorkshire], 20 Mar 1822. Describing how a servant of Jackson's had been killed 'by an accident from a horse' that day and an early inquest is desired. Asks Brigham to tell the bearer of the letter what time he will arrive.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from James Jardine of Hanover Street, [Edinburgh] to Robert Stephenson, Esq, civil engineer of Baxter Place, [Edinburgh], 25 Jun 1825. Replying to a note from Stephenson, agreeing to meet at 10 o'clock on Monday at Stockbridge on Lord Moray's ground; reminding Stephenson to give notices to the agents, and have the plan with the levels marked, ready to be inspected on the spot.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Sir Charles Cockerill of Sezincote, Gloucestershire to [Messrs Thwaites and Reed, clockmakers], 28 Jan [1800-1850]. In reply to their letter of 27 Jan, Cockerell 'will send to the clock maker at Stow[-on-the-Wold] to examine the clock with his own clerk of the works and to oil them, as suggested. The result of which shall be communicated to T. and R.'

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Lady Quentin of Kew, [Surrey] to Mr Emanuel, [jeweller] of Bevis Marks, St Mary Axe, London, 27 Apr 1833. Stating that the payment of his account will have to be further postponed, as she has been disappointed in her expectations of receiving a large sum of money. Encloses a draft for £20 [missing] and requests a receipt.

Autograph, unsigned.

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.

Letter from Walter Francis Montagu-Douglas-Scott to Messrs Chubb, 25 May 1857. Asking the firm to make 6 locks for miniature frames, exactly similar to those they made for him previously, and to send them to Mr Scott of Messrs Colnaghi.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Sir Thomas Bazley of Eyford Park, Stow-on-the-Wold, [Gloucestershire] to C Manley, Esq, 13 May 1871. Thanking him for a 'further communication'. Bazley has come to Eyford Park for a few days to be among some workmen who are 'defining' his water stream. Hopes to meet Mr Buckland when he returns to town. Autograph, with signature. Headed with a crest and the motto 'Finem respice'.

Letter from Thoomas Algernon Dorien-Smith of Tresco Abbey, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall to James Hooper, 28 Dec [1883-1884]. Intending to send flowers by the next mail. Discussing the demerits of the parcel post for the flower trade's deliveries. The islands are suitable for growing flowers, espcially narcissi, but strong winds prevent fruit-growing.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from A Offley, c 1790. No address. To Mrs Walker. Supplies a character reference for a servant, Mrs Stent, who had among her recommendations that she 'stayd with ye dificall lady Manchester [Elizabeth Montagu, Duchess of Manchester] longer than most of her sarvents do but as to her [Mrs Stent's] temper it is warm and pashonat and she cant allways commande it ...'.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Peter Stephen DuPonceau of Phildelphia, [Pennsylvania] to J Vaughan, Esq, 19 Nov 1831. Asking him 'to send the enclosed [a copy of An Historical Review of the ... Silk Culture, Manufacture and Trade, etc (1831)] to your excellent nephew'.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from John Wood to Richard Oastler via the Post Office, Leeds, Yorkshire [redirected from Foxley Hall, Huddersfield], Nov 1830. 'I send you this as proof of the general disposition to meet the question. The signatures annexed include almost every Bradford Spinner ...'.

Autograph, with signature. Written on the dorse of a poster advertising a meeting of Bradford worsted spinners on 22 Nov 1830, with the aim of improving working conditions; the poster is folded in half, with the direction and postmarks on one leaf and the content of the letter on the other.

Letter from Wililam Wallace to Rev George Peacock, Dean of Ely, [1833]. Describing Wallace's part in the introduction of foreign mathematical notation to England and 'the Reformation .... the the Mathematical science in Britain'.

Autograph, with signature. Headed 'First Copy'. Inscribed in another hand: 'Found among Mr Thomas Galloway's papers'.

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.

Letter from Matthew Collins of 40 Upper Pitt Street, Liverpool to Augustus De Morgan, 8 Apr 1853. Covering note, enclosing a pamphlet, On Clairaut's theorem ... (1853).

Autograph, with signature. A note in De Morgan's hand states that the content of the pamphlet, published in the Cambridge and Dublin Mathematical Journal, new series vol IX (1854), were plagiarized from a lecture given by Mr James MacCullagh in 1846.

Letter from Joseph Gouge Greenwood of Owens College, Manchester to Augustus De Morgan, 1 Aug 1860. Thanking him for recommending Robert Bellamy Clifton for the professorship of Natural Philosophy at Owens College. '... I look forward to the gain of a very agreable [sic], as well as a very efficient Colleague in him.'

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Leonard Horner of University Chambers to Augustus De Morgan, 25 Feb 1828. Enclosing a letter appointing a Professor of Mathematics in the University of London.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from John Stuart Mill of India House, [London] to an unidentified publisher, 30 Mar 1844. Referring to the publication of Essays on some Unsettled Questions of Political Economy.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Jean Joseph Louis Blanc of London, 10 Apr 1864. Asking for advice on behalf of a workman named Chatelier, who 'desire proposer dans un meeting d'ouvriers â un plan d'association destine, croit-il, a ameliorer la condition de la classe ouvriere.' Autograph, with signature.

Manuscript volume containing 'An essay on the causes and cure of a redundant agricultural population', written in Glasgow, 1832-1833. Inscribed by Herbert Somerton Foxwell as written 'By a boy under 16 years of age'.

Manuscript letter, dated 22 February, 1643, containing an Order of the Committee of Revenue to Thomas Fauconbridge, Receiver of Crown Revenues, to pay 'the poore Pewterers or Hammer men' of London the sum of £100, due to them by virtue of an Act of Parliament. The letter is signed by members of the Committee for Revenue, including Sir Henry Vane, Sir Henry Mildmay, Francis Rous, William Ashhurst, Thomas Hoyle and Dennis Bond. With a receipt dated 27 February 1643, bearing 56 signatures or marks and the signature of Robert Leeson, Warden of the Worshipful Company of Pewteres.

Manuscript volume of accounts lettered 'Farm Work 1816' giving daily rates paid to labourers, boys and women from 5 Jan to 27 Dec 1816 on a farm probably near Stockbridge, Hampshire, and followed by a weekly 'abstract of farm work for the year 1816'. The volume is signed by Thomas Beazly and inscribed 'This account balanced in the book of 'Stock bought & sold', on page 62.

'An Establishment of the Officers of his Majesties Customes in London and Outportes w[i]th such Salaries [as] they Receive Quarterly. Anno 1675', including:

1. 'Port of London. The names of the Severall Officers...', notably Patent Officers, watchmen, Coast Waiters, Weighing Porters, Surveyors, Landwaiters, Tidesmen, Landcarriagemen, Noontenders, and Watermen - in the margin of f.3 is written 'Midsomer 1675'.
2. A list of the establishment of the officers in the outports, with the names of the officers. There are no separate headings for different occupations, but the names are given with the occupation following, e.g. Pad stow (f.19), 'Gilbert Marshall collect[er] & waiter... Tho[mas] Castell wait[er] & searcher att ye Gunnell...' The totals of the salaries for each town are listed on f.29. (46 ports are listed, 47 including London.)
3. 'The names of Patent Officers in the Port of London', with their yearly salaries.
4. 'The names of the Patent Officers in the Outportes', with their yearly salaries.
   The total for the yearly salaries of all the officers for London and the out ports is given as £49,908.12s.2d. Separate totals are given at the foot of each page, and at the end of each section.

Extract from records of proceedings before the Commissioners 'for hearing and determining appeals against the duties on male servants' at the Golden Lion Inn at Cheriton Bishop, Devon, on 3 Feb 1807, giving reasons for allowing an appeal against a surcharge on a domestic servant made by the Rev. Bryan Roberts, Rector of Drewsteignton. The appeal had been challenged by James Searle, surveyor, and the commissioners were Richard Holland, John Cann and Baldwin Huldford. The return made by Roberts in 1806 had included 1 four wheel carriage, 2 riding horses, 2 labour horses, 4 sporting dogs, 1 male servant, and 'one other occasionally employed in his garden'.

Working papers and correspondence of Sir Francis (Franz) Eugene Simon. Scientific notebooks in the collection date from 1919-1934, largely the period of Simon's researches on low temperature physics at the Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut of Berlin University, and subsequently at Breslau. Other notes and manuscripts for lectures and articles are post 1930, while a large group of correspondence files are from the years 1922-1956, providing a full account of Simon's dealings with many fellow scientists and scientific organisations. Individual letter files concern V.M. Goldsmidt, Max Born, Gwyn Owain Jones and Nevill Mott among many other notable figures. Details of Simon's involvement in atomic energy development are to be found in papers on uranium isotope separation (MAUD Committee notes) and UK Atomic Energy Authority correspondence. Simon's professional appointments as head of the Clarendon Laboratory and as science correspondent to the Financial Times are represented by substantial groups of letters. There are twelve notebooks with some associated papers; the series also includes files of lectures, articles, cuttings and souvenirs, including photographs, with files of correspondence. Two later additions to the collection consist of correspondence and files highlighting Simon's contacts with industrial firms, universities and international organisations.

The correspondence, papers and scientific notebooks of Sir George Lindor Brown. The majority of notebooks relate to the investigations of Brown and his co-workers (notably Feldberg, Harvey and Maycock) at the National Institute for Medical Research, Hampstead, into neuromuscular transmission. The correspondence and remaining papers cover Brown's administrative work in the decades from the 1950's. His relationships with the Royal Society and the Medical Research Council are well represented. The papers include personal files, correspondence with institutions and individuals, working scientific notes and sets of slides.

Extensive papers of Howard Walter Florey, Baron Florey, relating to almost every aspect of his career in science and public life. The scientific materials include a complete run of laboratory notebooks, 1924-1968, files on the work for which Florey is best known, penicillin and antibiotics, 1940-1962, together with papers, research notes and photographs on mucus secretion, traumatic shock and electron microscopy. Florey's writings are preserved in the form of drafts and proofs of published items, together with relevant correspondence. His correspondence indicates the depth of his involvement in the affairs of particular organisations, notably the Oxford University School of Pathology and the Royal Society. The work of Ethel Florey (née Hayter) and Margaret Augusta Florey (née Fremantle) is also present.

The papers are not extensive and consist almost entirely of laboratory notebooks and working papers relating to his early work on molecular reactions and gas reactions, 1919-1938. There are also notes and reports of work on respirator design undertaken by Hinshelwood and his team for the Chemical Defence Board, Ministry of Supply, during the Second World War.

The correspondence of Sir John Frederick William Herschel, comprising three main groups of documents:
The first series comprises 19 volumes of manuscript letters sent to Herschel, with drafts of his replies (Ref: HS 1-19).

The second series comprises 16 volumes of copy letters from Herschel (Ref: HS 20-25). These are arranged in chronological order and are apparently constructed from Herschel's original letters brought together by a son, Col. John Herschel R.E., for a proposed biography and then returned to their original owners. The biography was never produced. There is some duplication between these versions of finished letters and the rough versions of the same in HS 1-19.
The third series comprises five boxes of unbound manuscript letters, copy books and listings (Ref: HS 25-28) in which there appears information on the copying project, and groups of original letters on particular topics, such as Herschel's involvement in W H F Talbot's photography patent disputes.

Working papers and correspondence of Sir John Henry Gaddum. The scientific material in the collection centres on a run of student and laboratory notebooks for 1922-1965, together with files of notes and calculations on biological assay and other topics. Further papers concentrate on Gaddum's teaching and publications in the form of lecture scripts, typescripts of articles and related correspondence. Material on his administrative work includes correspondence on conferences and organizations, with some Royal Society papers, but also Physiological Society letters, 1936-1941. Non-paper records such as slides and personal souvenirs are also preserved.

Some correspondence, papers, notebooks and publications of Sir James Hopwood Jeans. Early manuscripts in the series relate to Jean's education at Trinity College, Cambridge, in the form of early lecture notebooks, largely on mathematical topics. A collection of letters, 1901-1907, documents his treatment for tuberculosis at Ringwood Sanatorium, where he completed work on the theory of gases; correspondents included G H Hardy and Adam Sedgewick among others. Jean's engagements in popularizing science are represented by proofs and typescript of lectures and essays, especially those written for the BBC, 1934-1935, together with associated letters and press cuttings. The series contains collections of offprints, reprints, and extracts of published works by Jeans and others, notably from the Philosophical Transactions and the Philosophical Magazine.

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.

The correspondence of Sir John William Lubbock, providing information on a wide range of Lubbock's contemporaries, not exclusively in the field of science. The largest collections of scientific letters are from George Biddell Airy (113 letters), John George Children (128 letters), Joshua Alwyn Compton, 2nd Marquis of Northampton (98 letters), G P D de Pontecoulant (67 letters) and William Whewell (87 letters). There are smaller but no less important groups of letters from Charles Babbage, Francis Baily, Francis Beaufort, Charles Darwin, John Couch Adams, J F W Herschel, Baden Powell and W H F Talbot.

Mercantile Papers of Dr William Sherard, also known as Sherard Additional Letters.

A description of certain specimens of birds inhabiting the Hudson's Bay Company's Territories with remarks on the meteorology of the same place by Humphrey Martin, 1772.

Letters, papers and original drawings including the manuscripts of Marcello Malpighi's works published by the Royal Society.