Source Information

Institution of Civil Engineers
Ancestry.com. UK, Civil Engineer Photographs, 1829-1923 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
Original data: Civil Engineer Photographs. London, UK: Institution of Civil Engineers.

About UK, Civil Engineer Photographs, 1829-1923

This collection contains photographs of members of the Institution of Civil Engineers, with digitized images of both the front and back of the photo.

Historical Background

A group of young civil engineers met in 1818 to found a professional organization to “foster and promote the art and science of civil engineering.” That organization, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), received a royal charter in 1828, and by the end of the 19th century had become both an educational and a qualifying body as it introduced examinations for civil engineers. Today, the ICE is a worldwide organization with more than 80,000 members.

Engineering records from the late 19th century document a particularly important era in UK history. Records like these can tie into occupations in the census, railway records, and trade union records, as well as revealing biographical details and work patterns over time.

What You May Find in These Records

On these images, you’ll typically find the name of the person and studio imprint (indicating where the photograph was taken). In some cases you may also learn of positions held in the organization and other biographical details.