Canterbury Cathedral Librarians and Archivists
A Chronology
10 July 2008; revised
David J. Shaw
- 1640
- The Dean and Chapter plan to appoint a full-time librarian, in spite of the growing political difficulties.
[Collinson, 194]- 1641–1646
- John Bayly, minor canon, was library keeper with a fee of £7 a year. [Ramsay 382]
- 1672
- Dr Arthur Keyes (or Kaye), a Six Preacher, appointed library keeper.
John Sargenson, minor canon, appointed assistant library keeper.
[Ramsay 385]- 1688–89
- Elias Robinson, a minor canon, appointed library keeper.
[Ramsay 383; Gregory 253]- 1797
- H.J. Todd, a minor canon, referred to as the 'Librarian'. [Ramsay 389]
- 1801
- Dr Houstonne Radcliffe (prebendary, 1795–1822) named 'Librarian', assisted by a salaried Sub-Librarian. (By 1812, he had been appointed Vice-Dean of Wells: Clergy of the Church of England Database)
[Ramsay 390]- 1804–1806
- Cyprian Rondeau Bunce (1752–1807), a Canterbury solicitor and alderman, arranged and indexed the archives. [Ramsay 391]
- 1828–1854
- Dr J.H. Spry (canon, 1828–1854) served as Librarian until his death in 1854. [Ramsay 392–3]
- 1854–1858
- Canon Librarian: Arthur Penrhyn Stanley (canon 1851–1858). [Ramsay 395]
- 1858–1859
- Archdeacon Benjamin Harrison and Dean Henry Alford acted as Canon Librarians. [Ramsay 395]
- 1859–1882
- Canon Librarian: James Craigie Robertson (canon 1859–1882). [Ramsay 395]
- 1877
- Joseph Brigstocke Sheppard (1828–1895) invited by the Chapter to re-arrange the muniments. He later had the titles of Assistant Librarian, Librarian of the Howley-Harrison Library, and Keeper of the Cathedral Records. [Ramsay 396, 399]
- 1890–1897
- Canon Librarian: George Rodney Eden, canon and Bishop of Dover. Eden had two Honorary Librarians appointed to supervise the reading room: M. Beazeley and F. W. Cross. Robert Rhodes, a lay clerk, was paid as Library Keeper. [Ramsay 399–401]
- 1903–1916
- Canon Librarian: Edward Moore, canon 1903–1916. [Ramsay 401]
- 1907–1948
- Charles Eveleigh Woodruff (1855–1948) appointed as Honorary Librarian (Deputy Librarian 1909–1918). [Ramsay 401]
- 1918–1939
- Dr Charles Cotton appointed (honorary) Deputy Librarian. [Ramsay 402]
- 1924–1936
- Canon Librarian: Samuel Bickersteth, canon 1916–1936. [Ramsay 402]
- 1936–1948
- Cathedral Librarian: William Parry Blore (1875–1948), a retired school teacher. [Ramsay 403–4]
- 1946–1948
- William Urry appointed Assistant Librarian. [Ramsay 404]
- 1948–1969
- Dr William Urry, Cathedral Archivist and Librarian.
- 1973–1987
- Canon Librarian: Canon Donald Allchin
- 1970–1989
- Anne Oakley, Cathedral Archivist.
- 1987–1979
- 1979–1988
- Mrs Naomi Pearman (later Linnell) appointed Keeper of Printed Books jointly with the University of Kent. [Ramsay 406]
- 1987–1994
- Canon Librarian: Canon Christopher Lewis
- 1989–?
- Cathedral Archivist: Charlotte Hodgson
- 1988
- Resignation of Mrs Naomi Linnell.
Miss Karen James seconded temporarily from University of kent.- 1989–2002
- Cathedral Librarian: Mrs Sheila Hingley
- 1994–2002
- Canon Librarian: Roger Symon
- ?–2000
- Cathedral Archivist: Michael Stansfield
- 2001–2005
- Cathedral Archivist: Heather Forbes
- 2002–200?
- Canon Librarian: Canon Edward Condry
- 200?–2005
- Canon Librarian: Canon Richard Marsh
- 2002–2008
- Cathedral Librarian: Keith O'Sullivan
- 2006–
- Cathedral and City Archivist: Cressida Williams
- 2007–
- Canon Librarian: Canon Christopher Irvine
Bibliography
Collinson: Patrick Collinson, 'The Protestant Cathedral, 1541–1660'. In: A History of Canterbury Cathedral, ed. P. Collinson, N. Ramsay, M. Sparks. (OUP 1995, revised edition 2002) 154–203.
Gregory: Jeremy Gregory, 'Canterbury and the Ancien Régime: The Dean and Chapter, 1660–1828'. In: A History of Canterbury Cathedral, ed. P. Collinson, N. Ramsay, M. Sparks. (OUP 1995, revised edition 2002) 204–55.
Ramsay: Nigel Ramsay, 'The Cathedral Archives and Library'. In: A History of Canterbury Cathedral, ed. P. Collinson, N. Ramsay, M. Sparks. (OUP 1995, revised edition 2002) 341–407.