Fonds GB 0096 MS860 - Pollard, Albert Frederick (1869-1948)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0096 MS860

Title

Pollard, Albert Frederick (1869-1948)

Date(s)

  • 1884-1948 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

44 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Albert Frederick Pollard was born on 16 December 1869. He received a scholarship to Jesus College, Oxford University, where he attended the Union and rowed in the college eight. At Oxford he received a first class degree in History. In 1893, Pollard obtained the assistant editorship of the Dictionary of National Biography where he remained for nine years. In 1903, he became Professor of Constitutional History at University College London and in 1908 he was elected to a research fellowship at All Souls College, Oxford. His seminal publications include England under the Protector Somerset (1900), Henry VIII (1905) and Evolution of Parliament (1920). Pollard was also a co-founder of the Historical Association in 1903, editor of its journal History for six years and President 1912-1915. Most signally for the University of London, he was founder of the Institute of Historical Research (IHR) and Director and Honorary Director in turn from its opening in July 1921 until 1939. His long association with the University of London included the continuous Chairmanship of the Board of the Studies in History from 1910 until 1923. Pollard was also deeply interested in modern history and politics and in 1918 he served on the Government Committee on the League of Nations. For three consecutive years 1922-1924, Pollard stood unsuccessfully as Liberal candidate for the University of London seat. In 1924, Pollard took up the post of Visiting Professor at Columbia University for four months and toured a number of universities in Canada and the USA. In 1920, Pollard was elected to the British Academy and in 1930 he was made a Corresponding Member of the Academie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres (Institut de France). By 1933, he had received an Honorary Degree from Manchester University and become an Honorary Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford. He died on 3 August 1948.

Archival history

GB 0096 MS860 1884-1948 fonds 44 boxes Pollard , Albert Frederick , 1869-1948 , constitutional historian

Albert Frederick Pollard was born on 16 December 1869. He received a scholarship to Jesus College, Oxford University, where he attended the Union and rowed in the college eight. At Oxford he received a first class degree in History. In 1893, Pollard obtained the assistant editorship of the Dictionary of National Biography where he remained for nine years. In 1903, he became Professor of Constitutional History at University College London and in 1908 he was elected to a research fellowship at All Souls College, Oxford. His seminal publications include England under the Protector Somerset (1900), Henry VIII (1905) and Evolution of Parliament (1920). Pollard was also a co-founder of the Historical Association in 1903, editor of its journal History for six years and President 1912-1915. Most signally for the University of London, he was founder of the Institute of Historical Research (IHR) and Director and Honorary Director in turn from its opening in July 1921 until 1939. His long association with the University of London included the continuous Chairmanship of the Board of the Studies in History from 1910 until 1923. Pollard was also deeply interested in modern history and politics and in 1918 he served on the Government Committee on the League of Nations. For three consecutive years 1922-1924, Pollard stood unsuccessfully as Liberal candidate for the University of London seat. In 1924, Pollard took up the post of Visiting Professor at Columbia University for four months and toured a number of universities in Canada and the USA. In 1920, Pollard was elected to the British Academy and in 1930 he was made a Corresponding Member of the Academie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres (Institut de France). By 1933, he had received an Honorary Degree from Manchester University and become an Honorary Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford. He died on 3 August 1948.

Transferred from the Institute of Historical Research in 1976; additional deposit made in 1989.

Papers of Alfred Pollard, 1884-1948, including contains personal correspondence from Alfred Pollard, primarily to his parents and his secretary, E. J. Davis (1884-1925, 9 boxes). There are also letters from Pollard's father, Henry, primarily to his son (1885-1924, 4 boxes). These letters give a valuable insight into the development of Alfred's historical and political opinions as well as providing an account of domestic circumstances in the Pollard family. The remainder of the papers relate to Alfred's academic and University of London activities. These papers contain correspondence and printed items, and span the length of his academic life. Key phases and activities recorded in the papers include: Alfred's achievements during his own university education; contributions to the Dictionary of National Biography; involvement with the Committee of the League of Nations, the Historical Association, the Institute of Historical Research, the University of London's Academic Council, the Anglo-American Conference of Historians, University College London, the London History School, Victoria County History, Committee of the History of Parliament; and his candidature for the London Liberal Federation for the University of London constituency. There are also boxes of lecture-notes, newspaper cuttings, scrapbooks, and pocket diaries.

Open for research. Access to individual items in Senate House Library archives collections may be restricted under the Data Protection Act or the Freedom of Information Act. See Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is necessary for research visits.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

English

Collection level description. A box list also available in the Library's Palaeography Room in the Unbound Archive Handlists folder.

University College, London, holds notebooks, [1887-1913] (Ref: MS ADD 80); the British Library, London, has correspondence with Macmillans, 1916-1922 (Ref: Add MS 55071); the Bodleian Library, Oxford University, contains mark books, 1904-1905 (Ref: MSS Eng misc d885-86), correspondence, 1916-1947 (Ref: MS Eng lett c462), undergraduate notes (Ref: MS Eng hist d224), and manuscript and corrected proof of a DNB article on Lord John Russell, 1897 (Ref: MS Eng misc c652).

Imported from the Senate House catalogue and edited by Sarah Drewery.

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.

Feb 2009. University College London University of London , Academic Council University of London Pollard , Albert Frederick , 1869-1948 , constitutional historian Higher education Universities Internal politics Parliament History Historical research League of Nations Historical Association Institute of Historical Research London History School Victoria County History Liberal Party Educational levels Higher education institutions Educational institutions

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Transferred from the Institute of Historical Research in 1976; additional deposit made in 1989.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Alfred Pollard, 1884-1948, including contains personal correspondence from Alfred Pollard, primarily to his parents and his secretary, E. J. Davis (1884-1925, 9 boxes). There are also letters from Pollard's father, Henry, primarily to his son (1885-1924, 4 boxes). These letters give a valuable insight into the development of Alfred's historical and political opinions as well as providing an account of domestic circumstances in the Pollard family. The remainder of the papers relate to Alfred's academic and University of London activities. These papers contain correspondence and printed items, and span the length of his academic life. Key phases and activities recorded in the papers include: Alfred's achievements during his own university education; contributions to the Dictionary of National Biography; involvement with the Committee of the League of Nations, the Historical Association, the Institute of Historical Research, the University of London's Academic Council, the Anglo-American Conference of Historians, University College London, the London History School, Victoria County History, Committee of the History of Parliament; and his candidature for the London Liberal Federation for the University of London constituency. There are also boxes of lecture-notes, newspaper cuttings, scrapbooks, and pocket diaries.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open for research. Access to individual items in Senate House Library archives collections may be restricted under the Data Protection Act or the Freedom of Information Act. See Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is necessary for research visits.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Collection level description. A box list also available in the Library's Palaeography Room in the Unbound Archive Handlists folder.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

University College, London, holds notebooks, [1887-1913] (Ref: MS ADD 80); the British Library, London, has correspondence with Macmillans, 1916-1922 (Ref: Add MS 55071); the Bodleian Library, Oxford University, contains mark books, 1904-1905 (Ref: MSS Eng misc d885-86), correspondence, 1916-1947 (Ref: MS Eng lett c462), undergraduate notes (Ref: MS Eng hist d224), and manuscript and corrected proof of a DNB article on Lord John Russell, 1897 (Ref: MS Eng misc c652).

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

Senate House Library, University of London

Rules and/or conventions used

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