Chemistry and Colour Science
The School of Chemistry holds a rare and historically important collection of over 2000 chemical samples, collected between c.1870 and c.1960. These once formed the Chemical Museum, which originated at the same time as the Yorkshire College of Science in 1874, if not earlier.
This collection offers insights into the day to day activities of a turn of the century Chemistry Department and its relationship with local industry and the wider scientific community. It includes material from significant scientific investigations such as Bunsen and Roscoe’s 1888 experiments on the chemical action of light, and from brands such as ICI and Boots. A highlight is a sample of deep sea manganese collected during the HMS Challenger expedition (1872-1876).
The Department of Colour Science has curated a publicly accessible display of early dyes which once contributed to the thriving local textile industry, including Perkin’s Mauveine (aniline purple), the first synthetically produced dye. Mauveine was initially produced on the 28th April 1856, by William Perkin in his home laboratory. Before this, all textiles had to be dyed using naturally occurring substances.
The display is located in Clothworkers’ Building Central, outside the Speakman lecture theatre.