Graphical version

Senate House Library, University of London

Thompson, Silvanus P: correspondence, 1891-1909


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0096 AL304

Held at: Senate House Library, University of London

Title: Thompson, Silvanus P: correspondence, 1891-1909

Date(s): 1891-1909

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 13 items (26 leaves)

Name of creator(s): Thompson | Silvanus Phillips | 1851-1916 | physicist x Thompson | Sylvanus Phillips

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Silvanus Phillips Thompson was born into a Quaker family in York in 1851. He became a science teacher at the Bootham School in York, in 1873. He later taught physics at University College Bristol (now the University of Bristol) before becoming professor of physics at the new City and Guilds of London Institute in Finsbury in 1878, aged 27. Thompson's research was mainly in the field of electromagnetism and optics, but he had wide interests outside science and was much concerned with technical education. He was elected to the Royal Society in 1891. He is now best remembered for the textbooks Elementary Lessons in Electricity and Magnetism (1890) and Calculus Made Easy (1910). His first name is sometimes spelt 'Sylvanus'.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

12 letters and 1 postcard, all addressed to Silvanus Phillips Thompson, 1891-1909. Written by the following people: George Carey Foster; John Hopkinson; Sir Joseph Lister (later Lord Lister); Lyon Playfair, Lord Playfair; Sir William Ramsay; Sir Arthur Rücker; John William Strutt, Lord Rayleigh; Sir William Thiselton-Dyer; and Sidney Webb (later Lord Passfield). Topics covered include the University of London and the role of King's College within the University. All items are autograph, with signatures.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

In chronological order.

Conditions governing access:

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Access to individual items in Senate House Library archives collections may be restricted under the Data Protection Act or the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.

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:

Typescript catalogue available in the Library's Palaeography Room.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

See archivist

Immediate source of acquisition:

Given by Professor Thompson's daughter, Miss Helen G Thompson, 1962.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

A typed transcript is filed with the original letter.

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Anya Turner.

Rules or conventions: 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.

Date(s) of descriptions: Aug 2008


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects

Personal names
Dyer | Sir | William Turner Thiselton- | 1843-1928 | Knight | botanist x Thiselton-Dyer | Sir | William Turner
Foster | George Carey | 1835-1919 | chemist and physicist
Hopkinson | John | 1849-1898 | electrical engineer
Lister | Joseph | 1827-1912 | 1st Baron Lister | surgeon x Lister | 1st Baron
Playfair | Lyon | 1818-1898 | 1st Baron Playfair | chemist
Ramsay | Sir | William | 1852-1916 | Knight | chemist
Strutt | John William | 1842-1919 | 3rd Baron Rayleigh | physicist
Thompson | Silvanus Phillips | 1851-1916 | physicist x Thompson | Sylvanus Phillips
Webb | Sidney James | 1859-1947 | 1st Baron Passfield | social reformer and historian

Corporate names
King's College London
University of London x London University

Places