Geoffrey Martin (historian)
Encyclopedia
Professor Geoffrey Haward Matin CBE
(27 September 1928 – 20 December 2007) was a respected British academic, historian and from 1982 until 1988 Keeper of Public Records of the UK.
, where he published a history of the school in the school magazine, The Colcestrian, before reprinting it as a separate volume with additions and corrections, The History of Colchester Royal Grammar School (1539-1947), published by the Borough of Colchester.
In 1947 he went to Merton College, Oxford
, to read history, specialising in Richard II and John of Gaunt. Soon after he published his PhD
on the medieval history of Ipswich
.
during 1952, Martin joined Leicester University as a lecturer in economic history. Whilst at Leicester, he was a Reader in History, 1966–73, a Public Orator, 1971–74, and a Professor of History, 1973-82. He was also for a term (1975–80) head of the university's history department and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, 1979-82. He was a visiting professor at Carleton University
, Ottawa, for the years 1958-59 and 1967-68.
In 1971 he returned to Merton College, where he had studied for his PhD, as a visiting research Fellow and in 1990 became a senior research Fellow. In 1997 Martin and his former Oxford tutor Dr Roger Highfield published the first official history of the college, A History of Merton.
He also ensured that the 900th anniversary of Domesday Book
in 1986 was celebrated with a major public exhibition, held at Chancery Lane
in the former Rolls Chapel. It was a great success, linking sound scholarship with the use of the then new technology of ‘talking heads’.
He remains the only career academic who has ever had charge of the national archives, and later felt obliged to criticise the appointment of another head of the archives who he considered to be unsuitable for the job.
from 1982 until 1991. Later he became one of its vice-presidents, and a vice-president of the Royal Historical Society
between 1984 and 1988. He was appointed CBE in 1986.
After his retirement Martin was appointed to a research chair at the University of Essex
, where he taught on the Second World War. In 2002 he provided the introduction to the Penguin publication of the Domesday Book, the first wholly English language edition of Domesday.
Martin married Janet Hamer, another historian in 1953, and they had four children. Through his wife, Martin had developed an attachment to the Lake District
. In 1969 they bought a house there and, when illness eventually reduced his activities during 2003, it was to where he retired. He was also president of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, 1999-2002. He died on 20 December 2007, aged 79.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(27 September 1928 – 20 December 2007) was a respected British academic, historian and from 1982 until 1988 Keeper of Public Records of the UK.
Early life
Geoffrey Haward Martin was born in Essex, 27 September 1928. He was schooled at Colchester Royal Grammar SchoolColchester Royal Grammar School
Colchester Royal Grammar School is a grammar school in Colchester, Essex, founded in AD 1206 and granted two Royal Charters by Henry VIII and by Elizabeth I .-Admissions:...
, where he published a history of the school in the school magazine, The Colcestrian, before reprinting it as a separate volume with additions and corrections, The History of Colchester Royal Grammar School (1539-1947), published by the Borough of Colchester.
In 1947 he went to Merton College, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
, to read history, specialising in Richard II and John of Gaunt. Soon after he published his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
on the medieval history of Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
.
Academic career
Having completed research at the University of ManchesterUniversity of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
during 1952, Martin joined Leicester University as a lecturer in economic history. Whilst at Leicester, he was a Reader in History, 1966–73, a Public Orator, 1971–74, and a Professor of History, 1973-82. He was also for a term (1975–80) head of the university's history department and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, 1979-82. He was a visiting professor at Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
, Ottawa, for the years 1958-59 and 1967-68.
In 1971 he returned to Merton College, where he had studied for his PhD, as a visiting research Fellow and in 1990 became a senior research Fellow. In 1997 Martin and his former Oxford tutor Dr Roger Highfield published the first official history of the college, A History of Merton.
Appointment as Keeper of the Public Records
In May 1982 Martin was appointed Keeper of the Public Records at the Public Record Office (PRO). For the International Council on Archives, he was a member of the executive committee between 1984 and 1988, and also played a leading role in the formation of the Association of Commonwealth Archivists in 1984, serving as its first chairman. In 1985 he led the first official delegation of British archivists to China, and he often represented the PRO overseas.He also ensured that the 900th anniversary of Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
in 1986 was celebrated with a major public exhibition, held at Chancery Lane
Chancery Lane
Chancery Lane is the street which has been the western boundary of the City of London since 1994 having previously been divided between Westminster and Camden...
in the former Rolls Chapel. It was a great success, linking sound scholarship with the use of the then new technology of ‘talking heads’.
He remains the only career academic who has ever had charge of the national archives, and later felt obliged to criticise the appointment of another head of the archives who he considered to be unsuitable for the job.
Later life, personal life and death
Within the UK he was chairman of the council of the British Records AssociationBritish Records Association
The British Records Association, widely known as the B.R.A., is a British learned society founded in 1932 concerned with historic records and archives. It issues a journal, Archives, and other publications; hosts conferences and seminars; and undertakes other activities to promote the care and...
from 1982 until 1991. Later he became one of its vice-presidents, and a vice-president 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...
between 1984 and 1988. He was appointed CBE in 1986.
After his retirement Martin was appointed to a research chair at the University of Essex
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
, where he taught on the Second World War. In 2002 he provided the introduction to the Penguin publication of the Domesday Book, the first wholly English language edition of Domesday.
Martin married Janet Hamer, another historian in 1953, and they had four children. Through his wife, Martin had developed an attachment to the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
. In 1969 they bought a house there and, when illness eventually reduced his activities during 2003, it was to where he retired. He was also president of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, 1999-2002. He died on 20 December 2007, aged 79.