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Senate House Library, University of London

Hipkins, Alfred James


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0096 MS 943

Held at: Senate House Library, University of London

Title: Hipkins, Alfred James

Date(s): c1860-c1936

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 5 boxes

Name of creator(s): Hipkins | Alfred James | 1826-1903 | musicologist and antiquarian

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Born in 1826, Alfred James Hipkins initially worked as a piano tuner for J Broadwood and Sons, piano makers. He went on to write a series of works relating to musical instruments, musicology and composers, some in collaboration with his daughter Edith. His publications included Canter lectures on musical instruments, their construction and capabilities (London, 1891); A comparison of various tuning forks by means of a monochord (London, 1869); A description of the history of the pianoforte and of the older keyboard stringed instruments (London, 1896); Dorian and Phyrgian reconsidered from a non-harmonic point of view (London, 1902); How Chopin played (J M Dent and Sons, London); and Musical instruments: historic, rare and unique (A & C Black, Edinburgh, 1888).

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of Alfred James Hipkins, comprising notebooks and scrapbooks compiled with the help of his daughter Edith, proofs, manuscripts, publications and some letters dealing with Hipkins' interest in musical matters particularly pitch and the history of instruments, [1862-1901].

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

This collection has been fully listed and is included in the ULRLS on-line catalogue, http://archives.ulrls.lon.ac.uk/default.aspx.

Detailed catalogue

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Passed to special collections from the Music Library.

Immediate source of acquisition:

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

The British Library, London, holds correspondence and papers, 1795-1927 (Ref: Add MSS 41636-39); the Bodleian Library, Oxford University, has letters to William King, 1st Earl Lovelace, 1868-1880 (Ref: Dep Lovelace Byron); Surrey History centre contains miscellaneous letters to Hipkins, 1893-1896 (Ref: LEB/1/213-25).

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Date(s) of descriptions: 2000-03-15, Joseph Gelfer; 2000-05-24, Sarah Aitchison; 2007-01-30, Richard Temp


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Musical instruments | Music | Performing arts
Musicology | Music | Performing arts

Personal names
Hipkins | Alfred James | 1826-1903 | antiquary and musicologist
Hipkins | Edith J | fl 1880-1940 | artist

Corporate names

Places