Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- Created 1882-1985 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
25 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Department of Physics has its origins in the teaching of Mechanical Science at the Government School of Mines and Science (later the Royal School of Mines) which opened in 1851. In 1853 Applied Mechanics and Experimental Physics were taught at the School. After 1872 Physics, Chemistry and Natural History were transferred to South Kensington.
Astronomy was taught from 1882, with the first Professor of Astronomical Physics being appointed in 1887. In 1911 a Department and Committee for Technical Optics was established, which in 1918 separated from the Department of Physics. By 1926, the department had become a postgraduate section of the Department of Physics, and later became the Applied Optics Section.
Archival history
Created and accumulated by the Royal College of Science and Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine during the course of business.
GB 0098 KP Created 1882-1985 Series of Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine records 25 boxes Royal College of Science
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
The Department of Physics has its origins in the teaching of Mechanical Science at the Government School of Mines and Science (later the Royal School of Mines) which opened in 1851. In 1853 Applied Mechanics and Experimental Physics were taught at the School. After 1872 Physics, Chemistry and Natural History were transferred to South Kensington.
Astronomy was taught from 1882, with the first Professor of Astronomical Physics being appointed in 1887. In 1911 a Department and Committee for Technical Optics was established, which in 1918 separated from the Department of Physics. By 1926, the department had become a postgraduate section of the Department of Physics, and later became the Applied Optics Section.
Created and accumulated by the Royal College of Science and Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine during the course of business.
The papers of Sir William de Wiveshie Abney were loaned by the Vision Group, Biophysics.
Records of the Department of Physics of Imperial College, 1882-1985, including a departmental history from 1851-1960; papers relating to courses, 1885-1982, including course syllabus, 1885, 1903, 1928; laboratory experiment papers, 1982; research on uranium, 1940-1941; laboratory notes, 1895; papers relating to a departmental photograph, [1893]; lecture notes, 1892;
correspondence, including with the adminstration department, of Professor Hugh Longbourne Callendar, 1908-1929; Professor Robert John Strutt, 1908-1920; Professor Alfred Fowler, 1910-1924; Professor Frederic John Cheshire, 1917-1925; Professor Louis Claude Martin, 1917-1950; Professor Alexander Oliver Rankine, 1927-1937; relating to photography, 1945-1951; Rectors' correspondence, 1955-1980; purchase of equipment, 1965-1974; examination papers, 1933-1969; inventories of apparatus, 1947-1969; students' newspapers, 1985;
papers relating to Astronomical Physics, including reports of the Solar Physics Committee, 1882-1911; demonstrations and practical work, 1889-1931; Spectroscopic laboratory record, 1906-1936, equipment, 1912; examinations notebook, 1883-1921; Astronomical laboratory visitors' book, 1907-1914 (KPA);
correspondence of Professor Herbert Dingle, 1928-1944, principally relating to the acquistion of a spectrograph (KPAB); correspondence of Reginald William Blake Pearse, 1931-1950 (KPAC); papers written by Sir William de Wiveslie Abney (printed), 1874-1917 (KPC);
course booklet for Atmospheric Physics, [1977] (KPM); papers of the Applied Optics Section, including correspondence, 1912-1918; minutes and correspondence of the Technical Optics (later Applied Optics) Committee, 1918-1974; papers relating to events, including open day, 1961; Jubilee celebrations, 1968; 60th anniversary celebrations, 1978; general papers, 1943-1979 (KPT); inventory of apparatus, 1917-1960 (KPTA).
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 College of Science (E), Interdisciplinary Centres and Courses (KO), records relating to the University of London (UL), papers of Professor James Dwyer McGee, 1937-1979 (B/MCGEE), Professor Herbert Dingle, 1904-1978 (B/DINGLE) and Professor Alfred Fowler, 1903-1935 (KPAA FOWLER), held at Imperial College.
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 Abney , Sir , William , de Wiveleslie , 1843-1921 , Knight , photographic chemist Astronomy Astrophysics Callendar , Hugh Longbourne , 1863-1930 , physicist Cheshire , Frederic John , 1860-1939 , physicist Curriculum Dingle , Herbert , 1890-1978 , natural philosopher Educational courses Experiments Fowler , Alfred , 1868-1940 , astrophysicist Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine , Department of Physics Laboratory equipment Martin , Louis Claude , 1891-1981 , Professor of Technical Optics Optics Pearse , Reginald William Blake , b 1903 , physicist Photography Physics Rankine , Alexander Oliver , 1881-1956 , scientist and secretary of the Royal Institution of Great Britain Research work Scientific equipment Strutt , Robert John , 1875-1947 , 4th Baron Rayleigh , physicist x Rayleigh , 4th Baron University courses Equipment
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The papers of Sir William de Wiveshie Abney were loaned by the Vision Group, Biophysics.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Department of Physics of Imperial College, 1882-1985, including a departmental history from 1851-1960; papers relating to courses, 1885-1982, including course syllabus, 1885, 1903, 1928; laboratory experiment papers, 1982; research on uranium, 1940-1941; laboratory notes, 1895; papers relating to a departmental photograph, [1893]; lecture notes, 1892;
correspondence, including with the adminstration department, of Professor Hugh Longbourne Callendar, 1908-1929; Professor Robert John Strutt, 1908-1920; Professor Alfred Fowler, 1910-1924; Professor Frederic John Cheshire, 1917-1925; Professor Louis Claude Martin, 1917-1950; Professor Alexander Oliver Rankine, 1927-1937; relating to photography, 1945-1951; Rectors' correspondence, 1955-1980; purchase of equipment, 1965-1974; examination papers, 1933-1969; inventories of apparatus, 1947-1969; students' newspapers, 1985;
papers relating to Astronomical Physics, including reports of the Solar Physics Committee, 1882-1911; demonstrations and practical work, 1889-1931; Spectroscopic laboratory record, 1906-1936, equipment, 1912; examinations notebook, 1883-1921; Astronomical laboratory visitors' book, 1907-1914 (KPA);
correspondence of Professor Herbert Dingle, 1928-1944, principally relating to the acquistion of a spectrograph (KPAB); correspondence of Reginald William Blake Pearse, 1931-1950 (KPAC); papers written by Sir William de Wiveslie Abney (printed), 1874-1917 (KPC);
course booklet for Atmospheric Physics, [1977] (KPM); papers of the Applied Optics Section, including correspondence, 1912-1918; minutes and correspondence of the Technical Optics (later Applied Optics) Committee, 1918-1974; papers relating to events, including open day, 1961; Jubilee celebrations, 1968; 60th anniversary celebrations, 1978; general papers, 1943-1979 (KPT); inventory of apparatus, 1917-1960 (KPTA).
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 College of Science (E), Interdisciplinary Centres and Courses (KO), records relating to the University of London (UL), papers of Professor James Dwyer McGee, 1937-1979 (B/MCGEE), Professor Herbert Dingle, 1904-1978 (B/DINGLE) and Professor Alfred Fowler, 1903-1935 (KPAA FOWLER), 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
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
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