This archive contains the personal papers of a scientific gentleman, Josef Petracek, that were discovered amongst the papers of a Huddersfield Technical College professor. The box of papers contain a personal archive including correspondence, photographs, educational records and lifestyle documents about his life in Vienna and in Huddersfield, where he worked in chemical engineering. Many of the documents are in an early 20th century form of German.
Josef Petraczek Collection
This material is held atHeritage Quay, University of Huddersfield
- Reference
- GB 1103 JPK
- Dates of Creation
- 1880s-1920s
- Physical Description
- 1 box
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
Josef Petracek was born in Czernowitz, Ukraine in and undertook his PhD in Chemistry in Vienna. He seems to have become separated from his wife Marie (Mitzi) Rahn on his move to England, where he was employed by Reed Holliday & Co. Huddersfield for 16 years. He was Head of the Society for Dyers and Colourists, and died in Halifax in 1920.
Access Information
Original available for consultation by appointment
Archivist's Note
Translations from the original German and initial listing completed by Dr Alexander von Lunen, History Dept, 2017. Collection arranged and catalogued April 2018 by Lindsay Ince, Assistant Archivist.
Custodial History
Found alongside a chemistry professor's (Schofield) paperwork in the Technical College collection. Originally in a cigar box labelled 'The Austrian Chemist'.