Collection: R J M Sutherland Photographic Archive

Description

Robert James Mackay Sutherland (1922-2013) was an engineer and historian of engineering particularly noted as the designer of the concrete hyperbolic parabolic roof for the Commonwealth Institute, now home to the Design Museum. After retirement he used his time to become more immersed in his historical interests. From 1973 he convened the history group of the Institution of Structural Engineers. Between 1987 and 1989 he served as president of the Newcomen Society for the study of the history of engineering and technology. He wrote many papers on the history of the use of cast and wrought iron in building.

The collection comprises circa 1000 prints, both black & white and colour, mostly dating from c. 1948-2003, along with a limited number of 35mm colour and b/w negatives. The majority of views show industrial archaeological subjects including canals; bridges; aqueducts; Covent Garden; structural ironwork; records of renovation to significant buildings. There are also townscapes, notably historic towns such as Bradford-on-Avon and Bath, as well as photographic records of secular and non-secular buildings. The collection contains a group of photographs taken during Sutherland’s voyage along the canals of northern England. Included within this group are portraits of fellow crew members (his wife Anthea, the writers Robert Aickman, Elizabeth Jane Howard and L T C (Tom) Rolt) on this significant voyage. There are also a number of views showing their boat ‘Ailsa Craig’ at the Standedge Tunnel at Marsden on the Huddersfield Canal.

Within the collection are a small number of prints by other photographers, for example a set of photographs showing the first Severn Road Bridge under construction are stamped ‘William Tribe Limited’ (Raglan, Monmouthshire) and F G Warne Limited (Bristol).

Archival History

The collection was acquired by the Historic England Archive in 2016.

An obituary to R J M Sutherland can be found in The Times of 5 August 2013.

Content

Rights

© Historic England Archive (R.J.M. Sutherland Photographic Archive)