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Willis, Robert, 1800-1875 (engineer and architectural historian)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1800 - 1875

Biography

Robert Willis (1800-1875) was born in London on 27 February 1800. He entered Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, in 1822 (B.A., 1826), and was ordained deacon and priest in 1827. He was Jacksonsian professor of applied mechanics at Cambridge, 1837-1875, and a lecturer in applied mechanics at the government school of mines from 1853. Willis invented the odonotograph (1837) and cymagraph (1841), and in 1841 published his Principles of mechanism. He also published works on architecture in the Middle Ages and on the mechanical construction of English cathedrals. In 1843 he became a member of the Archaeological Institute. He died at Cambridge on 28 February 1875. Willis bequeathed his unfinished manuscript of the 'Architectural History of the University of Cambridge' to his nephew John Willis Clark (1833-1910), man of science and archaeologist, who completed the work on the book, and oversaw its publication (4 volumes; Cambridge, 1886).

Found in 9 Collections and/or Records:

 Fonds

David Stewart: Papers

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.5140, 5145-5146
Scope and Contents

Notes on architecture, woodwork and ironwork.

Dates: 1850-1889 (Circa)
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Fonds

John Willis Clark: Papers

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.5063, 5065-70, 5072-3, 5076-7
Scope and Contents

Notes, extracts, transcripts and other material concerning architecture, history and other subjects, much of it compiled in preparation for published works, including Robert Willis, Architectural history of the University of Cambridge,mostly concerning Cambridge and its university. Many of the documents have supporting correspondence.

Dates: 1854-1881 (Circa)
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Fonds

John Willis Clark: Papers

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.5083-97, 5103-18, 5122, 5123, 6373
Scope and Contents

Notes, extracts, transcripts and other material concerning architecture, history, book-care and other subjects, much of it compiled in preparation for published works, and concerning Cambridge and its university. Many of the documents have supporting correspondence.

Dates: 1850-1909
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 File

Robert Willis: General catalogue of writers on music and sound

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.4307
Scope and Contents

A catalogue of writers on music and sound in general, arranged in alphabetical order, with the entries in various languages, 52 folios. The catalogue was compiled by Robert Willis, and based upon earlier lists. The books that were in Willis' possession are marked as such. There are additions by John Willis Clark, including a list of three books on dancing (fo. 51v). There are also additional entries by Willis on the versos.

Dates: 1872 (Circa)
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Fonds

Robert Willis: Letter to Robert Phelps, 1845

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.4251/1499
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Artificial collection of single item or small collection accessions. Mainly correspondence but includes other papers.

Dates: 1845
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Fonds

Robert Willis: Papers

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.5022-5045
Scope and Contents

Mainly concerning architecture, and often made in preparation for his printed works. Many of the papers are accompanied by related correspondence. The writer or compiler is Willis unless otherwise indicated.

Dates: 1830-1875
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Fonds

Robert Willis: Papers

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.5058-5062, 5064
Scope and Contents

Papers concerning Willis's book; The architectural history of the University of Cambridge and of the colleges of Cambridge and Eton. The writer or compiler is Willis unless otherwise indicated.

Dates: 1857-1880 (Circa)
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Fonds

Robert Willis: Papers

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.5071, 5074, 5075, 5078-5082
Scope and Contents

Papers concerning Willis's book; The architectural history of the University of Cambridge and of the colleges of Cambridge and Eton. The writer or compiler is Willis unless otherwise indicated.

Dates: 1880 (Circa)
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Fonds

Robert Willis: Papers

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.5127-5139, 5141-5144
Scope and Contents

Architectural notes, drawings and drafts. Includes work on various cathedrals. Some mechanical drawings are included.

Dates: 1827-1870
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Additional filters:

Type
Collection 8
Archival Object 1
 
Subject
Music 1