Henry Maxwell Lyte
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry Churchill Maxwell Lyte (or Maxwell-Lyte) (29 May 1848–28 October 1940) was an English
historian, the author of numerous books including a history of Eton College
.
, to parents John Walker and Emily Jeanette Maxwell-Lyte. He was the grandson of Henry Francis Lyte
.
He was educated at Eton
and at Christ Church, Oxford
, taking an Honoirs in Law and History, and becoming an M.A.
He married Frances Fownes Somerville on 3 January 1871 in Wells
, Somerset
shire.
Their children were Agnes (22 October 1871), Edith (30 October 1872), Margaret (27 March 1874), John (15 June 1875), Walter (4 March 1877) and Arthur (10 April 1881).
Arthur went on, after schooling at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford
to be assistant secretary of the Board of Education
in 1936.
In 1880 and 1881 he wrote a series of papers on Dunster and its Lords for the Archaeological Journal
, which were later reprinted as a book.
In 1886 he published History of the University of Oxford from the earliest times to the year 1530.
For several years Maxwell Lyte was an inspector of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts
.
In 1886 he was appointed Deputy Keeper of the Public Records Office (PRO) in succession to William Hardy.
As a newcomer, he initially was resented by the staff of the office, but managed to quickly assert his authority.
He reformed the clerks' pay structure, began plans for a permanent museum, organized a project to celebrate 800 years since production of the Domesday Book
and in 1889 introduced a lift in the building and electric light.
Despite public opposition, he demolished the Rolls Chapel to make room for an extension along Chancery Lane
, incorporating the chancel arch, stained glass and monuments in the museum.
In 1890 Maxwell Lyte went to Rome
and drew up the rules for formation of a Calendar of papal registers, starting with those of Pope Innocent III
.
Reviewers later criticized the omission of these rules from the Calendar, which reduced its value to researchers.
The PRO had been publishing the Rolls Series, critically edited versions of selected texts in the Records Office. Although many were of great value, there were failures and a sense of amateurishness in some of the publications.
Maxwell Lyte was influential in the decision to transfer editors and funding from work on the series to the more valuable work of publishing public records.
In 1892 he introduced the Lists and Indexes series.
By terminating the Roll Series in 1894 and concentrating on making guides and calendars to the records, which professional historians could now access directly, Maxwell Lyte transformed the Records Office into a center of scholarship.
He was instrumental in passage of an act in 1898 that allowed for destruction of records of little apparent value back to 1660.
In 1910 he became engaged in a struggle to prevent records on Wales
being transferred to the Principality, refusing to cooperate with a commission set up for this purpose.
In 1914, as deputy-keeper of the public records, he opposed reduction of controls over access to the public records.
Although personally in favor of giving the public access to documents up to 1860, for later records he recommended that each case be subject to an inquiry about the purpose and extent of the research. His concern was that the researcher might publish distorted and damaging work based on a biased selection, and could even be in the pay of foreign powers.
During the planning of the National War Museum in 1917, as keeper of the Public Record Office he decided against giving custody of War Records to the museum.
In 1924 he was appointed chairman of a committee established by the British Academy
to prepare a dictionary of Medieval Latin based on British sources dating between 1066 and 1600 AD.
Maxwell Lyte was made a C.B. in January 1889 and a K.C.B. in 1897.
He retired from the PRO in 1926, and was succeeded by A.E. Stamp.
He died on 28 Oct 1940 in Dinder House, Dinder
, Somerset
shire.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
historian, the author of numerous books including a history of Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
.
Background
Maxwell Lyte was born on 29 May 1848 in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, to parents John Walker and Emily Jeanette Maxwell-Lyte. He was the grandson of Henry Francis Lyte
Henry Francis Lyte
Henry Francis Lyte was a Scottish Anglican divine and hymn-writer.-Youth and education:Henry Francis Lyte was born to Thomas and Anna Maria Lyte on a farm at Ednam, near Kelso, Scotland...
.
He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, taking an Honoirs in Law and History, and becoming an M.A.
He married Frances Fownes Somerville on 3 January 1871 in Wells
Wells
Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
shire.
Their children were Agnes (22 October 1871), Edith (30 October 1872), Margaret (27 March 1874), John (15 June 1875), Walter (4 March 1877) and Arthur (10 April 1881).
Arthur went on, after schooling at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
to be assistant secretary of the Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
in 1936.
Early career
Maxwell Lyte published his first book History of Eton College in 1875.In 1880 and 1881 he wrote a series of papers on Dunster and its Lords for the Archaeological Journal
Royal Archaeological Institute
The Royal Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland is a learned society, established in 1844, primarily devoted to the publication of the Archaeological Journal, a production of archaeological news that has been in print since 1844....
, which were later reprinted as a book.
In 1886 he published History of the University of Oxford from the earliest times to the year 1530.
For several years Maxwell Lyte was an inspector of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts
Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts
The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts , a UK body, was established in 1869 "to make enquiry as to the places where manuscripts and private papers of historical interest were located and to report on their contents"....
.
In 1886 he was appointed Deputy Keeper of the Public Records Office (PRO) in succession to William Hardy.
As a newcomer, he initially was resented by the staff of the office, but managed to quickly assert his authority.
He reformed the clerks' pay structure, began plans for a permanent museum, organized a project to celebrate 800 years since production of the 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...
and in 1889 introduced a lift in the building and electric light.
Despite public opposition, he demolished the Rolls Chapel to make room for an extension along 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...
, incorporating the chancel arch, stained glass and monuments in the museum.
In 1890 Maxwell Lyte went to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and drew up the rules for formation of a Calendar of papal registers, starting with those of Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III was Pope from 8 January 1198 until his death. His birth name was Lotario dei Conti di Segni, sometimes anglicised to Lothar of Segni....
.
Reviewers later criticized the omission of these rules from the Calendar, which reduced its value to researchers.
The PRO had been publishing the Rolls Series, critically edited versions of selected texts in the Records Office. Although many were of great value, there were failures and a sense of amateurishness in some of the publications.
Maxwell Lyte was influential in the decision to transfer editors and funding from work on the series to the more valuable work of publishing public records.
In 1892 he introduced the Lists and Indexes series.
By terminating the Roll Series in 1894 and concentrating on making guides and calendars to the records, which professional historians could now access directly, Maxwell Lyte transformed the Records Office into a center of scholarship.
He was instrumental in passage of an act in 1898 that allowed for destruction of records of little apparent value back to 1660.
Later career
In 1908, Maxwell Lyte arranged for a new Guide to the contents of the PRO.In 1910 he became engaged in a struggle to prevent records on Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
being transferred to the Principality, refusing to cooperate with a commission set up for this purpose.
In 1914, as deputy-keeper of the public records, he opposed reduction of controls over access to the public records.
Although personally in favor of giving the public access to documents up to 1860, for later records he recommended that each case be subject to an inquiry about the purpose and extent of the research. His concern was that the researcher might publish distorted and damaging work based on a biased selection, and could even be in the pay of foreign powers.
During the planning of the National War Museum in 1917, as keeper of the Public Record Office he decided against giving custody of War Records to the museum.
In 1924 he was appointed chairman of a committee established by the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
to prepare a dictionary of Medieval Latin based on British sources dating between 1066 and 1600 AD.
Maxwell Lyte was made a C.B. in January 1889 and a K.C.B. in 1897.
He retired from the PRO in 1926, and was succeeded by A.E. Stamp.
He died on 28 Oct 1940 in Dinder House, Dinder
Dinder
Dinder is a small village 2½ miles west of Shepton Mallet, and 2 miles east of Wells in Somerset. It falls within the civil parish of St Cuthbert Out.The river Sheppey runs alongside the main street of the village....
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
shire.