The Howard Foundation has sponsored an archivist at the Cambridge University Library to catalogue the records of Alan Howard’s life and work using material collected by Alan during his lifetime and given to the library by his son Jon at the end of 2021.
This project is of benefit to researchers in diet, nutrition, the representation of obesity, and the social and historical study of medicine and biological sciences, as well as researchers interested in entrepreneurialism and philanthropy. A professional standard catalogue for the collection preserved in Cambridge University Library also serves as a permanent legacy of the work of Alan Howard.
The records, which now fill seventeen archive boxes, constitute Alan Howard’s personal archive, including documents kept for his own use. The records include patents, correspondence, marketing materials, reports, publications, conference programmes, Howard Foundation records, press clippings, photographs, school notebooks, texts of speeches, CVs and a few items of personal memorabilia. Overall, the records document Howard’s biography, scientific training and research, commercialisation activities, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy.
A second collection of photographs has been donated by Alan Howard’s daughter and son, Julie and Jon. These are held as part of the Library’s digital preservation programme and access will be possible in due course.
To access the physical repository, which is stored in the Manuscripts Reading Room, please click here for the library website about how to visit the reading room.
Click on the image below to see an overview and description of the physical archive.
