V. H. Galbraith

Vivian Hunter GalbraithFBA(15 December 1889 – 25 November 1976) was an English historian, fellow of theBritish AcademyandOxford Regius Professor of Modern History.

V. H. Galbraith
Born	(1889-12-15)15 December 1889 Sheffield,England
Died	25 November 1976(1976-11-25)(aged 86) Oxford,England
Nationality	British
Education	Highgate School
Alma mater	Manchester University Balliol College, Oxford
Occupation	Historian
Known for	Works involving, and reappraising the purpose of, theDomesday Book
Title	Regius Professor of Modern History
Term	1947–1957
Predecessor	Maurice Powicke
Successor	Hugh Trevor-Roper
Spouse	Georgina Rosalie Cole-Baker 1921–1976
Children	3, includingMary MooreandJane Barbour

Early career

Galbraith was born inSheffield,son of David Galbraith, a secretary at thesteelworksin Hadfield, and Eliza Davidson McIntosh.He moved with his family to London, and was educated atHighgate Schoolfrom 1902 to 1906. The family then moved toManchester,where he attendedManchester Universityfrom 1907, and where his lecturers includedMaurice Powicke,Thomas Frederick ToutandJames Tait.Galbraith would later write the biographical articles on Tout and Tait for theDictionary of National Biography.Another historian who influenced him wasH. W. C. Davis.Galbraith was awarded a first class inmodern historyby the University in 1910, and won a Brackenbury scholarship toBalliol College, Oxford.At Oxford, he won theStanhope prizein 1911 with an essay on the chronicles ofSt Albans,achieved a third class inliterae humanioresin 1913, and a first class in modern history in 1914.

Galbraith became the Langton research fellow at Manchester University and began studying the records ofBury St Edmunds Abbey.Following the outbreak ofWorld War I,he enlisted in January 1915. He served as a company commander in theQueen's Regimentand was awarded theCroix de Guerreavec palme for his courage in Palestine in 1917 and France in 1918.

In January 1919 Galbraith resumed the academic life, initially as a temporary lecturer at Manchester, and then continuing with his former research on a renewed Langton research fellowship, while living in London. He joined thePublic Record Officein January 1921 as an assistant keeper, allowing him daily access to records about English medieval government. At this time he started work on editing an edition of theAnonimalle ChronicleofSt Mary's Abbey, York,published in 1927.

Return to Oxford

In 1928 Galbraith succeededReginald Pooleas lecturer indiplomatic,and was elected a tutorial fellow of Balliol. Between pursuing his teaching, lecturing, discussion, and golfing he continued working on chronicles and charters, including theSt Albans Chronicle, 1406–20,published in 1937. Before the end of the year he took up the professorship of history atEdinburgh University.In 1940, he was electedFord's lecturer.

In 1944 Galbraith succeededAlbert Frederick Pollardas director of theInstitute of Historical Research.That same year, in his lecture entitled "Good Kings and Bad Kings in Medieval History", he challenged the overall reliance of historians on the chroniclers whose works were often emotional judgments than constructive criticisms of contemporary figures, concluding thatWilliam RufusandKing Johnwere more misrepresented than any other monarch due to conflict with the clerical hierarchy.

In January 1948 Galbraith succeeded SirMaurice PowickeasRegius Professor of Modern History.He was elected anhonorary fellowof Balliol in 1957, and ofOrielin 1958.

Galbraith intensely dislikedHugh Trevor-Roperand in 1951 threatened to resign if Trevor-Roper was appointed to the Chair of Modern History.This animosity was reciprocated, Trevor-Roper accusing Galbraith of contributing to a provincial and backward-looking culture in the study of history at Oxford.Galbraith blocked Trevor-Roper's application to give theFord Lecturesin 1956.

Galbraith's works include a reappraisal of the purpose ofDomesday Book,a series of critically edited texts and translations of medieval sources, his work between 1942 and 1974 resulting inDomesday Book: Its Place in Administrative History,published byOxford University Presson 23 January 1975. His 1957 essay on the structure ofHenry Knighton's Chronicle successfully proved that Knighton most likely wrote its final two volumes, rather than theContinuator of Knightonwho had previously been suggested.

Galbraith retired as Regius Professor of Modern History in 1957. Galbraith's retirement precipitated a celebrated contest for election to the Regius Professorship which resulted in the election ofHugh Trevor-Roper,despite popular support forA. J. P. Taylorand Galbraith's wish to seeR. W. Southernappointed.Galbraith died on 25 November 1976 at his home at 20A Bradmore Road, Oxford.

Personal life

Galbraith married Georgina Rosalie Cole-Baker, daughter of Lyster Cole-Baker MD, at All Saints' Church Catherington on 1 July 1921.She was a medieval historian whom he had met at Manchester; her study ofThe Constitution of the Dominican Order 1216–1360,including an edition ofBritish LibraryAdditional MS.23935, was published byManchester University Pressin 1925.The couple had three children,Jane(1922–2012), Jim (1925–2009) and Georgina Mary (b. 1930). Jane was a researcher into African artefacts and theArts and Crafts movement,as well as an energetic social campaigner.In 1946, she married Kenneth Michael Barbour, Professor of Geography at theUniversity of Ibadanand theUniversity of Ulster at Coleraine,and guest professor at theUniversity of Nairobi:they had four daughters and one son.Jim became Under-Secretary in the Industrial Relations Division of the Ministry of Labour and was awarded theCBin 1990.He married, in 1954, Isobel Gibson Graham, a teacher who was later prominent on the board of theGirls' Day School Trust:they had two sons.Maryjoined the Diplomatic Service in 1951 and became First Secretary to the UK Permanent Delegation to the United Nations in 1961, resigning on her marriage to Antony Ross Moore in 1963. She was principal ofSt Hilda's College, Oxford,from 1980 to 1990.

Honours

In 1939, Galbraith was elected aFellow of the British Academy(FBA).

In 1957, he was awarded aFestschrift:it was titledFacsimiles of English Royal Writs to A.D. 1100,and edited byT. A. M. BishopandPierre Chaplais.

Works

• Anonimalle Chronicleof St Mary's, York(ed.) (1927)
• An Introduction to the Use of the Public Records(Oxford University Press,1934; 2nd ed. 1935)
• St Albans Chronicle, 1406–20(ed.) (1937)
• Studies in the Public Records(Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson, 1949). The Ford Lectures for 1941.
• The Making of Domesday Book(Oxford University Press, 1961)
• "A Draft ofMagna Carta(1215) ".Proceedings of the British Academy.53:345–360. 1967.
• Domesday Book: Its Place in Administrative History(Oxford University Press, 1974)

See also

• Knighton's Chronicon

Sources

• Southern, R. W.(2021) [2004]. "Galbraith, Vivian Hunter (1889–1976)".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/31132.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
• Sisman, Adam (2010).Hugh Trevor-Roper: The Biography.London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.ISBN978-0297852148.