Record

Reference numberMS/201
Previous numbersMS/201 - MS/208
LevelSubFonds
TitleThomas Andrews papers
CreatorAndrews, Thomas (1813-1885) Chemist
Date1836-1877
DescriptionThomas Andrews taught at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, later Queen's College Belfast, from 1835 to 1879. His research fell into four main fields;
(1) studies of acids and metals in electrolytic experiments;
(2) the calorimetry of chemical reactions, in particular those between acids and bases, and between metals and halogens;
(3) the properties and constitution of ozone;
(4) the condensation of gases to liquids at high pressures.
These fields are represented by the following papers listed in 'The Scientific Papers of the late Thomas Andrews. M.D., F.R.S.' (Macmillan, London 1889); (1) Papers 6 to 11 and 32, (2) Papers 13 to 16, 18 to 22, 40 and the manuscripts printed as 52 and 53, (3) Papers 31, 33 to 35, 37 and 45, (4) Papers 36, 38, 41, 47, 49 and 50. The eight volumes of manuscripts described as 'Notes of Experiments' at the Royal Society contain the laboratory records on which most of his work is based. For the little that is known of the provenence of these volumes, see J.S Rowlinson 'The work of Thomas Andrews and James Thomson on the liquefaction of gases' in 'Notes and Records of the Royal Society'.

The contents are described as far as possible in Thomas's own words from the title pages of each Book. Where the title page is uninformative then suitable headings have been chosen from the body of the notes. These title pages may have been written much later than the experiments since in 1862 there is the phrase 'critical point' which he probably invented only for his Bakerian Lecture of 1869. Some experiments or paragraph numbers are displayed on the title page of each Book. Those that are not, but are listed only on the pages themselves, are shown at the right-hand end of each line. The numbering of the experiments is again erratic; for example 376 may be followed by 277.

The reading of the notes on the experiments on the liquefaction of gases in Volumes 7 and 8 is helped by comparing them with the analysis by C.G. Knott 'Andrews' measurements of the compression of carbon dioxide and of mixtures of carbon dioxide and nitrogen' (Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 30, 1-22, 290 [1909-1910] a copy of whcih can be found at MS/201/9)
LanguageEnglish
Extent8 volumes
ArrangementThe pages of the volumes are rarely numbered and the best guide to location is the date of each entry. The volumes are sub-divided into what are sometimes called 'Books'. The numbering of these in Volumes 1 and 2 is in pencil, and was probably made by Andrew's daughter Mary when the volumes were bound in Belfast after Thomas's death. There are three sequences of Books: 1-23 in Volume 1, 1-83 (with inconsistencies in the numbers) in Volumes 2 to 6, and 1 to 27 (again with inconsistencies) in Volumes 7 and 8 . In the sequence which starts in Volume 7 Thomas's numbers have been increased by one by Mary to maintain their internal continuity. One of these amendments is initialled 'M.K.A.' Mary's numbers are shown here.
Access statusOpen
Related materialJ S Rowlinson 'The work of Thomas Andrews and James Thornton on the liqufaction of gases' in NR
'The Scientific Papers of the late Thomas Andrews MD, FRS' (Macmillan, London, 1889)
Fellows associated with this archive
CodeNameDates
NA5916Andrews; Thomas (1813 - 1885); chemist1813 - 1885
Add to My Items

    Collection highlights

    Browse the records of some of our collections, which cover all branches of science and date from the 12th century onwards. These include the published works of Fellows of the Royal Society, personal papers of eminent scientists, letters and manuscripts sent to the Society or presented at meetings, and administrative records documenting the Society's activities since our foundation in 1660.

    The Royal Society

    The Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of
    the world's most eminent scientists and is the
    oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.
    Registered charity number 207043

    Website design ©CalmView



    CONTACT US

    + 44 207 451 2500
    (Lines open Mon-Fri, 9:00-17:00. Excludes bank holidays)

    6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG

    Email Us →

    SUBSCRIBE

    Subscribe to our newsletters to be updated with the
    latest news on innovation, events, articles and reports.

    Subscribe →

    © CalmView