Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1947-2005 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
20 boxes, 3 parcels, 4 albums, 1 oversize tube.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Raymond Leslie Whitmore was born near Luton, England, in 1920. After finishing school he worked as a laboratory assistant in the Mining Department at the University of Birmingham and studied externally for a Physics degree from the University of London, which he completed in 1942. He then joined the RAF and was posted to the radio training school at Yatesbury. After a few postings elsewhere, he was transferred to RAF Malvern in July 1943 to undertake special radar duties. Following demobilisation he returned to work at the University, and was awarded his PhD. in 1949. In October 1947 he married Ruth Franklin. They had two sons In May 1953 Whitmore was appointed Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mining and Fuels at Nottingham University, where his research focused on the cleaning of coal. He published extensively and by 1959 had been awarded a D.Sc by the University of Birmingham. This was followed shortly afterwards by promotion to Reader in the Department In September 1967 he was appointed to the Chair of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering at the University of Queensland. From 1970-74 he represented the University on the Australian Research Grants Commission, and held the first of a series of positions with Engineers Australia, ultimately serving as Chairman of the Queensland Division in 1982, and as a member of the National Council. He was made an Honorary Fellow in 1998. Whitmore was also a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and became a life member of the Australian Coal Preparation Society. For a brief time he was Dean of the Faculty of Engineering from 1974-75. In 1976, he decided to relinquish the Headship of the Department, while continuing as Professor of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering. This allowed him to focus more on scholarship and research. His interest in history ultimately evolved into the writing of a three-volume history of Coal in Queensland. He also formed the first Engineering Heritage Panels within the Institution of Engineers Australia, initially in Queensland and then nationally in 1976. His outstanding achievements in engineering heritage were recognized by the award of the John Monash medal for Engineering Heritage in 2005. In 1994 he had been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his service to mining and metallurgical engineering and to engineering history, heritage and industrial archaeology`. Whitmore died on 20 December 2008.
Repository
Archival history
Collection previously titled as: Papers, 1947-2005
Collection alternatively titled as: Ray Whitmore Collection
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Photographs, negatives, slides, maps, handwritten notes, correspondence, reports, field notes, drawing and surveys, meeting minutes, reports, newspaper cuttings.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Unrestricted access, except for restricted access Box 10 Folder 8
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Uploaded finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Alma MMS ID
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Whitmore, Ray, 1920-2008 (Subject)
- Engineers Australia (Subject)
- Engineering Heritage Australia (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Migrated
Level of detail
Full
Dates of creation revision deletion
Migrated from LMS: April 2019, P.A.