HUMPHREY, Herbert Alfred (1868-1951)

Papers of Herbert Alfred Humphrey, 1883-1945, comprising volume of testimonials, letters of introduction, 1887-1915; correspondence, 1900-1918, notably with the Admiralty concerning proposals for a torpedo, 1914, Ministry of Munitions concerning chemical plants, 1917-1918; correspondence with Brunner, Mond and Co, 1890-1919, relating to his employment with the company, experiments with TNT, 1890-1919, and notes and diagrams on the manufacture of calcium nitrate, 1916; correspondence relating to Industrial Chemical Industries, 1920-1946, concerning chemical manufacture, his employment; papers concerning Brunner, Mond and Co, [1930]-1948, comprising notes concerning the history of the chemical plant at Billingham, [1930]; correspondence concerning enemy attack, technical education, 1940-1948; reports and correspondence relating to the Department of Explosive Supplies, Ministry of Munitions, 1915-1917, concerning TNT, manufacture of ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, explosives trials; reports relating to war service, 1914-1919, concerning the purification of TNT, shells, Hausser process; correspondence and printed papers relating to war service, 1916, inventions, 1939-1944; correspondence with professional institutes, 1887-1938; letters, papers and reports relating to visits, annual dinners, 1886-1945; patents, 1895-1934, relating to engines, purifying gases and raising liquids; papers relating to the Metropolitan Water Board, 1909-1913, concerning water pumps; engineering drawings of pump schemes never built [1910-1912]; papers and diagrams concerning projected installation of Humphrey pumps at El Mex, Egypt, 1911-1914; articles, mostly concerning the Humphrey Pump, 1909-1936; photographs and papers relating to the Humphrey Pump, 1913; student notebooks made whilst a student at Finsbury Technical College and Central Institution, 1883-1887.

Papers of Herbert Alfred Humphrey, 1883-1945, comprising volume of testimonials, letters of introduction, 1887-1915; correspondence, 1900-1918, notably with the Admiralty concerning proposals for a torpedo, 1914, Ministry of Munitions concerning chemical plants, 1917-1918; correspondence with Brunner, Mond and Co, 1890-1919, relating to his employment with the company, experiments with TNT, 1890-1919, and notes and diagrams on the manufacture of calcium nitrate, 1916; correspondence relating to Industrial Chemical Industries, 1920-1946, concerning chemical manufacture, his employment; papers concerning Brunner, Mond and Co, [1930]-1948, comprising notes concerning the history of the chemical plant at Billingham, [1930]; correspondence concerning enemy attack, technical education, 1940-1948; reports and correspondence relating to the Department of Explosive Supplies, Ministry of Munitions, 1915-1917, concerning TNT, manufacture of ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, explosives trials; reports relating to war service, 1914-1919, concerning the purification of TNT, shells, Hausser process; correspondence and printed papers relating to war service, 1916, inventions, 1939-1944; correspondence with professional institutes, 1887-1938; letters, papers and reports relating to visits, annual dinners, 1886-1945; patents, 1895-1934, relating to engines, purifying gases and raising liquids; papers relating to the Metropolitan Water Board, 1909-1913, concerning water pumps; engineering drawings of pump schemes never built [1910-1912]; papers and diagrams concerning projected installation of Humphrey pumps at El Mex, Egypt, 1911-1914; articles, mostly concerning the Humphrey Pump, 1909-1936; photographs and papers relating to the Humphrey Pump, 1913; student notebooks made whilst a student at Finsbury Technical College and Central Institution, 1883-1887.

Born, Gospel Oak, London, 1868; educated at Finsbury Technical College, Mechanical Engineering Department, Central Institution (later City and Guilds College), 1885; Associateship of the City and Guilds Institute, 1887; Manager of the Engine and Electrical Department at the Newton Heath Iron Works, Heenan and Froude Ltd, 1888; Manager of the Birmingham branch of Heenan and Froude, 1889; Manager of the Refined Bicarbonate and Crystal Department, Messrs Brunner Mond and Company, Northwich, Cheshire, 1891; Fellow of the City and Guilds Institute, 1893; started practice as a consulting engineer, 1901; patented the 'Humphrey Pump', 1906; worked for the Admiralty, 1914; elected member of the Royal Institution, 1914; Technical Adviser, Department of Explosive Supplies, Ministry of Munitions, 1915; Technical Adviser and Chief Engineer, Munitions Inventions Department, Ministry of Munitions, 1917; Director and Consulting Engineer to Synthetic Ammonia and Nitrates Limited, 1919; Consulting Engineer to Imperial Chemical Industries, 1926-1931; Fellow of Imperial College, 1932; Melchett medal of the Institute of Fuel, 1939; died, South Africa, 1951. Publications: Papers on large gas engines, gas producers and similar subjects.

Born, Gospel Oak, London, 1868; educated at Finsbury Technical College, Mechanical Engineering Department, Central Institution (later City and Guilds College), 1885; Associateship of the City and Guilds Institute, 1887; Manager of the Engine and Electrical Department at the Newton Heath Iron Works, Heenan and Froude Ltd, 1888; Manager of the Birmingham branch of Heenan and Froude, 1889; Manager of the Refined Bicarbonate and Crystal Department, Messrs Brunner Mond and Company, Northwich, Cheshire, 1891; Fellow of the City and Guilds Institute, 1893; started practice as a consulting engineer, 1901; patented the 'Humphrey Pump', 1906; worked for the Admiralty, 1914; elected member of the Royal Institution, 1914; Technical Adviser, Department of Explosive Supplies, Ministry of Munitions, 1915; Technical Adviser and Chief Engineer, Munitions Inventions Department, Ministry of Munitions, 1917; Director and Consulting Engineer to Synthetic Ammonia and Nitrates Limited, 1919; Consulting Engineer to Imperial Chemical Industries, 1926-1931; Fellow of Imperial College, 1932; Melchett medal of the Institute of Fuel, 1939; died, South Africa, 1951. Publications: Papers on large gas engines, gas producers and similar subjects.

Researchers wishing to consult the Archives should first contact the College Archivist, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, for an appointment.

The papers were presented by Dr J Humphrey, the son of H A Humphrey, in 1970. Much of H A Humphrey's papers were destroyed in 1948. His notebooks made when a student were probably presented to the College in the 1930s.

A catalogue is available in the reading room of the College Archives.

A photocopying service is available at the discretion of the Archivist. Photocopies are supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Archivist.

Records relating to Finsbury Technical College (FA), City and Guilds College (FC-FS) and City and Guilds of London Institute (F), held at Imperial College.