Laurie, Philip Stevenson, 1913-1982 (Royal Greenwich Observatory archivist)
Person
Dates
- Existence: 1913-07-18 - 1982-08-23
Biography
Philip Laurie was born in Birkenhead on 18 July 1913. Educated at Eltham College near London, he joined the Royal Observatory, Greenwich on 28 January 1935 as a Temporary Computer. In 1944 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and in 1946 he was made a permanent member of ROG staff.
Laurie served for many years in the Solar Department and was Acting Head of Department under H.W. Newton, before being made Head in 1957. Laurie had a particular interest in the history of the Observatory and became increasingly involved with the RGO’s Archives. On 1 October 1974, he was transferred to full-time duty as ROG Archivist, a position he held until retirement on 24th May 1977. He was awarded an MBE in 1975, both for his contributions to solar work and for his work in preserving and maintaining the RGO Archives.
Laurie died on 23 August 1982. The following year, the RGO’s ‘Laurie Project’ began, with a grant from the Manpower Services Commission under the Community Programme Scheme, to catalogue the RGO Archives. It was named after Laurie in recognition of the major contributions he made to the RGO Archives.
Found in 10 Collections and/or Records:
File
Correspondence on chronometers, 1947 - 1963
File
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 9/353
Scope and Contents
Correspondence regarding the inspection, rating, supply and testing of watches, chronometers and clocks by the Royal Greenwich Observatory Chronometer Section, including the following items:Booklet on 'Balance and Spring' by R.A. Fell.Correspondence concerning quartz crystal chronometers supplied by the Seikosha Watch Company, Tokyo, Japan, 1963.Correspondence regarding the repair of mine clocks, 1962-1963.Correspondence regarding the historical chronometer...
Dates:
1947 - 1963
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Management Group:
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
Correspondence on staff, 1935 - 1963
File
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 8/2
Scope and Contents
Correspondence and memoranda concerning wages, apprenticeships, promotions and the retirement of industrial and non-industrial staff, as well as the applications of watch-makers, repairers and chronometer department staff. The papers include a reference from the Lee Estate Office testifying to D. Weston's reliability with regard to the payment of his rent; correspondence on the recruitment of a Senior Assistant and a Senior Principal Scientific Officer; a report on the Royal Danish...
Dates:
1935 - 1963
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Management Group:
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
Correspondence on the Observatory and Herstmonceux, 1934 - 1957
File
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 9/1
Scope and Contents
Correspondence and some related papers regarding the general administration of the approaches, grounds and interior of Herstmonceux Castle; the removal of the Royal Observatory from Greenwich to Herstmonceux; and the history of the Royal Observatory and Herstmonceux Castle. The papers include the following items:Letter from G. Jones to R. Woolley concerning the gift of his painting of the old buildings at Greenwich, 1956.Correspondence regarding the pair of swans for the lake...
Dates:
1934 - 1957
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Management Group:
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
Correspondence on the Observatory and Herstmonceux, 1958 - 1963
File
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 9/7
Scope and Contents
Correspondence and some related papers regarding Herstmonceux Castle and the Royal Observatory, including the following items:General correspondence regarding the Observatory, including the administration of the grounds of Herstmonceux Castle, the supply of trout for the lake at the Castle, and the supply of wild fowl for the Castle grounds, 1963.Requests for information from the Royal Observatory archives, mostly dealt with by P.S. Laurie, 1963.Correspondence between...
Dates:
1958 - 1963
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Management Group:
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
Correspondence on the Observatory and Herstmonceux, 1963
File
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 9/11
Scope and Contents
Correspondence regarding Herstmonceux Castle and the Royal Greenwich Observatory, including the supply of trout and wild fowl for Herstmonceux Castle's lake and grounds; requests for information from the R.G.O. archives, mostly dealt with by P.S. Laurie; correspondence between 'Thomson Newspapers' and Richard Woolley regarding the latter's desire to acquire a portrait of King Charles II; and correspondence concerning the Public Records Office and the Ministry of Public Buildings and...
Dates:
1963
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Management Group:
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).
Item
Notes on the Royal Observatory, 1955
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 74/1/7
Scope and Contents
Typescript notes regarding the buildings and instruments of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, covering its development from its foundation until the beginning of the Second World War, and its observing methods from 1676 to the middle of the 19th century. There are accompanying plans of the grounds and photocopies of pictures of the buildings, grounds and instruments. At the start of the folder is a prefatory note by P.S. Laurie dated 26 August 1955.
Dates:
1955
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Management Group:
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
Papers on the Public Record Office, 1958 - 1968
File
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 10/716
Scope and Contents
(1) Correspondence and papers regarding the Public Record Office, mainly by P.S. Laurie, including correspondence with the Meteorological Office concerning the Kew records and material on alterations in the Public Records Act and the pre-release of documents.(2) Correspondence with Miss E.C. Titterton regarding solar photographs and letters.(3) Correspondence regarding public records and the Public Record Office, mainly involving P.S. Laurie, the Royal Greenwich Observatory...
Dates:
1958 - 1968
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Management Group:
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
Personal papers, 1964-05-12 - 1966-12-06
File
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 10/666
Scope and Contents
Copies of correspondence and notes to the Astronomer Royal, including notes by P.S. Laurie on 'John 'Longitude' Harrison and the £20.000 Prize' by H. Quill; correspondence with J.J. Echevarrieta of the Ministerio de Defensa Nacional, Buenos Aires, regarding a possible visit to Herstmonceux by an Argentinian delegation; a note by D.H. Sadler on the staffing of H.M. Nautical Almanac Office; and a note by J.D. Pope concerning a proposed design for the Isaac Newton Telescope Coudé...
Dates:
1964-05-12 - 1966-12-06
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Management Group:
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).
Item
Philip Laurie, 'Scientia pro Patria' (ROG wartime diary), c.1939-1945
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 107/1/1
Scope and Contents
Sub-titled, 'Or a short history of the Royal Observatory covering the period from the outbreak of War, Sept. 1939 to the end of the year 1940'. Wartime diary with table of contents (I. Prelude, II. Evacuation and Blitz, III. The Beleaguered Garrison; IV. General Routine, V. The Garden; VI. A.R.P, VII. LDV and HG'. Inside the front cover is a sketch in black ink by Laurie titled, 'Morning - Oct. 16, 1940' showing bomb damage [on a street in Greenwich?]. Entries are handwritten in...
Dates:
c.1939-1945
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Management Group:
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).
Series
Royal Observatory, Greenwich and R.G.O. History Papers (including Philip S. Laurie Papers), 1761-c.1982
Series
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 107
Scope and Contents
Files relating to the history of the Royal Observatory Greenwich and RGO, Herstmonceux, compiled and in many cases, created by, Philip Stevenson Laurie. Laurie worked at the ROG/RGO from 1935 to 1977, beginning as a Temporary Computer before going on to become the Head of the Solar Department. While most of his career involved solar work, Laurie also had a passion for ROG/RGO history and became increasingly involved with the RGO’s Archives. On 1 October 1974, he was transferred to full-time...
Dates:
1761-c.1982
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Management Group:
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).