Strickland Gibson
Encyclopedia
Strickland Gibson was an English librarian and bibliographer
, who also served as Keeper of the Archives
at the University of Oxford
from 1927 to 1945.
in Oxford, and then obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree as a member of St Catherine's Society, Oxford (a non-collegiate body that later became St Catherine's College). He held various posts at the Bodleian Library
: Assistant (1895–1912); Secretary to Bodley's Librarian
(1912–1931); and Sub-Librarian (1931–1945). He became a lecturer in bibliography in the university's Faculty of English in 1923, and was honorary secretary and general editor of the Oxford Bibliographical Society (of which he was a co-founder)from 1922 onwards. He was appointed Keeper of the Archives
of the university in June 1927. He retired from his various posts in 1945.
His main area of study was book binding, becoming "a master in that field" in the words of The Times
. His main work, written with John Johnson
(Printer to the University of Oxford), was Print and Privilege at Oxford to the year 1700, which drew on his knowledge of bibliography and university history. His publications included works on book binding, Oxford libraries, an edition of the ancient statutes of the university, and Oxford's ceremonies; he was also contributor to the Victoria County History
volume on the university. He was awarded the Gold Medal of the Bibliographical Society
in 1947 in recognition of his work as a bibliographer. He died at his home in Oxford on 18 February 1958.
Bibliographer
"A bibliographer is a person who describes and lists books and other publications, with particular attention to such characteristics as authorship, publication date, edition, typography, etc. The result of this endeavor is a bibliography...
, who also served as Keeper of the Archives
Keeper of the Archives
The position of Keeper of the Archives at the University of Oxford in England dates from 1634, when it was established by new statutes for the university brought in by William Laud...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
from 1927 to 1945.
Life
Gibson was born on 27 January 1877. He was educated at New College SchoolNew College School
New College School is an independent preparatory school for boys in Oxford. It was founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham to provide for the education of 16 choristers for the chapel of New College, Oxford....
in Oxford, and then obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree as a member of St Catherine's Society, Oxford (a non-collegiate body that later became St Catherine's College). He held various posts at the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
: Assistant (1895–1912); Secretary to Bodley's Librarian
Bodley's Librarian
The head of the Bodleian Library, the main library at the University of Oxford, is known as Bodley's Librarian: Sir Thomas Bodley, as founder, gave his name to both the institution and the position. Although there had been a university library at Oxford since about 1320, it had declined by the end...
(1912–1931); and Sub-Librarian (1931–1945). He became a lecturer in bibliography in the university's Faculty of English in 1923, and was honorary secretary and general editor of the Oxford Bibliographical Society (of which he was a co-founder)from 1922 onwards. He was appointed Keeper of the Archives
Keeper of the Archives
The position of Keeper of the Archives at the University of Oxford in England dates from 1634, when it was established by new statutes for the university brought in by William Laud...
of the university in June 1927. He retired from his various posts in 1945.
His main area of study was book binding, becoming "a master in that field" in the words of The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
. His main work, written with John Johnson
John de Monins Johnson
John de Monins Johnson was an English papyrologist, printer of the Oxford English Dictionary, and collector.-Biography:...
(Printer to the University of Oxford), was Print and Privilege at Oxford to the year 1700, which drew on his knowledge of bibliography and university history. His publications included works on book binding, Oxford libraries, an edition of the ancient statutes of the university, and Oxford's ceremonies; he was also contributor to the Victoria County History
Victoria County History
The Victoria History of the Counties of England, commonly known as the Victoria County History or the VCH, is an English history project which began in 1899 and was dedicated to Queen Victoria with the aim of creating an encyclopaedic history of each of the historic counties of...
volume on the university. He was awarded the Gold Medal of the Bibliographical Society
Bibliographical Society
Founded in 1892, the Bibliographical Society is the senior learned society dealing with the study of the book and its history, based in London, England....
in 1947 in recognition of his work as a bibliographer. He died at his home in Oxford on 18 February 1958.