Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1944-1977] (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
48 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born, 1913; read Modern History at Oxford University; served in World War Two; joined University College London as Lecturer in Ancient History, 1948; founder and first editor of Past and Present, 1952; visited India as a lecturer for the Indian University Grants Commission, 1968-1969; Senior Lecturer, University College London, 1969; involved in several socialist organisations, particularly the Institute for Workers' Control; died, 1977. Publications: The Age of Arthur (1973); co-editor and translator of the Phillimore edition of The Domesday Book; co-editor with A H M Jones and J R Martindale of the Prospography of the Later Roman Empire (from 1971); Londinium: London in the Roman Empire (1982), revised by Sarah Macready and published posthumously.
Repository
Archival history
The bulk of the papers were deposited by John Morris' widow, Mrs Susan Morris, in 1979. An additional deposit, the typescript for 'Londinium', was received by arrangement with Mrs Morris in 1986, a deposit of papers on Arthurian sources was received from Morris' son also in 1986 and a further accession of papers relating to 'Past and Present' was received from Eric Hobsbawm in 2003.
GB 0103 MORRIS [1944-1977] Collection (fonds) 48 boxes Morris , John R , 1913-1977 , historian
Born, 1913; read Modern History at Oxford University; served in World War Two; joined University College London as Lecturer in Ancient History, 1948; founder and first editor of Past and Present, 1952; visited India as a lecturer for the Indian University Grants Commission, 1968-1969; Senior Lecturer, University College London, 1969; involved in several socialist organisations, particularly the Institute for Workers' Control; died, 1977. Publications: The Age of Arthur (1973); co-editor and translator of the Phillimore edition of The Domesday Book; co-editor with A H M Jones and J R Martindale of the Prospography of the Later Roman Empire (from 1971); Londinium: London in the Roman Empire (1982), revised by Sarah Macready and published posthumously.
The bulk of the papers were deposited by John Morris' widow, Mrs Susan Morris, in 1979. An additional deposit, the typescript for 'Londinium', was received by arrangement with Mrs Morris in 1986, a deposit of papers on Arthurian sources was received from Morris' son also in 1986 and a further accession of papers relating to 'Past and Present' was received from Eric Hobsbawm in 2003.
Acquired from the family in 1979, with later accruals in 1986. Past and Present was received from Eric Hobsbawm in 2003.
Correspondence and working papers, 1944-1977 and undated, of John Morris, including notes, proofs, manuscript and typescript drafts, comprising material on Roman sources and history, Christianity, Saxon, Celtic and Arthurian sources and history, including Nennius and Gildas; photographs of Anglo-Saxon archaeology, particularly a site at Mitcham, Surrey; typescript of Morris' Londinium: London in the Roman Empire; correspondence and papers relating to Past and Present including articles submitted to Morris for publication and related correspondence; academic correspondence with correspondents in the UK and abroad; papers and correspondence relating to Morris' visit to India, including academic matters and Indian politics and papers relating to Morris' political interests and activities, particularly the Institute for Workers' Control, including printed material.
The first and second accessions has been arranged in the following sections: Academic papers (Roman, Gildas, Arthur, Nennius, Celtic, Liber Landen, Anglo-Saxon) (Refs: A-G); Past and Present (Ref: H); Correspondence (Ref: J); India (Ref: K); Political Papers (Ref: L); Miscellaneous (Ref: M). The third and fourth accessions remain in the original order.
Closed pending cataloguing. Please contact UCL Special Collections for further information.
Normal copyright restrictions apply.
English
There is a hard copy handlist of this collection with an index of correspondents.
University College London Special Collections also holds Morris's appointment file (Ref: GO 1567) and superannuation file (Ref: GO 1470)
Compiled by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Revised by Sarah Drewery.
Sources: University College London Annual Report 1976-1977, pp 33-34. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Jun 2001; revised Sep 2008 and May 2018. Ancient history Ancient religions Archaeological sites Archaeology Christianity Collectivism Educational levels England Europe Gildas , fl 500-599 , Celtic monk and historian Higher education Historians Historical periods History India Indian University Grants Commission Institute for Workers' Control , socialist organisation London Medieval history Mitcham Morris , John R , 1913-1977 , historian Nennius , fl 700-799 , Welsh historian and poet Past and Present , historical periodical Photographs Political doctrines Political movements Political science Politics Religions Socialism Social scientists South Asia Surrey UK University College London , Department of History Visual materials Western Europe Merton
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Acquired from the family in 1979, with later accruals in 1986. Past and Present was received from Eric Hobsbawm in 2003.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Correspondence and working papers, 1944-1977 and undated, of John Morris, including notes, proofs, manuscript and typescript drafts, comprising material on Roman sources and history, Christianity, Saxon, Celtic and Arthurian sources and history, including Nennius and Gildas; photographs of Anglo-Saxon archaeology, particularly a site at Mitcham, Surrey; typescript of Morris' Londinium: London in the Roman Empire; correspondence and papers relating to Past and Present including articles submitted to Morris for publication and related correspondence; academic correspondence with correspondents in the UK and abroad; papers and correspondence relating to Morris' visit to India, including academic matters and Indian politics and papers relating to Morris' political interests and activities, particularly the Institute for Workers' Control, including printed material.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The first and second accessions has been arranged in the following sections: Academic papers (Roman, Gildas, Arthur, Nennius, Celtic, Liber Landen, Anglo-Saxon) (Refs: A-G); Past and Present (Ref: H); Correspondence (Ref: J); India (Ref: K); Political Papers (Ref: L); Miscellaneous (Ref: M). The third and fourth accessions remain in the original order.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Closed pending cataloguing. Please contact UCL Special Collections for further information.
Conditions governing reproduction
Normal copyright restrictions apply.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
University College London Special Collections also holds Morris's appointment file (Ref: GO 1567) and superannuation file (Ref: GO 1470)
Finding aids
There is a hard copy handlist of this collection with an index of correspondents.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Historical periods » Ancient history
- Religions » Ancient religions
- Archaeology » Archaeological sites
- Archaeology
- Religions » Ancient religions » Christianity
- Political doctrines » Collectivism
- Educational levels
- Educational levels » Higher education
- Social scientists » Historians
- Historical periods
- History
- Historical periods » Medieval history
- Visual materials » Photographs
- Political doctrines
- Political movements
- Political science
- Political science » Politics
- Religions
- Political doctrines » Collectivism » Socialism
- Social scientists
- Visual materials
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English