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The article focuses on the diary of research scientist Herbert McLeod having daily entries from 1860 to 1923 that describes the scientific life in London, England. It depicts the aspects of the everyday lives of some of the more established scientists working in or near the city during the period. It is intended to show ways wherein their scientific and social lives intersected and their ideas were exchanged. Furthermore, it outlines the methodological problems associated to the historical recovery of the everyday world of scientists in the city.

The article discusses the history of technical assistance in scientific work in London, England during the latter half of the nineteenth century. The author reflects on assistants such as laboratory technicians, skilled trades people, and research students and their roles in the organization of scientific work. The social connections of scientists are considered. Scientists discussed include William Crookes, Charles Gimingham, and William Higgins. Other topics include skills necessary for scientific instrument-making, the influence of the industrial economy, and patent rights.

Examines the cultural identities of three mid-nineteenth-century scientific educational institutions in London, England. History of the creation of the institutions; Hybrid ideologies associated with each institution; Reflection of the importance of cultural proclivities in the development of science; Differences on the concept of the student publication.

Comments on the failed efforts of chemist Raphael Meldola to memorialize the role of Herbert Spencer in Westminister Abbey. Where the names of persons who signed Meldola's petition can be found; Contents of letters; Information on `Synthetic Philosophy,' final volume of Herbert Spencer; What the Meldola letters indicated.

This paper is both (a) an exercise in historical recovery in that it details some of the events surrounding the founding of the City and Guilds of London Institute and describes the way in which the Institute set about the building and running of two of its colleges, the City and Guilds Technical College, Finsbury, and the Central Institution in South Kensington (new archival detail is added to what is already known of this history) and (b) an attempt to interpret the above material in terms of various forms of association within the City Corporation and the guilds. Collectively the City and the guilds made an effort to come to terms with a modernizing world through the means of providing scientific and technical education. The guilds wanted to remain important even though traditional apprenticeship was dying out. In joining in a new venture to provide technical education for young people it was necessary to maintain an order in which the City's presence was clear and apparent. This paper will show how such an order was achieved and, in so doing, it shows something more generally of the relationship of tradition and rhetoric to institution building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]