Frederick George "Derick" Emmison (28 May 1907 – 9 November 1995) was a British archivist, author and historian. He was County Archivist for

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated ''Beds'') is a Ceremonial County, ceremonial county in the East of England. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Hertfordshire to the south and the south-east, and Buckin ...

between 1925 and 1938, County Archivist for

Essex Essex ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East of England, and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Kent across the Thames Estuary to the ...

between 1938 and 1969, a founder member of the

British Records Association The British Records Association (widely known as the BRA, pronounced as three letters) is a British learned society founded in 1932 to promote the preservation, understanding, accessibility and study of historic records and archives. It is a regi ...

and the

Society of Archivists The Society of Archivists (SoA), which was in existence from 1947 to 2010, was the principal professional body for archivists, archive conservators and records managers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In 2010 the Society amalgamated with the Na ...

, and a winner of the John Bickersteth Medal in 1974 and the

Medlicott Medal The Medlicott Medal for Service to History is awarded annually by the Historical Association. The idea of a medal for outstanding contributions to history originated in 1983 with a proposal from Professor Donald Read, then President of the Historic ...

in 1987. He was also a prolific author who made a significant contribution to our understanding of the

Elizabethan era The Elizabethan era is the epoch in the Tudor period of the history of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603). Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history. The Roman symbol of Britannia (a female ...

through close analysis of the minutiae of local records of that age in

Early life and education

Frederick George Emmison was born in

Bedford Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population was 106,940. Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire and seat of the Borough of Bedford local government district. Bedford was founded at a ford (crossin ...

on 28 May 1907. He was educated at

Bedford Modern School Bedford Modern School (often called BMS or simply Modern) is a Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference independent school in Bedford, England. The school has its origins in Bedford Charity, The Harpur Trust, born from the financial endowme ...

where he excelled academically but was forced to abandon hopes of a University education when his father mistakenly thought a family investment had failed.

Career

At the age of 16, Emmison joined the Bedfordshire Record Office in

under the directorship of Dr G. H. Fowler, then Chairman of the Bedfordshire Records Committee. He was quick to master the work and earn the respect of the county with many important documents being deposited at the record office during his tenure by local churches in particular. Emmison was County Archivist for

between 1925 and 1938; and County Archivist at

Essex Record Office The Essex Record Office is the repository for records about the county of Essex in England. The office is run by Essex County Council. A searchable database of the records held at the office is available on a system called Seax. The Record Offic ...

Chelmsford Chelmsford () is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. It is located north-east of London ...

between 1938 and 1969. His "energetic and imaginative approach impressed many", and Essex was considered to have the leading record system in the country. In time the Essex Record Office became a publishing house for local history and Emmison became a prolific author. His ''Tudor Secretary: Sir

William Petre Sir William Petre (c. 1505 – 1572) (pronounced ''Peter'') was Secretary of State to three successive Tudor monarchs, namely Kings Henry VIII, Edward VI and Queen Mary I. He also deputised for the Secretary of State to Elizabeth I. Educated ...

at Court and Home'' was a "significant contribution to Tudor studies". His Elizabethan Life series "demonstrated the richness of sources for the period and his ability to relate local material to the wider canvas". Emmison was a founder member of the

in 1932 and the Society of Local Archivists in 1947.

Family

In 1935 he married fellow archivist Margaret Moorhead Langwill, daughter of pioneering physician Alice Moorhead and her husband, Dr Hamilton Graham Langwill. Her maternal aunt was

Ethel Moorhead Ethel Agnes Mary Moorhead (28 August 18694 March 1955) was a British suffragette and Painting, painter and was the first suffragette in Scotland to be forcibly-fed. She was also a patron of ''This Quarter'', a journal published by Ernest Walsh ...

and grandfather was Brigadier Surgeon George Alexander Moorhead.

Awards and honours

Emmison was a

Liveryman A livery company is a type of guild or professional association that originated in medieval times in London, England. Livery companies comprise London's ancient and modern trade associations and guilds, almost all of which are styled the "Wors ...

of the

Worshipful Company of Scriveners The Worshipful Company of Scriveners is an ancient Livery Company of the City of London. Originally known as the ''Mysterie of the Writers of the Court Letter'' and, since its incorporation, as the ''Master Wardens and Assistants of the Company ...

and a Fellow of the

Society of Antiquaries of London The Society of Antiquaries of London (SAL) is a learned society of historians and archaeologists in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1707, received its royal charter in 1751 and is a Charitable organization, registered charity. It is based ...

, the

Royal Historical Society The Royal Historical Society (RHS), founded in 1868, is a learned society of the United Kingdom which advances scholarly studies of history. Origins The society was founded and received its royal charter in 1868. Until 1872 it was known as the H ...

and the

Society of Genealogists The Society of Genealogists (SoG) is a UK-based educational charity, founded in 1911Fowler, S School of Advanced Study, University of London. Date unknown. Retrieved 2011-10-30. to "promote, encourage and foster the study, science and knowledge ...

. He was President or Vice-President of the

Historical Association The Historical Association is a membership organisation of historians and scholars founded in 1906 and based in London. Its goals are to support "the study and enjoyment of history at all levels by creating an environment that promotes lifelong lea ...

, the

and the

. Emmison was appointed a

Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

in 1966 for his work as County Archivist of Essex. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the

University of Essex The University of Essex is a public university, public research university in Essex, England. Established by royal charter in 1965, it is one of the original plate glass university, plate glass universities. The university comprises three camp ...

in 1970 and was winner of the John Bickersteth Medal in 1974 and the

in 1987.

Selected bibliography

* ''Tudor Secretary: Sir

At Court And Home''. Published by

Harvard University Press Harvard University Press (HUP) is an academic publishing house established on January 13, 1913, as a division of Harvard University. It is a member of the Association of University Presses. Its director since 2017 is George Andreou. The pres ...

, 1961 * ''Introduction to Archives''. Published by

British Broadcasting Corporation The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public broadcasting, public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved in ...

, 1964 * ''Tudor Food And Pastimes''. Published by

Ernest Benn Limited Ernest Benn Limited was a British publishing house. Sir John Benn Founded by Sir John Benn as Benn Brothers in 1880, it started as the publisher of the trade journal, ''The Cabinet Maker''. Ernest Benn After Sir John was elected to Parliame ...

, London, 1964 * ''How To Read Local Archives, 1550–1770''. Published by

, London, 1967 * ''Elizabethan Life. Disorder: mainly from Essex Sessions and Assize Records''. Published by Essex Record Office Publications,

, 1970 * ''Elizabethan Life: Morals And The Church Courts''. Published by

Essex County Council Essex County Council is the county council that governs the non-metropolitan county of Essex in England. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county; the non-metropolitan county excludes Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock which ...

, 1973 * ''Elizabethan Life: Home, Work & Land: From Essex Wills And Sessions And Manorial Records''. Published by

, 1976 * ''Elizabethan Life. Wills of Essex Gentry & Merchants Proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury''. Published by Essex Record Office Publications,

, 1978

References

External links

Frederick George Emmison at WorldCat Identities
{{DEFAULTSORT:Emmison, Frederick George 1907 births 1995 deaths English archivists Members of the Order of the British Empire Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London Fellows of the Royal Historical Society People from Bedford People educated at Bedford Modern School