GB 0103 MS ADD 229 - Ramsay Letters

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0103 MS ADD 229

Title

Ramsay Letters

Date(s)

  • 1899-1914 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

22 letters

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

William Ramsay studied at Glasgow University from 1866 to 1869. In 1870 he went to Heidelberg intending to study under R W von Bunsen, but early in 1871 moved to Rudolf Fittig's laboratory in Tübingen, where he was awarded a PhD for research on Toluic and nitro-toluic acids. In 1872 Ramsay returned to Glasgow as an Assistant in Young's laboratory of technical chemistry. In 1880 he became Professor of Chemistry at University College Bristol and in the following year he was made Principal of the Unversity. He married Margaret Buchanan in 1881. In 1887 Ramsay succeeded Alexander William Williamson in the Chair of General Chemistry, University College London, which he held until his retirement in 1912. Ramsay discovered argon in 1894, helium in 1895 and krypton, neon and xenon (with Morris W Travers) in 1898. In 1900 he visited India to report on the proposed Indian University of Research. He worked with Dr Frederick Soddy on radium in 1903 and with Robert Whytlaw-Gray on radon in 1909-1912.

Archival history

GB 0103 MS ADD 229 1899-1914 Collection (fonds) 22 letters Ramsay , Sir , William , 1852-1916 , Knight , chemist

William Ramsay studied at Glasgow University from 1866 to 1869. In 1870 he went to Heidelberg intending to study under R W von Bunsen, but early in 1871 moved to Rudolf Fittig's laboratory in Tübingen, where he was awarded a PhD for research on Toluic and nitro-toluic acids. In 1872 Ramsay returned to Glasgow as an Assistant in Young's laboratory of technical chemistry. In 1880 he became Professor of Chemistry at University College Bristol and in the following year he was made Principal of the Unversity. He married Margaret Buchanan in 1881. In 1887 Ramsay succeeded Alexander William Williamson in the Chair of General Chemistry, University College London, which he held until his retirement in 1912. Ramsay discovered argon in 1894, helium in 1895 and krypton, neon and xenon (with Morris W Travers) in 1898. In 1900 he visited India to report on the proposed Indian University of Research. He worked with Dr Frederick Soddy on radium in 1903 and with Robert Whytlaw-Gray on radon in 1909-1912.

Purchased from the Bancroft Library in January 1973.

Photocopies of letters to Emil Fischer.

Open.

Normal copyright restrictions apply.
German

Collection level description.

Xeroxes of letters in the Fischer Papers in the Bancroft Library.

University College London Special Collections also holds papers of and relating to Sir William Ramsay, 1806-1961 (Ref: RAMSAY); 21 items of correspondence with Sir Oliver Lodge, 1885-1912 (Ref: MS ADD 89); letters concerning University College London business, 1887-1903, 1916 (Ref: COLLEGE CORRESPONDENCE); two letters to Lt F W Smith, 1915 (Ref: MS ADD 135); a letter to Silvanus Phillips Thompson, 1901, and one to Miss Williams, 1906 (Ref: MS MISC 4R); a letter to [Sir Henry?] Thompson asking for the loan of a quartz prism, 1899 (Ref: MS MISC 3R); a typescript song by Sir William [1928] (Ref: MS MISC 4C); a Swedish postage stamp, 1964, commemorating Ramsay and Pavlov as Nobel prizewinners in 1904 (Ref: COLLEGE EPHEMERA).

Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, holds eleven letters to Lord Kelvin, 1885-1893 (Ref: Add 7342, 7656); letters to Sir George Stokes, 1880-1899 (Ref: Add 7342, 7656); 14 items of correspondence with Lord Rutherford, 1905-1909. Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories holds 100 items of correspondence with Lord Rayleigh, 1887-1907. The Science Museum Library, London, holds correspondence with Oswald John Silberrad, 1895-1916 (Ref: MSS A.151; A.173; B.118-628; B.1099-2428 passim). Leeds University, Brotherton Library, holds 16 letters to Arthur Smithells, 1890-1914. Strathclyde University Archives hold reports on the waters of Bath, 1912 (Ref: OM223). Cornell University Libraries, Ithaca, New York, USA, hold 15 items of correspondence relating to the Journal of Physical Chemistry, 1906.

Source: National Register of Archives. 1999, revised Aug 2001 Chemistry Fischer , Emil Hermann , 1852-1919 , German chemist Ramsay , Sir , William , 1852-1916 , Knight , chemist

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Purchased from the Bancroft Library in January 1973.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Photocopies of letters to Emil Fischer.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open.

Conditions governing reproduction

Normal copyright restrictions apply.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

German

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

University College London Special Collections also holds papers of and relating to Sir William Ramsay, 1806-1961 (Ref: RAMSAY); 21 items of correspondence with Sir Oliver Lodge, 1885-1912 (Ref: MS ADD 89); letters concerning University College London business, 1887-1903, 1916 (Ref: COLLEGE CORRESPONDENCE); two letters to Lt F W Smith, 1915 (Ref: MS ADD 135); a letter to Silvanus Phillips Thompson, 1901, and one to Miss Williams, 1906 (Ref: MS MISC 4R); a letter to [Sir Henry?] Thompson asking for the loan of a quartz prism, 1899 (Ref: MS MISC 3R); a typescript song by Sir William [1928] (Ref: MS MISC 4C); a Swedish postage stamp, 1964, commemorating Ramsay and Pavlov as Nobel prizewinners in 1904 (Ref: COLLEGE EPHEMERA).

Finding aids

Collection level description.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, holds eleven letters to Lord Kelvin, 1885-1893 (Ref: Add 7342, 7656); letters to Sir George Stokes, 1880-1899 (Ref: Add 7342, 7656); 14 items of correspondence with Lord Rutherford, 1905-1909. Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories holds 100 items of correspondence with Lord Rayleigh, 1887-1907. The Science Museum Library, London, holds correspondence with Oswald John Silberrad, 1895-1916 (Ref: MSS A.151; A.173; B.118-628; B.1099-2428 passim). Leeds University, Brotherton Library, holds 16 letters to Arthur Smithells, 1890-1914. Strathclyde University Archives hold reports on the waters of Bath, 1912 (Ref: OM223). Cornell University Libraries, Ithaca, New York, USA, hold 15 items of correspondence relating to the Journal of Physical Chemistry, 1906.

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

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Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

University College London

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area