Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1950–1989 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
74 files in 4 boxes (0.66 linear metres)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Dr Frank Alan Burnett Ward (1905–1990) was a founder member of the Antiquarian Horological Society, its Treasurer, Programme Secretary, Vice-President, and the organiser of Continental tours for the Society.
Born in Stockport, Cheshire, he was educated at Highgate School, London, and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, where he read physics and undertook research in nuclear physics with Lord Rutherford at Cavendish Laboratory, gaining a PhD (Cantab). His main career, which spanned nearly forty years starting in 1931, was at the Science Museum, London. As Keeper in the Department of Physics, Dr Ward was involved in managing the Time Measurement Collection, from sundials to quartz clocks. He also organised two major exhibitions there: ’The British Clockmaker's Heritage' (1952) and, in conjunction with the AHS, 'Collectors' Pieces, Clocks and Watches' (1964). During the Second World War he was seconded to the Air Ministry (Meteorological Office) and was later commissioned in the RAFVR (Meteorological Branch).
After his retirement in 1970, Dr Ward catalogued the British Museum's collection of European scientific instruments, as well as the clock and watch collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum and Waddesdon Manor. Between 1973 and 1985, he published fifteen articles in Antiquarian Horology.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited as part of the Michael Hurst collection (HUR), these records formed a separate archive kept in five box files marked "Dr Ward".
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This collection comprises Dr Ward's correspondence, reports, lecture notes as well as printed material and photographs. They mostly document various horological tours and exhibitions organised by him, and his cataloguing and consulting work.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Envelopes bearing no relation to their contents have been disposed of; only fragments containing relevant information, where present, have been retained.
Accruals
Dr Ward’s archive has been fully catalogued and no further deposits are expected.
System of arrangement
Dr Ward kept his papers in envelopes, many of them repurposed and bearing no relation to the papers within. Most envelopes were annotated with brief descriptions of contents but were arranged in no discernible order. In this catalogue, the contents of each envelope constitue a file, and they have been arranged into the following series:
WAR/01: Minutes and reports
WAR/02: Correspondence
WAR/03: Lectures, notes and articles
WAR/04: Printed brochures
WAR/05: Photographs
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These records are mostly available for public access by prior appointment. Records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 2018.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Mostly English, some Dutch, German and French
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Generated finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Catalogued in April 2024 by the AHS Archivist.