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IET Archives blog

Stories from the Institution of Engineering and Technology

Cragside – harnessing the power of water

By Asha Gage, IET Archivist Sir William Armstrong, later 1st Baron Armstrong, was one of the most successful British industrialists and scientists of the 19th century. He turned his vision and inventiveness to his country residence, Cragside, which is situated... Continue Reading →

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A Glasgow All-Electric House

by Anne Locker In 1923, IEE member Stanley Parker Smith was planning a new house in Glasgow, designed for “all-electric working” with no coal or gas. The design, construction and electrical installation of the house is described in a paper... Continue Reading →

“Where clients call, and fees abound … Victoria Street!”

The chronicle of a Consulting Engineer’s practice in post-war London, and of its founder, Charles MacKechnie Jarvis Guest blog by Jonathan MacKechnie Jarvis My late father was an inveterate hoarder, who seldom discarded anything of possible future interest.  He died... Continue Reading →

Methodus Geometrica – a real work of art

With the arts gaining importance in the teaching of STEM subjects (now abbreviated to STEAM) it is prudent to remember that historically visual art worked alongside and complimented many scientific compositions. The teaching of the arts in STEM subjects has... Continue Reading →

The Dynasphere

By Aisling O’Malley, IET Archivist The Dynasphere was created by engineer Dr John Archibald Purves who reportedly claimed it was the ‘high speed vehicle of the future’. Indeed, many publications at the time were open to the idea that this... Continue Reading →

What kind of people create an industry?

Dr Tom Abram, Director , Archives of IT I wrote here last year about Archives of IT https://archivesit.org.uk and our project to gather oral history from the people of the IT and Telecommunications industries. A year on, here is some... Continue Reading →

Women’s work? Women at the BBC during World War II

By Asha Gage, IET Archivist As the BBC celebrates its centenary in 2022, we look at one aspect on how it was at the forefront, not only technologically, but by breaking down barriers for women’s employment in the technical arena.Women... Continue Reading →

Electricity Without Tears: How the EAW taught children about electricity

By Aisling O'Malley, IET Archivist In November 1924, the Women’s Electrical Association was formed at a meeting organised by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES). By 1925 the organisation, whose director at this time was WES Secretary Dame Caroline Haslett, was... Continue Reading →

Sorting and storing the IET Library pamphlets

Hear from Dawn White in the IET Library about a project nearing completion to tidy up the Institution's large pamphlet collection. When I joined the Institution over 30 years ago the Pamphlet collection was stored all over the Savoy Place... Continue Reading →

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