Alwyn Ruddock
Encyclopedia
Alwyn Ruddock was a noted British historian of the Age of Discovery
, best known for her research on the 'English' voyages of the 15th-century explorer John Cabot
. Cabot and other English navigators of the time were trying to find lands to the West, such as the mythical 'Isle of Brasil
' or the North American lands first discovered by Icelanders in previous centuries.
) on The Port Books or Local Customs Accounts of Southampton (Vol I 1937 & Vol II 1938). During World War II
, she taught in the history department of what was to become Southampton University. She also published in many of the top academic journals, such as English Historical Review, Economic History Review, and History.
In 1946 Ruddock moved to Birkbeck College, University of London
where she published in 1951 Italian Merchants and Shipping in Southampton, 1270-1500 (1951). She was appointed the position of reader in history in 1952, and subsequently elected as a fellow of both the Society of Antiquaries of London
and of the Royal Historical Society
.
.
She felt unable or unwilling to publish it; upon her death, she left instructions for her research papers to be destroyed. Her only published research in this field are a number of short articles that she wrote in the late 1960s and early 70s.
in April 2007 (print edition, 2008). He wrote a second article about two documents found by the historian, Margaret Condon, who had not published them in the 1980s, in part due to the understanding that Ruddock had a book in progress on the topic. Evan Jones and Margaret Condon are carrying out further investigations into evidence of the early voyages and evidence for Ruddock's claims.
Age of Discovery
The Age of Discovery, also known as the Age of Exploration and the Great Navigations , was a period in history starting in the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century during which Europeans engaged in intensive exploration of the world, establishing direct contacts with...
, best known for her research on the 'English' voyages of the 15th-century explorer John Cabot
John Cabot
John Cabot was an Italian navigator and explorer whose 1497 discovery of parts of North America is commonly held to have been the first European encounter with the continent of North America since the Norse Vikings in the eleventh century...
. Cabot and other English navigators of the time were trying to find lands to the West, such as the mythical 'Isle of Brasil
Brazil (mythical island)
Brasil, also known as Hy-Brasil or several other variants, is a phantom island which was said to lie in the Atlantic ocean west of Ireland. In Irish myths it was said to be cloaked in mist, except for one day each seven years, when it became visible but still could not be reached...
' or the North American lands first discovered by Icelanders in previous centuries.
Early work
Ruddock's first published research was a two-volume work (With David Beers QuinnDavid Beers Quinn
David Beers Quinn was an Irish historian who wrote extensively on the voyages of discovery and colonisation of America. Many of his publications appeared as volumes of the Hakluyt Society...
) on The Port Books or Local Customs Accounts of Southampton (Vol I 1937 & Vol II 1938). During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, she taught in the history department of what was to become Southampton University. She also published in many of the top academic journals, such as English Historical Review, Economic History Review, and History.
In 1946 Ruddock moved to Birkbeck College, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
where she published in 1951 Italian Merchants and Shipping in Southampton, 1270-1500 (1951). She was appointed the position of reader in history in 1952, and subsequently elected as a fellow of both the Society of Antiquaries of London
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
and of the Royal Historical Society
Royal Historical Society
The Royal Historical Society was founded in 1868. The premier society in the United Kingdom which promotes and defends the scholarly study of the past, it is based at University College London...
.
Later work
In the 1950s and early 1960s, Ruddock's concerns shifted from the activities of Italian merchants in Southampton to a broader investigation of Italian mercantile networks and businesses in medieval Europe. She intended to produce a 'big' book on Italian Merchants and Shipping. Around 1965, she claimed to have made a discovery in the archives of a Venetian banking family: documents relating to John Cabot's early activities, including a loan that the family advanced to him in c. 1496. For at least 25 years, she was promising to produce her Cabot book 'soon'; in 1992 she undertook a formal book contract with the University of Exeter PressUniversity of Exeter Press
University of Exeter Press is the academic press of the University of Exeter, England.-Main Subject Areas:* Arabic and Islamic Studies* Archaeology* Celtic Studies* Classical Studies and Ancient History* Cultural and Social Studies* Education...
.
She felt unable or unwilling to publish it; upon her death, she left instructions for her research papers to be destroyed. Her only published research in this field are a number of short articles that she wrote in the late 1960s and early 70s.
Current investigations
After her death, the Bristol University historian Evan Jones began to investigate Ruddock's unpublished research claims about the voyages of John Cabot, producing an article about them in the journal Historical ResearchHistorical Research
Historical Research is a scholarly journal published by the Institute of Historical Research at the University of London. It was first published in 1923 under the title Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research. Beginning with Vol. 60, no. 141 , the journal appeared under its present name...
in April 2007 (print edition, 2008). He wrote a second article about two documents found by the historian, Margaret Condon, who had not published them in the 1980s, in part due to the understanding that Ruddock had a book in progress on the topic. Evan Jones and Margaret Condon are carrying out further investigations into evidence of the early voyages and evidence for Ruddock's claims.