Collection GB 0064 YAT - Yates, James Alfred (1852-1941)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0064 YAT

Title

Yates, James Alfred (1852-1941)

Date(s)

  • [20th century] (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

2 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Yates entered the Royal School of Naval Architecture, South Kensington in 1871. His first appointment was as draughtsman and assistant foreman at HM Dockyard Portsmouth. In 1875 he was appointed supernumerary draughtsman at the Admiraly. Yates was then appointed foreman of Pembroke Dockyard 1878-1884. During this time, he was involved in the building of the turret battleship HMS EDINBURGH. In 1884 Yates became Principal Admiralty Overseer for the building of HMS BENBOW. On appointment to the rank of Constructor, Yates was appointed to Chatham Dockyard, where he remained until 1888, when he was transferred to Devonport Dockyard, being made Chief Constructor there in 1892. In 1892-93 he served as Admiralty Inspecting Officer, for the ships being fitted out for the "Special Service Squadron", under the Northbrook programme. In 1893 he was appointed Chief Constructor, Chatham Dockyard and then transferred to Portsmouth in 1895. During these years Yates launched 11 important vessels, including some built under the Fisher programme. In 1902 he was appointed Civil Assistant at Chatham and in 1906 he went to Glasgow as Senior Constructive Officer for the Clyde and Barrow districts. He retired in 1912, but was recalled to the Admiralty, 1916-1918, for special duties in connection with shipbuilding for World War One.

Archival history

GB 0064 YAT [20th century] Collection 2 boxes Yates , James Alfred , 1852-1941 , Naval Architect

Yates entered the Royal School of Naval Architecture, South Kensington in 1871. His first appointment was as draughtsman and assistant foreman at HM Dockyard Portsmouth. In 1875 he was appointed supernumerary draughtsman at the Admiraly. Yates was then appointed foreman of Pembroke Dockyard 1878-1884. During this time, he was involved in the building of the turret battleship HMS EDINBURGH. In 1884 Yates became Principal Admiralty Overseer for the building of HMS BENBOW. On appointment to the rank of Constructor, Yates was appointed to Chatham Dockyard, where he remained until 1888, when he was transferred to Devonport Dockyard, being made Chief Constructor there in 1892. In 1892-93 he served as Admiralty Inspecting Officer, for the ships being fitted out for the "Special Service Squadron", under the Northbrook programme. In 1893 he was appointed Chief Constructor, Chatham Dockyard and then transferred to Portsmouth in 1895. During these years Yates launched 11 important vessels, including some built under the Fisher programme. In 1902 he was appointed Civil Assistant at Chatham and in 1906 he went to Glasgow as Senior Constructive Officer for the Clyde and Barrow districts. He retired in 1912, but was recalled to the Admiralty, 1916-1918, for special duties in connection with shipbuilding for World War One.

The papers were bequeathed to the Museum by Miss Ruby Yates and Dame Frances Yates, James Yates' daughters.

Papers of James Alfred Yates. A large part of the material consists of documents and notes gathered by Ruby Yates, in preparation for the article published in the Mariner's Mirror. The article, "From wooden walls to dreadnaughts in a lifetime" was based on Yates' "Memories" and other manuscripts, which his daughter, Ruby, found amongst his papers. The papers include autobiographical material, notebooks, transcripts of talks, correspondence, certificates, ephemera and printed books.

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Please contact the Archive for further information.

English

Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .

Edited by Sarah Drewery, Oct 2011.

Compiled in compliance with 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.

2010-08-26 Graphic arts Naval history Drawing Architectural drawing Information sources Documents People People by occupation Personnel Skilled personnel Shipbuilders Yates , Dame , Frances Amelia , 1899-1981 , historian of ideas Yates , James Alfred , 1852-1941 , Naval Architect History

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The papers were bequeathed to the Museum by Miss Ruby Yates and Dame Frances Yates, James Yates' daughters.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of James Alfred Yates. A large part of the material consists of documents and notes gathered by Ruby Yates, in preparation for the article published in the Mariner's Mirror. The article, "From wooden walls to dreadnaughts in a lifetime" was based on Yates' "Memories" and other manuscripts, which his daughter, Ruby, found amongst his papers. The papers include autobiographical material, notebooks, transcripts of talks, correspondence, certificates, ephemera and printed books.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Conditions governing reproduction

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

National Maritime Museum

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with 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