Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- Created 1892-1960 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
35 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
John Thomas Pratt was born on 13th January 1876, sixth son of Edward Pratt who worked for the Indian Salt Revenue Service. He was educated at Dulwich College. In 1905 he was called to the Bar, Middle Temple. Between 1898 and 1924, he served with the British Consular Service in China, holding various posts including Student Interpreter from 1898; British Assessor in Mixed Court at Shanghai Consul from 1909; Vice-Consul in China from 1910; Consul at Tsinan from 1913 and Consul-General from 1919; Nanking 1922 and Shanghai 1924. In 1925 he was transferred to the Foreign Office, acting as Adviser on Far Eastern Affairs. He remained in this post until 1938. From 1939 to 1941 he served as Head of Far Eastern Section of the Ministry of Information.
For twenty years he served as the Foreign Secretary's representative on the Universities China Committee. He was also Chairman of the British and Chinese Corporation, Member of the Scarborough Commission and Vice-Chairman of the Governing Body of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
John Thomas Pratt was married twice, to his first wife Edith Violet Houson Parker in 1914 (d 1937), and his second wife Dorothy Barker in 1943. He died on 23rd January 1970.
He had authored several works including Great Britain and China; Japan and the Modern World, 1942; War and Politics in China, 1943; Before Pearl Harbour, 1943; China and Japan; China and Britain, 1944; Expansion of Europe into the Far East, 1947; and several pamphlets.
Archival history
Sir John Thomas Pratt was blitzed three times, which lies behind the limited survival of material dating from before 1941.
GB 0102 PP MS 5 Created 1892-1960 Collection (fonds) 35 boxes Pratt , Sir , John Thomas , 1876-1970 , Knight , diplomat
John Thomas Pratt was born on 13th January 1876, sixth son of Edward Pratt who worked for the Indian Salt Revenue Service. He was educated at Dulwich College. In 1905 he was called to the Bar, Middle Temple. Between 1898 and 1924, he served with the British Consular Service in China, holding various posts including Student Interpreter from 1898; British Assessor in Mixed Court at Shanghai Consul from 1909; Vice-Consul in China from 1910; Consul at Tsinan from 1913 and Consul-General from 1919; Nanking 1922 and Shanghai 1924. In 1925 he was transferred to the Foreign Office, acting as Adviser on Far Eastern Affairs. He remained in this post until 1938. From 1939 to 1941 he served as Head of Far Eastern Section of the Ministry of Information.
For twenty years he served as the Foreign Secretary's representative on the Universities China Committee. He was also Chairman of the British and Chinese Corporation, Member of the Scarborough Commission and Vice-Chairman of the Governing Body of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
John Thomas Pratt was married twice, to his first wife Edith Violet Houson Parker in 1914 (d 1937), and his second wife Dorothy Barker in 1943. He died on 23rd January 1970.
He had authored several works including Great Britain and China; Japan and the Modern World, 1942; War and Politics in China, 1943; Before Pearl Harbour, 1943; China and Japan; China and Britain, 1944; Expansion of Europe into the Far East, 1947; and several pamphlets.
Sir John Thomas Pratt was blitzed three times, which lies behind the limited survival of material dating from before 1941.
Donated in 1976.
Papers, 1892-1960, of Sir John Thomas Pratt, largely dating from after 1941, including correspondence concerning his various publications, files on his campaign against British involvement in the Korean War, articles, lecture notes and press cuttings. Also includes correspondence with his brother William (Billy) Pratt (1949-1957), whose stage name was Boris Karloff.
The papers are arranged into 5 categories: general correspondence; Korean War; personal and family correspondence; published works, articles, lectures by JTP; miscellaneous.
Unrestricted.
No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
English
Unpublished handlist.
16 May 2000 Actors Artists Asian cultures Central government China Civil servants Civil service Diplomacy East Asia Europe Foreign relations Government International conflicts International relations Karloff , Boris , 1887-1969 , actor x Pratt , William Henry Korea Korean War (1950-1953) National cultures Newspaper press Performers Pratt , family , of India and England Pratt , Sir , John Thomas , 1876-1970 , Knight , diplomat Press Press cuttings Public administration SOAS , School of Oriental and African Studies x School of Oriental and African Studies Travel Travel abroad UK Universities China Committee War Western Europe Wars (events) London England People by occupation People
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated in 1976.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers, 1892-1960, of Sir John Thomas Pratt, largely dating from after 1941, including correspondence concerning his various publications, files on his campaign against British involvement in the Korean War, articles, lecture notes and press cuttings. Also includes correspondence with his brother William (Billy) Pratt (1949-1957), whose stage name was Boris Karloff.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The papers are arranged into 5 categories: general correspondence; Korean War; personal and family correspondence; published works, articles, lectures by JTP; miscellaneous.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Unrestricted.
Conditions governing reproduction
No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Unpublished handlist.
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
- Artists » Performers » Actors
- Artists
- National cultures » Asian cultures
- Government » Public administration » Central government
- Government » Public administration » Central government » Civil service » Civil servants
- Government » Public administration » Central government » Civil service
- International relations » Foreign relations » Diplomacy
- International relations » Foreign relations
- Government
- International conflicts
- International relations
- National cultures
- Press » Newspaper press
- Artists » Performers
- Press
- Press » Newspaper press » Press cuttings
- Government » Public administration
- Travel
- Travel » Travel abroad
- International conflicts » War
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English