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Partington, James Riddick, 1886 - 1965 (British chemist and historian of chemistry)

 Person

Found in 34 Collections and/or Records:

  • 1
  • 2
 Series

Chemistry: Correspondence relating to the posthumous publication of 'History of Chemistry' by Professor James Riddick Partington (1886-1965) of Cambridge, 1970 - 1981

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/225
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Fonds:

This series contains files on each topic set out in Joseph Needham's grand plan for 'Science and Civilisation in China'.

Dates: 1970 - 1981
 File

Collection of notes and other documents relating to 'Categories', 'used for final revision of this material', 1958 - 1969

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/204/2/2
Scope and Contents

The documents include notes from relevant publications; part of a letter from J. R. Partington of Cambridge, on literature relevant to the subject, 18 January 1959; letter from Tony [?] Waddington of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, about ionic bonds, 27 November 1959; Ho Peng-Yoke's typed notes on the 'Chin Pi Wu Hsiang Lei Tshan Thung Chhi [金碧五相類參同契 / Jin Bi Wu Xiang Lei Can Tong Qi]', 5 May 1958; typescript draft pages from the paper marked 'omitted from Vol 5'.

Dates: 1958 - 1969
 File

Copy of a letter from Joseph Needham to Prof. J. R. Partington of Cambridge, about a suitable title for Partington's 'History of Greek Fire and Gunpowder', and Partington's reply, 1959-01-18 - 1959-01-21

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/229/26
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Fonds:

This series contains files on each topic set out in Joseph Needham's grand plan for 'Science and Civilisation in China'.

Dates: 1959-01-18 - 1959-01-21
 File

Copy of a memorandum from Joseph Needham and Ho Peng-Yoke to J. R. Partington headed 'Note on the bronze compositions of guns and cannon in China', and related documents, 1959-02-28 - 1959-03-13

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/144/2
Scope and Contents

The related documents comprise a copy of a letter from Joseph Needham to Partington originally accompanying the memorandum; part of a letter from Partington about the 'copper-lead system'; notes by Needham.

Dates: 1959-02-28 - 1959-03-13
 File

Correspondence with J. R. Partington in Cambridge, about zinc production in China, 1959-07-22

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/189/7
Scope and Contents

The documents comprise 3 postcards from Partington; copy of 1 letter of reply from Joseph Needham. The documents also include an English translation of the entry on zinc in the 'San Tshai Thu Hui [三才圖會 / San Cai Tu Hui], (1609).

Dates: 1959-07-22
 File

Correspondence with Prof. J. R. Partington of Cambridge, about the Chinese section of his work on the 'History of Chemistry', 1962-10-11 - 1962-10-20

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/229/50
Scope and Contents

The documents comprise 2 letters from Partington; copy of 1 letter from Joseph Needham; brief notes by Needham.

Dates: 1962-10-11 - 1962-10-20
 File

Correspondence with Prof. J. R. Partington of Cambridge, about the draft of his 'A History of Greek Fire and Gunpowder', 1956-07-09 - 1957-05-04

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/151/12
Scope and Contents

The documents comprise 6 letters from Partington; copies of 6 letters of reply from Joseph Needham. Specific matters discussed include Partington's study of the Indian and European sources for the subject.

Dates: 1956-07-09 - 1957-05-04
 File

Correspondence with Prof. J. R. Partington of Cambridge, about the second draft of the 'Chinese chapter' of his 'A History of Greek Fire and Gunpowder', and related notes by Joseph Needham, 1957-01-02 - 1957-06-13

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/151/14
Scope and Contents

The correspondence comprises a copy of 1 letter from Needham to Partington; 4 letters from Partington. For correspondence relating to the first draft of the work, see SCC2/151/12.

Dates: 1957-01-02 - 1957-06-13
 File

Documents collected for a dedication to Prof. J. R. Partington, historian of chemistry, 1965-10-11 - 1966-01-20

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC3/2/12
Scope and Contents

The documents comprise a 'Times' obituary for Partington; draft of a Joseph Needham article about Partington adding a 'few personal touches' to the obituary and photocopy of the piece published in the 'Times'; letter from Ruth Speyer, daughter of Partington about her father's death.
The dedication to Partington appears in 'Science and Civilisation in China, Volume 5, Part 3'.

Dates: 1965-10-11 - 1966-01-20
 File

Joseph Needham notes of a dinner discussion with Prof. J. R. Partington of Cambridge on saltpetre, 1955-05-07

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/202/4/8
Scope and Contents

Needham notes that Partington is 'inclined to be sceptical about antiquity of 中 salpetre'.

Dates: 1955-05-07
 File

Joseph Needham's notes of 'general impressions after 2 days with Partington [Prof. J R Partington]', 1956-07-18 - 1956-07-19

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/139/3/1
Scope and Contents

Partington was the author of a 'History of Greek Fire and Gunpowder' and was at first 'very sceptical of 'Chinese Claims'..'. (See SCC2/139/4/4).

Dates: 1956-07-18 - 1956-07-19
 File

Letter from Dr. Wolfgang Schneider of Braunschweig, Germany, commenting on the 'Ambix' paper, and related documents, 1960-06-14 - 1960-08-16

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/202/2/1
Scope and Contents

The related documents comprise a letter from J. R. Partington of Cambridge, commenting on the contents of Schneider's letter; copy of Joseph Needham's reply to Schneider; related notes by Needham.

Dates: 1960-06-14 - 1960-08-16
 File

Letter from J. C. Bailey of the Aluminium Development Association, London, commenting on Chinese claims that aluminium had been found dating from the 3rd-century A.D., and related documents, 1962-04-06 - 1962-05-09

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/234/4/14
Scope and Contents

The letter refers to the 1959 article by Yang Ken [楊根 / Yang Gen] which describes the discovery. (See SCC2/234/4/12, 13).
The related documents comprise part of a letter from Prof. J. R. Partington of Cambridge, stating that 'In my opinion the preparation of 85% aluminium in the Chin dynasty is imposssible.'; postcard from K. P. Mayer of London, about the paper; copy of Joseph Needham's reply.

Dates: 1962-04-06 - 1962-05-09
 File

Letter from J. R. Partington of Cambridge, about an article on Chinese coins of nearly pure zinc, and other matters, 1960-07-26

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/234/6/7
Scope and Contents

Other matters discussed include Dr. S. Mahdihassan and his work on the origin of the word chemistry.

Dates: 1960-07-26
 File

Letter from J. R. Partington of Cambridge, about his essay [on ?], accompanying photograph of metal-barrel guns from 'Wu Pei Chih' [武備志 / Wu Bei Zhi], (1628), 1957-04-16

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/143/1
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Fonds:

This series contains files on each topic set out in Joseph Needham's grand plan for 'Science and Civilisation in China'.

Dates: 1957-04-16
 File

Letter from J. R. Partington of Cambridge, about spontaneous combustion and Joseph Needham's notes of Partington's views on Greek Fire, 1955-05-13 - 1955-05-14

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/141/2/13
Scope and Contents From the Series:

The file contains an alphabetised list of subjects to be covered relating to incediaries in 'Science and Civilisation in China, Volume 5, Part 7' (See SCC2/141/1/1). The subfiles and documents within them are often marked with letters corresponding to that list.

Dates: 1955-05-13 - 1955-05-14
 File

Letter from J. R. Partington of Cambridge, about the date of brass in China and other matters, 1955-08-21

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/229/16
Scope and Contents

Other matters discussed include the views of T. L. Davis and Homer H. Dubs on Greek alchemy.

Dates: 1955-08-21
 File

Letter from J. R. Partington of Queen Mary College, University of London originally accompanying a reprint of a paper on atomic theory, 1942-10-06

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/16/75
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Fonds:

This series contains files on each topic set out in Joseph Needham's grand plan for 'Science and Civilisation in China'.

Dates: 1942-10-06
 File

Letter from Louis Joseph of London, about the dating of a Chinese glass head opacified by fluoride, and related documents, 1962-04-26

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/231/4/5
Scope and Contents

The related documents comprise part of a letter from J. R. Partington to Needham [?] giving his opinion about the date; copy of Joseph Needham's letter of reply; photograph of the head; letter from Sir Harry Garner of Beckenham, Kent, about the dating of calcium fluoride; notes.

Dates: 1962-04-26
 File

Letter from Prof. J. R. Partington of Cambridge, advising Joseph Needham that he is leaving Cambridge to live near relatives in Cheshire, and copy of Needham's reply, 1964-12-07 - 1964-12-26

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/229/54
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Fonds:

This series contains files on each topic set out in Joseph Needham's grand plan for 'Science and Civilisation in China'.

Dates: 1964-12-07 - 1964-12-26
 File

Letter from Prof. J. R. Partington of Cambridge, thanking Joseph Needham for offprints, 1960-09-30

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/229/46
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Fonds:

This series contains files on each topic set out in Joseph Needham's grand plan for 'Science and Civilisation in China'.

Dates: 1960-09-30
 File

Notes by Prof. J. R. Partington of Cambridge, on calomel etc., and related Joseph Needham notes, 1959-02-28 - 1959-03-04

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/193/8/2
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Fonds:

This series contains files on each topic set out in Joseph Needham's grand plan for 'Science and Civilisation in China'.

Dates: 1959-02-28 - 1959-03-04
 File

Part of a Christmas Card from Mrs Ruth Speyer, daughter of the late Dr. James Riddick Partington, about a note written by Joseph Needham on her father and published in 'The Times', and related documents, 1965-12 - 1966-01-18

 File
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/SCC2/229/57
Scope and Contents

The related documents include a copy of Needham's reply; cutting of a newspaper report entitled 'Chemistry Through the Ages' describing how Partington's library had been bequesthed to Manchester University.

Dates: 1965-12 - 1966-01-18
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