Photo by Douglas A. Lockard |
| Dee, John A. A True & Faithful Relation of What passed for many Years Between Dr. John Dee (A Mathematician of Great Fame in Q. Eliz. And King James their Reignes) and Some Spirits. Engraved frontispiece. London, 1659. |
The Roy G. Neville Historical Chemical Library, a collection in the Othmer Library of Chemical History, represents one of the richest single deposits of books on the history of chemistry in the world.
Extensive
Roughly 6,000 titles in all, the Neville collection dates from the late 15th century to the early 20th century and includes many of the most important works in the history of science and technology from this period.
Unique
Many of the works written before 1800 are especially rare, and some 400 titles are unique to the collection. Important manuscript materials, dissertations, and pamphlets complement the books and serials in the collection, which also includes several documents previously unknown or thought lost.
Many images from the collection can be viewed in our online catalog.
Roy G. Neville (1926-2007)
Acquiring and cataloging the books in his collection was Roy G. Neville’s life’s work. A consulting chemist by profession, in 1973 he founded the corporation Engineering and Technical Consultants in Redwood City, California, of which he was president. He was also a passionate bibliophile by avocation. Neville began collecting books as a teenager and amassed one of the largest private collections of rare books in the fields of science and technology, and chemistry in particular.
Photo by Douglas A. Lockard |
| St. Thomas Aquinas. Thome de generatione et corruptione. Engraved title page. Lyons, 1520. |
Gordon E. and Betty Moore
The acquisition and conservation of this collection for future generations was made possible through a generous $10-million gift from Gordon E. and Betty Moore. Gordon Moore, a chemist, is the cofounder of Intel Corporation. Commenting on the strengths of the Neville collection and the appropriateness of CHF as its permanent home, Moore has said, “Betty and I believe it is important to conserve for future generations the books and documents that record and reveal the remarkable progress of the chemical sciences through the past 600 years.”
Inquiries
For more information, please contact:
reference@chemheritage.org
Digital Services
To order images from the Roy G. Neville Historical Chemical Library, please contact digitallibrarian@chemheritage.org.
Related Publication
The Roy G. Neville Historical Chemical Library: An Annotated Catalogue of Printed Books on Alchemy: This bibliography includes many of the most important works in the history of
science and technology. This is the most complete guide to this unique
collection and a must-have for anyone interested in the remarkable story of the
history of chemistry.
Additional points of interest
The Whole of Nature and the Mirror of Art
Images from the Roy G. Neville Historical Chemical Library, a recent exhibit at CHF.
Roy G. Neville Fellowships
Two fellowships are being offered by CHF that will enable scholars to work with items in the Neville collection.
Roy G. Neville Prize in Bibliography or Biography
Recognizing an outstanding monograph in the areas of the chemical and molecular sciences 
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