Hipkins, Alfred James

Papers of Alfred James Hipkins, comprising notebooks and scrapbooks compiled with the help of his daughter Edith, proofs, manuscripts, publications and some letters dealing with Hipkins' interest in musical matters particularly pitch and the history of instruments, [1862-1901].

Born in 1826, Alfred James Hipkins initially worked as a piano tuner for J Broadwood and Sons, piano makers. He went on to write a series of works relating to musical instruments, musicology and composers, some in collaboration with his daughter Edith. His publications included Canter lectures on musical instruments, their construction and capabilities (London, 1891); A comparison of various tuning forks by means of a monochord (London, 1869); A description of the history of the pianoforte and of the older keyboard stringed instruments (London, 1896); Dorian and Phyrgian reconsidered from a non-harmonic point of view (London, 1902); How Chopin played (J M Dent and Sons, London); and Musical instruments: historic, rare and unique (A & C Black, Edinburgh, 1888).

Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

This collection has been fully listed and is included in the ULRLS on-line catalogue, http://archives.ulrls.lon.ac.uk/default.aspx.

The British Library, London, holds correspondence and papers, 1795-1927 (Ref: Add MSS 41636-39); the Bodleian Library, Oxford University, has letters to William King, 1st Earl Lovelace, 1868-1880 (Ref: Dep Lovelace Byron); Surrey History centre contains miscellaneous letters to Hipkins, 1893-1896 (Ref: LEB/1/213-25).

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Passed to special collections from the Music Library.