GB 0103 MORRIS - Morris (John) Papers

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0103 MORRIS

Title

Morris (John) Papers

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.

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

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

University College London

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

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area