Perkin Memorabilia

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0804 RSC PERKIN
Held at	: Royal Society of Chemistry   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.rsc.org ›
Full 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
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

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 & 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

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:
National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997; ISAD(G), Second edition, 2000.

Date(s) of descriptions:
March 2011.