Collection OM/479 - T. A. Miller Brownlie papers

Identity area

Reference code

GB 249 OM/479

Title

T. A. Miller Brownlie papers

Date(s)

  • 1931-1940 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

0.06 metres

Context area

Name of creator

(1879-1963)

Biographical history

T. A. Miller Brownlie was born in June 1879 and educated at Lenzie Academy and the High School of Glasgow. In session 1895-1896, aged 16, he enrolled as a part-time student at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College (GWSTC). He was then living at his family home, Springbank Villa, in Lenzie and his occupation is recorded in the GWSTC student register as 'timber merchant'. Brownlie continued to study part-time at the GWSTC until session 1897-1898, when his occupation appears in the register as 'civil engineer'. He also took classes at the University of Glasgow. After completing a civil engineering apprenticeship with Messrs. Warren and Stuart of Glasgow, he remained with the firm for four years as an Assistant, working on schemes for water supply, sewerage and sewage disposal. In 1905 he left Scotland for Punjab, India, where he joined the Public Works Department and was initially engaged on water supplies projects with the Royal Engineers in the North West Frontier Province, followed by work for the Irrigation Department there. In 1910, he was appointed Municipal Engineer of Amritsar in Northern India, where he installed a sewerage and sewage disposal system and the first municipal electrification scheme in Northern India. In 1915 he became Agricultural Engineer to the Government in Punjab, and Professor of Agricultural Engineering at the Pubjab Agricultural College, Lyallpur, where he invented many improvements and innovations to tube wells and agricultural machines. In 1931, during a period of leave in Scotland at 'Pembroke', Kirn, Argyllshire, he completed a specification for improvements in the construction of winnowing or grain cleaning machines that would ensure against loss of crop due to failure of natural wind at the harvesting season. Brownlie obtained Letters Patent for this invention in Calcutta. In 1923, Brownlie was appointed Principal of the Punjab Agricultural College and Research Institute, remaining in post until his promotion to Superintending Engineer in 1931. He was a Member of the Institution of Water Engineers (MIWE) and a Member of the Institution of Municipal and County Engineers (MIM&CE). He retired from professional life in 1934.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

File containing specifications, drawings, patents and correspondence relating to Brownlie's improvements in the construction of winnowing or grain cleaning machines, 1931-1940; photographs of the winnowing machine, c 1931; copy of the Punjab Agricultural Magazine vol.1, no.7 (April 1934), containing an appreciation of Brownlie.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

None expected.

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    Finding aids

    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

    Related units of description

    Related descriptions

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Access points

    Subject access points

    Place access points

    Name access points

    Genre access points

    Description identifier

    Institution identifier

    Language(s)

      Script(s)

        Sources

        Accession area