THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPTS Report on the papers of EDMUND JOHN BOWEN FRS (1898-1980) chemist deposited in the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford (CSAC 81/5/81) by THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPTS Quality House, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, Reproduced for the Contemporary Scientific Archives Centre rights reserved London WC2A 1HP “ 198] All CSAC 81/5/81 CONTEMPORARY SCIENTIFIC ARCHIVES CENTRE British National Committee for the History of Science, Medicine and Technology under the guidance of the Royal Society’s Catalogue of the papers of EDMUND JOHN BOWEN, F.R.S. (1898 - 1980) Mainly on history of science Compiled by: Jeonnine Alton Deposited in the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford Julia Latham-Jackson E.J. Bowen CSAC 81/5/81 The work of the Contemporary Scientific Archives Centre, and the production of this catalogue, are made possible by the support of the following societies and institutions: The Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland The Biochemical Society The British Pharmacological Society The Charles Babbage Foundation for the History of Information Processing The Institute of Physics The Institution of Electrical Engineers The Nuffield Foundation The Physiological Society The Royal Society of London E . J . Bowen CSAC 81/5/81 LIST OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION SUMMARY OF THE CAREER OF E.J, BOWEN SECTION A BIOGRAPHICAL AND AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL A.1-A.17 SECTION B HISTORICAL WRITINGS B.1 -B.2 INDEX OF CORRESPONDENTS E.J. Bowen CSAC 81/5/81 INTRODUCTION PROVENANCE The material was received from Mrs. E. Bowen (widow) and Dr. H.J.M. Bowen (son). DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION Dr. Bowen kept almost no records of his scientific work in the field of photochemistry, though see the reprints inA.17. — The surviving documents, other than biographical, relate mainly to his interests in the history of science, and of Oxford University and City. Section A contains mainly personal material, including an autobiographical of science, 1 ye includin some interesting reminiscences LOCATION OF FURTHER MATERIAL account of Bowen's childhood, service in the First World War and subsequent career to 1929 (see A.3); Section B consists of drafts and background material relating to A copy of Bowen's history of University College, Oxford (of which he was a Bowen's keen interest in the history of Oxford chemistry between the First and Second World Wars. Fellow from 1922), is held in the College Library. E.J. Bowen CSAC 81/5/81 SUMMARY OF CAREER b. 1898 Educate Parish of St. John in Bedwardine, Worcester Worcester Roya! Grammar School 1915 = 1916 Balliol College, Oxford Lieutenant, No. 13 Siege Battery, R.G.A, 1919 - 1920 Balliol College, Oxford 1921 Lecturer, University College, Oxford 1922 - 1965 Fellow, University College, Oxford 1924 1935 Married Edith Moule Fellow of the Royal Society 1938 - 1952 Demonstrator in Chemistry, Oxford University 1952 - 1965 1963 1965 Aldrichian Praelector in Chemistry, Oxford University Davy Medal (Royal Society) Honorary Fellow, University College, Oxford E.J. Bowen CSAC 81/5/81 SECTION A BIOGRAPHICAL AND AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL A.1 -A.17 A.1 A.2 Copy of obituary published in The Times, 22 November 1980. Photocopy of Bowen's Curriculum Vitae and List of Publications. 10 pp. typescript. Reprints of some of Bowen's publications appear at A.17, Autobiographical reminiscences prepared by Bowen in 1973. This is a photocopy of the autograph manuscript, 24 pp. covering the period from Bowen's childhood up to 1929. A large part of it is devoted to Bowen's experiences in the trenches during the First World War. ‘Notes on Research Work of E.J. Bowen etal.' Il pp. typescript, n.d., describing research completed uNitece. 1957; Letters of congratulation on Bowen's election as a Fellow of the Royal Society, 1935. A-E F-L M-S The correspondence is arranged in Letters from staff and classmates of the Royal Grammar School, Worcester. In alphabetical order. (Not indexed.) Letters from colleagues. alphabetical order and indexed. Medal, 1963. Correspondence re honours and awards, 1960-68. letter from the Royal Society announcing the award of the Davy Letters from friends and relatives; from Oxford addresses. included at the front of the folder. Includes the majority of these are Unidentified correspondents are (Not indexed.) E.J. Bowen CSAC 81/5/81 Biogra phical and autob iograph ical A.11-A.16 Personal correspondence, 1931~80. Mainly letters of thanks for hospitality, gifts of specimens, lectures, letters of congratulation, etc. The correspondence is arranged in chronological order and indexed, except in the case of first name or illegible signatures. 1931, 1936-37 1942-44, 1946-48 1952-53, 1956-57, 1959 1960, 1962-63, 1967, 1969 1970-72, 1974-75 19B05:ned. Large envelope containing a set (incomplete) of reprints of Bowen's publications in the field of photochemistry, 1921-63. There is a bibliography of Bowen's publications in A.2. E.J. Bowen CSAC 81/5/81 SECTION B HISTORICAL WRITINGS B.1-B.29 B.1-B.5 B.1 General History of Science Ms. draft on the history of atomic and molecular concepts in chemistry. 12 pp., n.d. ‘Notes on the concepts of the Electron, Atom, Molecule, etc.' Envelope containing 3 sets of ms, notes, all undated. ‘The Progress of Photochemistry’ Ms. draft, n.d. ‘Notes on early spectroscopy' 4 pp. ms., n.d. ‘The Beginning of the Royal Society’, by M. Purver and E.J. Bowen. Pamphlet, published by the Clarendon Press, 1960. History of Science at Oxford University Ms. notes and jottings mainly re history of Oxford science. Ms. draft, variously paginated, tracing the history of Oxford science from the thirteenth century. Folder also includes photocopy of ms. poem entitled 'Who founded the R.S.?' for safe keeping (see B.10 below). A few loose papers were found tucked inside the front cover of the typescript and these have been removed to a separate folder 27 pp. typescript, with some ms. corrections, 1969. Photocopy of 13 pp. typescript, n.d, ‘Oxford Physical Science from 1850! pay : { ! , ‘ . faldar "Science and Scientists at Oxford! ‘Chemistry at Oxford' E.J.Bowen CSAC 81/5/81 Historical writings Miscellaneous papers originally kept with B.9. They include: I p. ms. notes by Bowen, Summaries of careers of 2 Oxford scientists. Brief correspondence, 1934, Copy of agreement with D. Van Nostrand Company Limited, 8 February 1967, for publication of a book by Bowen entitled ‘Luminescence in Chemistry’. Photocopies of pages 46, 48, 50, 52 of the ms. draft of B.9 'The Alembic Club. The First Fifty Years' Spiral-bound ms. incorporating photocopies of some original documents relating to the Oxford University Alembic Club, n.d. Ms. notes, drafts and printed matter te the Alembic Club assembled by Bowen. Club held by the Museum of the History of Science at Oxford. Includes a note of material relating to the Alembic ‘Oxford University Chemical Club! 7 pp, ms., nid. ‘The Balliol-Trinity Laboratories, Oxford 1853-1940', by E.J. Bowen. Offprint from Notes and Records of the Royal Society, Bop thy hh Or A photocopy of a humorous dinner menu of the club is also included in the folder. Letters of thanks from colleagues on receipt of copies of B.14. Some of these contain interesting reminiscences of the Laboratories. The correspondence is arranged in alphabetical order and indexed. 7 to 25. Duplicated typescript draft with ms. annotations re Oxford science in the seventeenth century. The typescript is paginated from Duplicated typescript draft of B.14, 17 October 1969. Folder also includes 1 p. ms. notes and a photograph. E.J. Bowen CSAC 81/5/81 Historical writings B.18-B. 28 Biographical Writings Mainly of Oxford scientists. ‘Robert Boyle, 1627-1691' 21 pp. ms. draft, n.d. ‘Dalziel Llewellyn Hammick, 1887-1966! Offprint from Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, 13, 1967. Folder also includes typescript and printed obituary notices of Hammick and letters from friends and colleagues, some containing additional comments and reminiscences, ‘Sir Harold Hartley' Ms. draft and proof of obituary by Bowen. Folder also includes copies of printed obituaries by others. ‘Sir Cyril Hinshelwood, 1897-1967! Typescript draft and offprint of obituary by E.J. Bowen published in Chemistry in Britain, ay 12, 9G 2ms. drafts of obituary for publication in the Proceedings _ of the Chemical Society, 1963. Letters from colleagues commenting on Bowen's obituary of Hinshelwood. Additional printed matter re Hinshelwood is also included in the folder. Offprint of obituary published in Nature, 205, March 1965. Folder also includes invitation to write the obituary and corres- pondence with colleagues from whom Bowen sought information or advice. ‘Dr. Bertram Lambert! ‘Dr. Peter Pringsheim' E.J. Bowen CSAC 81/5/81 Historical writings Dr. A.S. Russell Ms. drafts for obituary of Russell. Some printed matter is also included in the folder. Sir Harold Thompson 4 pp. typescript biography of Thompson by Bowen. Some printed matter is also included in the folder. 'The Right Reverend John Wilkins, F.R.S. (1614-1672)', by E.J. Bowen and Sir Harold Hartley. Offprint from Notes and Records of the Royal Society, aa 1960, L.A. Woodward ‘Typescript draft and offprint of Preface to a Festschrift Pp resented to Woodward on his retirement. Miscellaneous "Park Town, Oxford! Folder includes invitation to Bowen to write the Preface and misc. background materia}. Photocopy of 7 pp. ms. account of the h istory of Park Town, March 1976. E.J. Bowen CSAC 81/5/81 INDEX OF CORRESPONDENTS ACHESON, Morris ALLEN, Sir Carleton (Kemp) ALLMAND, Arthur John PECL ee oN ARKELL, William Joscelyn BELL, Ronald Percy BINNIE, Alfred Maurice BLACKWELL, Donald Eustace BOASE, Thomas Sherrer Ross BOURDILLON, Robert Benedict BROWN, Sir (George) Lindor BUCKINGHAM, Amyand David BUNN, Charles William BUZZARD, Sir (Edward) Farquhar CARLISLE, Hilary B.19 A.5 A.5 Dito AS AST B.10 6.15 e139 ay A.5 B.22 ma. 1a, Bae Roe? A.1] A.15 A.13 A.5 A.14 A. 5 B22 A.6 B.22 CASE: M J. LINDEMANN CHERWELL see CHAPMAN, Sydney CHERRY, Philip W. = M. EGERTON, Sir Alfred (Charles Glyn) ENIMEVER, f... . F COSTIN, William Conrad COULSON, Charles Alfred A.14 GATTY, Oliver GOODHART, Arthur Lehman GOODHART, Cecil y A.6 A410, A.13::Av14 FFENNELL, Raymond William FREETH, Francis Arthur A.5 A.12 B.10 GADSBY, John E.J. Bowen CSAC 81/5/81 Index of correspondents HAMMICK, Dalziel Llewellyn | See B.19 HAMMOND, George S. HARTLEY, Sir Harold Brewis HEALD, Charles Brehmer HEIDT, Lawrence J. HILL, (John Edward) Christopher HINSHELWOOD, Sir Cyril Norman HINSHELWOOD, Ethel HODGE, Sir William (Vallance Douglas) HUME-ROTHERY, William HUNTER, E. JOSHI, Janardan KEENAN, H. WwW. KERNEL OR ee RS A. 14 A.14 B.19, B.22, B.23 A.12 A.13 B.15 See B.21, B.22 A.6 A.10 B.23 B.22 A.15 + Ave B.23 KOIZUMI, Masao EBEDS.. E. ts A.15 A.12 A.6 LONG As MADDISON, Francis R. (later Viscount Cherwell) MARTIN, Sir David Christie LINDEMANN, Frederick Alexander LENNARD-JONES, Sir John Edward A.6 NELSON OF STAFFORD, Henry George MELVILLE, Sir Harry (Work) NORRISH, Ronald George Wreyford MURRAY-RUST, David M. NEW, Randal G. io NONHEBEL, Gordon 2nd Baron é MATSUI, A. MILNE, Edward Arthur E.J. Bowen CSAC 81/5/81 Index of correspondents .G. OWSTONE Po PAL, Medini K. PANKHURST, Kenneth G, PARKER, C. Allen Prk Go SRS. A. PICKERING, Sir George White PITTS, James N. PLASKETT, Harry Hemley POULTON, Sir Edward (Bagnell) PRIDEAUX, Walter Arbuthnot RIDEAL, Sir Eric (Keightley) ROBERTS, Colin Henderson ROBINSON, Sir Robert SADLER, Sir Michael Ernest SAHIN, S. A.14 A.15 A.13 A.14, A.16 Bidz, B:23 B.22 A.15 A.7 A.7 Big a B.22 A.7 A.7, A.13 SANTAMARIA, Leonida A.15 A.5 Mc Ivor) SWANSON, Carl P. TERENIN, A. UREY, Harold Clayton TURPIN, Kenneth Charlton VAUGHAN, Dame Janet (Maria) WILSON, Sir (James) Harold SIGDWICK, Nevil Vincent SUTHERLAND, Sir Gordon (Brims Biack WISWESSER, William J.
BOWDEN, Edmund John
Published: 13 September, 2023 Author: admin