Contract Files

The bulk of the collection consists of numerous files of correspondence and other details relating to particular contracts on which Underhill worked. Most of these date from the Second World War or after. Underhill was architect to Thornley and Knight, varnish, paint and enamel manufacturers and this is reflected in the amount of material relating to them. He also undertook a large scale project at Grestone Avenue School in Handsworth Wood on behalf of the City Council's Education Department. The jobs he worked on can be traced in his diaries. The files have been arranged alphabetically according to the address of the property, as they are all of similar dates. Birmingham addresses are arranged by street and suburb and other addresses by the name of the town or village. Two sequences for Grestone Avenue School and the Thornley and Knight are preserved separately. There is one miscellaneous file which includes some personal correspondence.