Historical Manuscripts Commission Research Articles

John Brooke and the Namierite Succession*

AbstractWithout John Brooke, the first volumes of the History of Parliament for the house of commons covering the years 1754–90 might either have appeared much later than they did in 1964 (a mere four years after Sir Lewis Namier's death) or they might never have appeared at all. It was a token of how much Brooke willingly played the role of Namier's principal lieutenant during the latter's lifetime and his qualified loyalty continued for the remainder of his own career. But Brooke was also a capable historian in his own right whose achievements in biography have been largely obscured because of the squabbles between Namier and his detractors. Brooke wrote a fine biography of George III in 1972, published an authoritative edition of Horace Walpole's Memoirs of King George II in 1985 (the year of his own death), and served with distinction as senior editor of the Historical Manuscripts Commission. This essay is an attempt in recovering John Brooke and assessing his status as an 18th‐century historian of parliament (and more), as well as considering his relationship to both Lewis Namier and W.S. Lewis, and emphasising his importance in sustaining the History of Parliament project in the aftermath of Namier's death.

THE HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPTS COMMISSION: CELEBRATING 150 YEARS AND LOOKING TO THE FUTURE (1869–2019)

This is an edited and elaborated version of the address given by Jeff James as historical manuscripts commissioner to the symposium held on 14 October 2019 to mark the 150th anniversary of the creation of the Historical Manuscripts Commission in 1869. He reviews The National Archives’ current activities and priorities as a contemporary expression of the objectives of the HMC royal warrant and concludes that the Historical Manuscripts Commission still forms an integral part of The National Archives’ wider leadership of the archive sector.

THE HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPTS COMMISSION: AN ARCHIVAL EVOLUTION

The creation of the Royal Historical Manuscripts Commission formed part of a wider movement of institutional renewal and reform in mid-Victorian Britain, including growing professionalisation of both public administration and the academic study of history, particularly from the 1850s. Two features of the commission’s work continued to influence its development and The National Archives’ engagement with the archives sector today: first, the need to respect the legitimate rights and interests of both individuals and organisations, and second, the relationships by necessity based on collaboration with many partners. This has led to the evolution of a distinctive British mixed economy embracing public and private archives. This article considers the Commission’s evolution from surveying and publishing reports on the contents and locations of private collections to becoming the central advisory body on all issues related to archives and manuscripts not covered by the 1958 Public Records Act. The social and technological changes over this time have had a profound influence on the commission’s professional practices. In addition, the range and rights of stakeholders have evolved, presenting new challenges. Meeting all the demands and possibilities of the commission’s delivery needs to be seen in the context of frequently operating with significant resource constraints.

THE HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPTS COMMISSION AT 150

The 150th anniversary of the Historical Manuscripts Commission invites the opportunity for reflection on how the commission characterises and influences the development of the archives profession. This article considers archival practice as linked to the mood and character of a nation, in this case Britain. It uses the historiography of post-war identity building to begin to investigate and critique the British archives sector, and asks questions about the future of archives and archivists. The article is adapted from a keynote lecture at the HMC150 commemoration, 14 October 2019.

THE CIVIC IMPORTANCE OF ARCHIVES

The article is based on a short talk given at the parliamentary reception to celebrate 150 years of the Historical Manuscripts Commission in 2019. It draws on some work I did when I was at the British Library and subsequently at Yale University, some of it presented to a conference of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), whose section on rare books and archives I chaired for a few years.

Major accessions to repositories relating to Irish history, 2013

The following digest lists accessions to repositories in Great Britain and Ireland during 2013 relating to Irish history and reported to the National Archives: Historical Manuscripts Commission (T.N.A. H.M.C.). This information is also published on the internet via T.N.A.’s website (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) and is added to the computerised indexes of the National Register of Archives (N.R.A.) which are available for consultation at the National Archives, Kew, Richmond, TW9 4DU. Alternatively, searchers may access the indexes to the N.R.A. and certain linked on-line catalogues via the website. Limited and specific enquiries can be dealt with by post, or email (asd@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk).

Perspectives and Priorities: The National Archives Vision for Sector Leadership

In 2011–2012, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council was wound up and its work as a strategic development agency for the museums, libraries and archives sectors in England was divided between the Arts Council for England and The National Archives. The author was appointed in March 2005 to lead Archives Sector Development, a new department1 of The National Archives which embraced the work with the wider archive sector of both its predecessor institutions (the Public Record Office and the Historical Manuscripts Commission). Here, he considers the recent evolution of The National Archives' role in the wider archive sector; how The National Archives sees ‘the archives sector’; and sets out the vision for how The National Archives will discharge its sector leadership responsibility over the next few years.

The Wollaton Manuscripts: Texts, Owners and Readers. Ed. by RALPH HANNA and THORLAC TURVILLE-PETRE

The focus of this handsome, sumptuously illustrated quarto-sized volume is ten medieval manuscripts acquired by the University of Nottingham in 2007 with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund. Formerly part of the Middleton Collection that was on deposit in Nottingham University Library, on acquisition by the university they were newly designated the Wollaton Library Collection along with forty-three early printed books also from the Middleton Collection. The Wollaton Manuscripts is the outcome of research associated with the acquisition and exhibition of the new collection. The Middleton Collection, the archive of the Willoughby family of Wollaton and Middleton, is important as ‘the largest surviving assembly gathered by a medieval gentry family’ (p. 3). This extensive collection of books and documents was first described in 1911 by W. H. Stevenson for the Historical Manuscripts Commission (p. xi). Divided into three parts, ‘Studies’, ‘The Catalogue’, and ‘Illustrations’, The Wollaton Manuscripts brings various disciplinary perspectives and methodologies to bear on the medieval literary material. Ralph Hanna and Thorlac Turville-Petre co-author the opening essay on the history of the family's books. Richard Willoughby (d. 1471) was friend and executor of the bibliophile Sir Thomas Chaworth, and the opening essay is followed by a study of Chaworth's books based on his will and three known survivals from his collection, co-authored by Gavin Cole and Thorlac Turville-Petre. They infer that it was through the relationship between Willoughby and Chaworth that the magnificent Wollaton Antiphonal (oddly not specifically mentioned in the will) was acquired for less than market price by the executors of a Wollaton rector and donated to St Leonard's Church, Wollaton, the Willoughby family church. Alixe Bovey's essay describes the style of the antiphonal and reflects on its significance and use in the Chaworth chapel and later in the parish church. Alison Stones's chapter discusses the artistic affiliations of two French literary items in the collection, a miscellany and a romance manuscript, both of the thirteenth century, and Derek Pearsall considers a copy of the Confessio Amantis in relation to other Gower manuscripts. Rob Lutton considers three manuscripts of pastoralia. The final essay, by Nottingham curator Dorothy Johnston, describes the conservation challenges posed by the manuscripts and recounts the strategies employed to address them.

A Disputed Dignity

A prestigious and valuable dignity held in the sixteenth century by the Manners family, hereditary Earls (now Dukes) of Rutland, was the Barony of Roos. Variously spelled in contemporary documents—Ros, Roos, Roose, Roosse, Ross, Rosse, Roasse, Roese, Roise—the title descended from one of the Runnymede barons, Robert de Ros, Lord of Hamlake Castle. The barony had come into the Manners family by way of the marriage of Lady Eleanor, Baroness Roos, to Sir Robert Manners, the bride bringing with her Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire and Hamlake Castle in Yorkshire, together with extensive land holdings. In 1526 their grandson, Thomas Manners, 13th. Baron Roos, was created first Earl of Rutland. Preserved in the muniments room at Belvoir Castle, as catalogued by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, are a number of genealogies drawn up for Roger, 5th Earl of Rutland, highlighting the importance to the Manners family of the Roos lineage: Pedigree of the Manners and Roos families down to Roger Earl of Rutland, with painted coats of arms. Pedigrees of the Earls of Rutland showing their descent, through Roos, from Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick. Dated 18 February 1592. Pedigree of the Manners family down to Roger earl of Rutland, 1604, showing the descent from Espec through Roos.1 This document, which is 9ft. 2ins. long and 4ft. 6ins. wide, is beautifully illuminated with coats of arms for every individual and with large achievements for Francis Earl of Rutland, George Vernon of Haddon, whose daughter brought that seat to the Manners family, and John Manners of Haddon, second son of the earl of Rutland. There is also an elaborate achievement of the Manners family, with supporters at the foot. The nine lines of ancestry traced are, from left to right, (1) Manners, (2) Roos, (3) D’Aubigny, (4) Fitz Bernard, (5) McMorough, (6) Bellmont, (7) Courey, (8) Zouche, (9) Vernon.2

The New National Archives 2003

The paper describes the creation in 2003 of a new central authority for records management and archiving for the United Kingdom government and for England and Wales – the National Archives, formed from the Public Record Office (PRO) and the Historical Manuscripts Commission (HMC). The author outlines the process of the merger and the organizational and administrative difficulties that had to be overcome. Some of these resulted from the historical development of the two bodies, the primary concern of the PRO being for government and public records and the HMC for non-public records and private archives, and an account of the background to the eventual merger is given. The paper also considers the implications for the National Archives of new developments, such as the Freedom of Information Act and digital preservation and access, and the standards now expected in an environment of online service delivery.

Major Accessions to UK Repositories in 2004 Relating to Sport

The National Archives: Historical Manuscripts Commission (TNA:HMC), in its annual Accessions to Repositories exercise, collects information from over 200 record repositories throughout the British ...

In Retrospect: Lord Charlemont and learning

LordCharlemont andlearning JamesKelly History Department, StPatrick's College,Drumcondra, Dublin9 James Caulfeild (1728-99),first earlofCharlemont (PL I) andfirst president oftheRoyalIrish Academy, wasoneofthemost interesting members of theIrish peerageintheeighteenth century whenmembers ofthat elitewere attheir mostimposing politically andinfluential culturally. Charlemont was popularly known as the'volunteer earl'becauseofthecareandattention with which hefilled thehonorary office ofcommander-in-chief ofthevolunteers.1 Thehighesteeminwhichthisappellation suggests he was heldis corroborated bythefact that hewaslongconsidered theleading patriot peerinthe HouseofLordsand,inhiscapacity ofeminence griseofthepatriot political interest, thefriend andpatron respectively ofHenry FloodandHenry Grattan .2 He was a self-described 'constitutional royalist',3 whosefinely-honed Whigpoliticalconvictions wereshapedbyhisreverence fortheconstitutional monarchy brought intobeingbytheGlorious Revolution of1688.His political careerwas defined byhiscommitment totheachievement offull Pl. I- Portrait ofJamesCaulfeild, earlofCharlemont (1728-99),PRIA, 1785-99.© RoyalIrish Academy. 1M.J.Craig,Thevolunteer earl,beingthelifeand times ofJamesCaulfeild, first earlof Charlemont (London,1948). LJames Kelly,HenryFlood: patriots andpoliticsin eighteenth-century Ireland(Dublin, 1998);James Kelly, Henry Grattan (Dublin,1993). 3 Historical Manuscripts Commission (HMC), The manuscripts and correspondence of James, first earlofCharlemont, Charlemont toMalone,9 October1797(2 vols,London, 1891),ii,309. Proceedings oftheRoyalIrish Academy Vol.106C,395-407© 2006RoyalIrish Academy James Kelly constitutional rights for Ireland commensurate with itsstatus as a kingdom of theBritish crown.4 Inkeeping with hisefforts toadvance the agenda ofpolitical patriotism, brought closetorealisation bytheattainment oflegislative independence in 1782towhich hemadea significant contribution,5 Charlemont aspired alsoto enhance thesocialandeconomic fabric ofthekingdom, andthewell-being of itspopulation bypromoting improvement andeconomic development. Hewas notanimproving landlord intheconventional sensesinceagricultural matters heldlittle appeal,buthecontrived tocreate an improved environment byhis commitment tothe finest standards inart andarchitecture. Thushisrecruitment ofthearchitect William Chambers todesignandoversee theconstruction of hissuburban villaat Marino, on theoutskirts ofDublin,seta standard for architectural sophistication thathad fewpeersin Britain or Ireland. While Charlemont House, which served ashisprimary residence, provided him with a bespoke areainwhich hecouldlive, entertain and, notleast, display ina refined setting themedals, paintings, sculpture andrarebooks,which he purchased at considerable expenseandimported from all overEurope.6Significantly, Charlemont wasillateasewith thecodeofhonour - that emblematical feature oftheancienrégime aristocratic elite - for though thecourtesy andpoliteness that were hallmarks ofhisconduct ensured hedidnot issueorreceive challenges, hewasunwilling tocriticise duelling andheserved as a precise, ifreluctant, second when calledupontoperform that function.7 As thedescription ofhischaracter thus farsuggests, Charlemont was a complex, sensitive figure. Thisis wellillustrated bytheattack of'nervous diffidence' that'totally disabled'himforsomeyears,and thatdissuaded himfrom making a formal politicalspeechthereafter, whenhe sought to advancea programme ofpolitical reform inthe1750s.Thisdiminished his political effectiveness, butitalso encouraged hisengagement inintellectual pursuits - anengagement whichachieved a notable peakwhen, having played animportant part, including hosting theinitial meeting, inthefoundation of theRoyalIrishAcademy, he was an attentive first president.8 Charlemont 's intellectual activity isperhaps theleast well-known aspect ofhisbiography, for though hiscontribution totheestablishment oftheRoyalIrish Academy has 4 JamesKelly,'A genuineWhig and patriot: Lord Charlemont 's politicalcareer',in M. McCarthy (ed.),LordCharlemont andhiscircle(Dublin, 2001),7-38. 5James Kelly, Prelude tounion: Anglo-Irish politics inthe1780s(Cork,1992). 6Jane Meredith, 'Letters between friends: LordCharlemont 'slibrary andother matters', Irish Architectural andDecorative Studies 4 (2001),53-77. 7See HMC,Charlemont, Charlemont toFlood,30December 1772,i,313inwhich herelates hisexperience as LordBellamont's second;James Kelly, Thatdamn d thing calledhonourduelling inIreland, 1570-1860(Cork,1995),109,280. 8 See R.B. McDowell,'The mainnarrative', in T. Ó Raifeartaigh (ed.), TheRoyalIrish Academy: a bicentennial history, 1785-1985(Dublin,1985),9-11,15-16. 396 LordCharlemont andlearning beenamply chronicled, itconstitutes butthemost public part ofanintellectual Odyssey that waslifelong butwasprimarily for private edification. Themost obviousindication ofthisisprovided bythefact that heleft moreintheway ofunpublished manuscripts than published texts. Charlemont's loveoflearning was a product, first andforemost, ofan extended grand tour. Prior tohisembarkation for Europe in1746,agedeighteen, Charlemont hadsuccumbed tothetemptation of'cardsandlatehours'. As a result, hisguardians setaside'allthoughts' ofhisproceeding touniversity,9 and he was sentinstead on a grand tourinthecompany ofEdwardMurphy, his tutor. Murphy's positive influence canbe suggested bythefact that itwasfrom himthat Charlemont obtained a 'masterly' setof'78 bustsand22 statues ... modelled ... atRomefrom thetrue antique originals' bySimon Vierpyl, which werebequeathed in 1868bythethird earlofCharlemont totheRoyalIrish Academy.10 Charlemont's owninterest inandknowledge ofartandarchitecture wereprofoundly shaped byhisextended stayinItaly, butwhilehehadthisin common with many grand tourists from Britain aswellasIreland, hewasunusual inthat, inaddition toclassics, heembraced a lifelong loveofItaly andofItalian literature. Thefoundation for this wasprovided byhislinguistic ability. While abroad, Charlemont achieved fluency inFrench andItalian, which, when added tohiscompetence inGreek andLatin, provided himwith a range oflinguistic knowledge that permitted himtopursue hisessentially amateur involvement in intellectual pursuits toa levelthat fewofhispeerscouldequal.Italsoallowed himtocontemplate publishing...

A Swiss Soldier In Ireland, 1689–90

In 1714 Jean Francois De Morsier wrote an account in French of his early years of soldiering. This ‘Journal’, a detailed record of the several campaigns in which De Morsier participated, written wi...

Major accessions to repositories in 2002 relating to women's history

Abstract The National Archives: Historical Manuscripts Commission (NA:HMC), in its annual Accessions to Repositories exercise, collects information from over two hundred record repositories throughout the British Isles about manuscript accessions received in the previous twelve months. The information is then edited and used to produce a number of thematic digests which are distributed for publication in a number of learned journals and newsletters, as well as being made available in full on the Commission's website (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk). The information is also added to the indexes of the National Register of Archives (NRA), the central point for collecting and disseminating information about the location of manuscript sources relating to British history outside the public records. The NRA, which currently contains over 44,000 lists and catalogues of archives, can be consulted at the National Archives, Kew, Richmond TW9 4DU, United Kingdom. Alternatively, searchers may access the indexes to the NRA and certain linked online catalogues via the website. Limited and specific enquiries can be dealt with by post, or email (nra@nationalarchives.gov.uk). Readers should note that dates for records in this digest are given when known, but that these are covering dates which do not necessarily indicate the presence of records for all intervening years. Records have been included in the digest regardless of whether the deposit has yet been fully catalogued, and readers are advised to check with the relevant repository as to whether this, or any other factors, may prohibit access to the documents.

Major accessions to repositories in 2002 relating to women's history

The National Archives: Historical Manuscripts Commission (NA:HMC), in its annual Accessions to Repositories exercise, collects information from over two hundred record repositories throughout the British Isles about manuscript accessions received in the previous twelve months. The information is then edited and used to produce a number of thematic digests which are distributed for publication in a number of learned journals and newsletters, as well as being made available in full on the Commission's website (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk). The information is also added to the indexes of the National Register of Archives (NRA), the central point for collecting and disseminating information about the location of manuscript sources relating to British history outside the public records. The NRA, which currently contains over 44,000 lists and catalogues of archives, can be consulted at the National Archives, Kew, Richmond TW9 4DU, United Kingdom. Alternatively, searchers may access the indexes to the NRA and certain linked online catalogues via the website. Limited and specific enquiries can be dealt with by post, or email (nra@nationalarchives.gov.uk). Readers should note that dates for records in this digest are given when known, but that these are covering dates which do not necessarily indicate the presence of records for all intervening years. Records have been included in the digest regardless of whether the deposit has yet been fully catalogued, and readers are advised to check with the relevant repository as to whether this, or any other factors, may prohibit access to the documents.

Major accessions to repositories in 2001 relating to women's history

The Historical Manuscripts Commission (HMC), in its annual Accessions to Repositories exercise, collects information from over two hundred record repositories throughout the British Isles relating to their manuscript accessions during the previous 12 months. The information is then edited and used to produce a number of thematic digests which are distributed for publication in a number of learned journals and newsletters, as well as being made available in full on the Commission's website (www.hmc.gov.uk). The information is also added to the indexes of the National Register of Archives (NRA), which the Commission maintains as the central point for collecting and disseminating information about the location of manuscript sources relating to British history outside the public records. The NRA, which currently contains over 43,000 lists and catalogues of archives, can be consulted in HMC's public search room at Quality House, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1HP, whilst the indexes to the NRA are also available on the Commission's website. In addition, HMC staff will answer limited and specific enquiries by post, fax (020 7831 3550) and email (nra@hmc.gov.uk). Readers should note that dates for records in this digest are given when known, but that these are covering dates which do not necessarily indicate the presence of records for all intervening years. Records have been included in the digest regardless of whether the deposit has yet been fully catalogued, and readers are advised to check with the relevant repository as to whether this, or any other factors, may prohibit access to the documents

Major accessions to repositories in 2001 relating to women's history

Abstract The Historical Manuscripts Commission (HMC), in its annual Accessions to Repositories exercise, collects information from over two hundred record repositories throughout the British Isles relating to their manuscript accessions during the previous 12 months. The information is then edited and used to produce a number of thematic digests which are distributed for publication in a number of learned journals and newsletters, as well as being made available in full on the Commission's website (www.hmc.gov.uk). The information is also added to the indexes of the National Register of Archives (NRA), which the Commission maintains as the central point for collecting and disseminating information about the location of manuscript sources relating to British history outside the public records. The NRA, which currently contains over 43,000 lists and catalogues of archives, can be consulted in HMC's public search room at Quality House, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1HP, whilst the indexes to the NRA are also available on the Commission's website. In addition, HMC staff will answer limited and specific enquiries by post, fax (020 7831 3550) and email (nra@hmc.gov.uk). Readers should note that dates for records in this digest are given when known, but that these are covering dates which do not necessarily indicate the presence of records for all intervening years. Records have been included in the digest regardless of whether the deposit has yet been fully catalogued, and readers are advised to check with the relevant repository as to whether this, or any other factors, may prohibit access to the documents

Archives: Major Accessions to Repositories in 2002 Relating to 20th Century Politics

The National Archives: Historical Manuscripts Commission (NA:HMC), in its annual Accessions to Repositories exercise, collects information from over two hundred record repositories throughout the B...

Major accessions to repositories in 2000 relating to women's history

The Historical Manuscripts Commission (HMC), in its annual Accessions to Repositories exercise, collects information from over two hundred record repositories throughout the British Isles relating to their manuscript accessions during the previous twelve months. The information is then edited and used to produce a number of thematic digests which are distributed for publication in a number of learned journals and newsletters, as well as being made available in full on the Commission's website (www.hmc.gov.uk). The information is also added to the indexes of the National Register of Archives (NRA), which the Commission maintains as the central point for collecting and disseminating information about the location of manuscript sources relating to British history outside the public records. The NRA, which currently contains over 43,000 lists and catalogues of archives, can be consulted in HMC's public search room at Quality House, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1HP, whilst the indexes to the NRA are also available on the Commission's website. In addition, HMC staff will answer limited and specific enquiries by post, fax (;020 7831 3550) and email (nra@hmc.gov.uk). Readers should note that dates for records in this digest are given when known, but that these are covering dates which do not necessarily indicate the presence of records for all intervening years. Records have been included in the digest regardless of whether the deposit has yet been fully catalogued, and readers are advised to check with the relevant repository as to whether this, or any other factors, may prohibit access to the documents.

The Historical Manuscripts Commission's Repository Inspection Programme 1998-2003: Outcomes and challenges

L'A. rapporte les resultats et les difficultes du programme d'inspection engage par l'Historical Manuscripts Commission entre 1998 et 2003, afin d'evaluer la conformite des institutions d'archives britanniques avec les normes du HMC et d'encourager les ameliorations. Sur les 120 etablissements visites, environ 40 ont recu l'approbation de la HMC, la cause d'echec la plus frequente se situant dans l'inadequation des locaux et l'insuffisance des conditions environnementales. Le programme d'inspection a mis en relief un certain nombre de defis tels que la difficulte a maintenir des normes d'archives, la necessite de soutenir un regime d'inspection d'archives avec des financements appropries, ou l'application des normes d'archives aux musees.