Collection of slides of ships collected by John Harvard Biles, 1854–1933, Professor of Naval Architecture, University of Glasgow, Scotland

Scope and Content

These slides were created by Professor Biles for teaching purposes in the early 20th century, and consist of copies of photographs, illustrations, plans, and diagrams from earlier periods (rough dates listed below). Includes:

  • Slides of various yachts, 19th century;
  • Slides of factory machinery, undated;
  • Slides of diagrams relating to ships, 19th and 20th century;
  • Slides of various locomotives, 19th century;
  • Slides of various ships, including warships, undated;
  • Slides of balloons, 18th century;
  • Slides of sea planes and aeroplanes, undated;
  • Slides of Leonardo Da Vinci sketches, 1452-1519;
  • Slides of plans of ships, undated;
  • Slides of illustrations from a book by J H Biles, 1919;
  • Slides of the Carmania Experimental Plant, undated;
  • Slides of Yarrow's Evaporation Experiment, undated;
  • Slides of various shipyards, undated;
  • Slides of various launchings of ships, 20th century;
  • Slides showing models of ships, 17th to 20th century;
  • Slides of the Forth Road Bridge, 20th century.

Administrative / Biographical History

This slide collection was put together by Professor John Harvard Biles, born in 1854  , of the Department of Naval Architecture at the University of Glasgow. Sir J H Biles & Co Limited was founded in 1883  and is one of the oldest marine consultancies in the United Kingdom. The consultive Group was established by Sir Edward Reed, and adopted its present name, when Sir John Harvard Biles, Professor of Naval Architecture at the University of Glasgow , succeeded Sir Edward in 1906. Sir John became one of the most distinguished Professors of Naval Architecture at Glasgow University, occupying the chair for some 30 years from 1891. During his professional career, Professor Biles was requested to serve on many Government Committees, notably superintending the experiments with HMS Wolfe which demonstrated full-scale strength tests on destroyers and serving on Admiral "Jackie" Fisher's Committee of Designs which culminated in the new generation battleships piloted in so successfully by HMS Dreadnought . Professor Biles died in 1933  .

Arrangement

The arrangement of this material reflects the original order in which it was received

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Unknown

Other Finding Aids

Digital file level list available in searchroom

Alternative Form Available

No known copies

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

None which affect the use of this material

Conditions Governing Use

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Archivist.

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents.

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 0248 procedures.

Custodial History

Unknown

Accruals

None expected

Related Material

No related material

Location of Originals

This material is original

Bibliography

No known publications using this material

Additional Information

Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives,ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999 and National Council on Archives,Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names

None

Collection catalogued by Vikki Laidlaw, Hub Project Assistant, 13 January 2005. Catalogue converted to Encoded Archival Description by Andrew Thomson, Hub Project Archivist, 13 January 2005. Catalogue edited by Emma Anthony, Business Archives Cataloguer, 22 January 2013.

Geographical Names