Royal Librarian (United Kingdom): Difference between revisions
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* [[John Fortescue (military historian)|The Hon. (later Sir John) Fortescue]] 1905-1926 |
* [[John Fortescue (military historian)|The Hon. (later Sir John) Fortescue]] 1905-1926 |
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* [[Owen Morshead|Owen (later Sir Owen) Morshead]] 1926-1958<ref>http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/66/101066332</ref> |
* [[Owen Morshead|Owen (later Sir Owen) Morshead]] 1926-1958<ref>http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/66/101066332</ref> |
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* Robin (later Sir Robin) Mackworth-Young 1958-1985<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1377800/Sir-Robin-Mackworth-Young.html</ref> |
* [[Robin Mackworth-Young|Robin (later Sir Robin) Mackworth-Young]] 1958-1985<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1377800/Sir-Robin-Mackworth-Young.html</ref> |
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* [[Oliver Everett]] 1985-2002 |
* [[Oliver Everett]] 1985-2002 |
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* [[Jane, Lady Roberts|The Hon. Jane (later Lady) Roberts]] 2002-2013<ref>Royal Collection Trust Annual Report 2013-2014, p. 14</ref> |
* [[Jane, Lady Roberts|The Hon. Jane (later Lady) Roberts]] 2002-2013<ref>Royal Collection Trust Annual Report 2013-2014, p. 14</ref> |
Revision as of 14:55, 14 March 2015
The office of Royal Librarian, in the Royal Collection Department of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, is responsible for the care and maintenance of the books and manuscripts in the Royal Library, a collection spread across all the palaces, occupied and unoccupied. The librarian is also Assistant Keeper of the Royal Archives and is responsible for the management of the Royal Archives and its collections,[1]
The role of the Royal Librarian
Today the Royal Library collections comprise the documentary and intellectual heritage of the Monarchy of the United Kingdom and its predecessors, span nearly two-and-half millennia and comprise millions of pages, many unique, many encapsulating some of the most extraordinary moments in British history, and many items important in their own right. As well as books and manuscripts, The Librarian is also responsible for the collections of insignia, coins and medals, seals, banknotes, and other material. As Assistant Keeper of the Royal Archives,[2] The Librarian has oversight of the Royal Archives, based at Windsor Castle since 1911.[3] The Royal Library and Royal Archives supports the work of the Royal Household in the Royal Collection Trust Department through exhibitions, events, and publications, and the work of the Lord Chamberlain's and Private Secretary's Offices through the creation of displays and manufacture of gifts for State Visits, for selected garden parties, and other types of official and public engagement. The Royal LIbrary and Royal Archives team work very closely with the information assurance work of Royal Household to meet the challenges of dealing with library and archive material in the digital age. The Royal Library includes responsibility for the Royal Library bindery.[4]
History
Although a Librarian was always required for any sizeable royal collection of books, the present office dates from 1836, when the then existing collections of books at Windsor Castle were consolidated. The office was only admitted to the Royal Household in the 19th century. John Glover was appointed in 1837 and since his time there have been 8 subsequent Librarians.[5] They are:
- John Glover 1837-1860
- Bernard Woodward 1860-1869
- Richard (later Sir Richard) Holmes 1870-1905
- The Hon. (later Sir John) Fortescue 1905-1926
- Owen (later Sir Owen) Morshead 1926-1958[6]
- Robin (later Sir Robin) Mackworth-Young 1958-1985[7]
- Oliver Everett 1985-2002
- The Hon. Jane (later Lady) Roberts 2002-2013[8]
- Oliver Urquhart Irvine 2014-[9]
Up to and including the tenure of Oliver Everett, the Librarians were responsible for all the collections within the Royal Library at Windsor Castle, including the prints and drawings collections, and since the establishment of the Royal Archives in the Round Tower at Windsor Castle in 1911, the Librarian has also been responsible for the day-to-day management of the Royal Archives answering to the Keeper of the Royal Archives,[10] a post held by the Sovereign's Private Secretary (currently Rt Hon. Sir Christopher Geidt). From 2002-2013 the then Librarian, The Hon. Lady Jane Roberts's responsibilities included the Library and prints and drawings only, with the Assistant Keepership of the Royal Archives coming under the responsibility of Director of Records (currently David Ryan LVO first as Assistant Keeper and now as Deputy Keeper of the Royal Archives). Since 2014, The Librarian has once again responsibility as Assistant Keeper of the Royal Archives, while the prints and drawings collections held in the Print Room became the responsibility of a newly created post of Head of Prints and Drawings (currently Martin Clayton MVO).[11]
The current Librarian and Assistant Keeper is Oliver Urquhart Irvine, formerly of the British Library.
References
- ^ Allison, R, and Riddell, S (eds.), The Royal Encyclopaedia. Macmillan Press, 1991
- ^ Allison, R, and Riddell, S (eds.), The Royal Encyclopaedia. Macmillan Press, 1991
- ^ Allison, R, and Riddell, S (eds.), The Royal Encyclopaedia. Macmillan Press, 1991
- ^ Allison, R, and Riddell, S (eds.), The Royal Encyclopaedia. Macmillan Press, 1991
- ^ Allison, R, and Riddell, S (eds.), The Royal Encyclopaedia. Macmillan Press, 1991
- ^ http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/66/101066332
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1377800/Sir-Robin-Mackworth-Young.html
- ^ Royal Collection Trust Annual Report 2013-2014, p. 14
- ^ Royal Collection Trust Annual Report 2013-2014, p. 14
- ^ Allison, R, and Riddell, S (eds.), The Royal Encyclopaedia. Macmillan Press, 1991
- ^ Royal Collection Annual Report 2013-2014