IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0804 RSC PERKIN
Held at: Royal Society of Chemistry
Title: Perkin Memorabilia
Date(s): 1884-1970
Level of description: Collection (fonds)
Extent: 45 items
Name of creator(s): Perkin | William Henry | 1838-1907 | chemist
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
William Henry Perkin was an English chemist born in East London; he entered the Royal College of Chemistry aged 15 and discovered the first aniline dye, Mauveine, at the age of 18. Perkin's discovery set off the subsequent discovery of other new aniline dyes which led on to factories being established to produce them. Another result of his discovery was the increase in the processing of coal tar, the main source of material for his dye. Perkin was widely lauded in his later life (including his knighthood in 1906) and was also President of the Chemical Society from 1883 to 1885.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Press-cuttings, letters patent, telegrams and photographs of William Perkin, including one Perkin took of himself aged 14.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English.
System of arrangement:
Organised by Accession Number.
Conditions governing access:
Open access by prior arrangement.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copying, scanning undertaken on some items by library staff only.
Finding aids:
Library catalogue.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
On long-term loan to the RSC by Perkin's great-granddaughter from 1997.
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Date(s) of descriptions: March 2011.