Early life, education and military service
Born in Streatham, London, Jenkinson was the son of William Wilberforce Jenkinson, a land agent, and Alice Leigh Bedale. He was educated atCareer
In 1906, Jenkinson joined the staff of theExtramural activities
Jenkinson lectured onArchival theory
Jenkinson's ''Manual of Archive Administration'' was first published in 1922, and republished in a second edition (revised and expanded, but not significantly altered in its principles) in 1937. It was reissued with a new introduction by Roger Ellis in 1965. The book is described by John Ridener as "one of the most widely recognized treatises on the theory of archives and archival work" for introducing continental archival concepts to Britain (and the English-speaking world), along with his own original interpretations.Ridener 2009, p. 41. For example, Jenkinson rejected the practice of accepting singular documents into an archive, as well as the acceptance of private papers, which he considered to be a flaw of the French and Belgian philosophies. However, Margaret Procter argues that despite Jenkinson's "iconic" status, his work also rested to a considerable degree on an existing British theoretical tradition. Key elements in Jenkinson's archival theory included the following: *The objectivity of the archival record * The principle of provenance *'' Le respect pour les fonds'' and the significance of the inter-relatedness of records *The organic nature of archival records in creation, preservation, and relationship with other records *Necessity of continual custody and control of archival records in order to retain significance *The archivist as impartial custodian: Jenkinson believed that archival appraisal (including the weeding-out and destruction of unimportant records) was ''not'' the responsibility of archivists, but of record creators, to be undertaken before the records were transferred to the archive. He emphasised that the archivist is not an analyst of content, but a conservator of any relevant evidence for those who do wish to consult the records. Jenkinson saw "the good Archivist" as "perhaps the most selfless devotee of Truth the modern world produces". "His Creed, the Sanctity of Evidence; his Task, the Conservation of every Scrap of Evidence attaching to the Documents committed to his charge; his Aim, to provide, without prejudice or afterthought, for all who wish to know the Means of Knowledge." He further reaffirmed this position by designating the archivist as being a "profession of faith," a serious professional that is uncompromising in their duty.Disputes with T. R. Schellenberg
Jenkinson had a number of theoretical differences of opinion with T. R. Schellenberg, his American counterpart, particularly over the question of the archivist's role in appraisal and selection.Tschan 2002. John Ridener ascribes their differences in outlook to the fact that, in contrast to Schellenberg's concern with modern records management, Jenkinson's theory was founded on "medieval record structures", and was unsuited to dealing with the increased bulk of modern records. To Schellenberg, it was a matter of quality in the archives. Having an undisturbed and impartial bulk in appraisal and accession does not, in his philosophy, serve the main purpose of the modern archives: making available useful material to patrons. Some records have higher evidentiary value, while others fall short on worth, making the former more desirable for preservation. Schellenberg desired a forward-thinking practicality in the approach to archival appraisal that took into consideration the needs of future patrons (in stark contrast to Jenkinson's conservative approach), while maintaining Jenkinson's notions of record relatedness, evidentiary value, and "truth" in archival holdings. In a private letter, Schellenberg dismissed Jenkinson as "an old fossil".Criticism
Jenkinson's greatest influence on archival theory and practice emerged from his publications, teaching and other activities undertaken in a personal capacity, and undertaken to a great degree early in his career. By contrast, in his professional career at the Public Record Office, and in particular as Deputy Keeper from 1947 to 1954, he was often seen as an autocratic and inflexible conservative. Elizabeth Shepherd comments that "it was only after his retirement that the PRO could finally develop a professional archival approach to its work", as Jenkinson did not like individual interpretations or differing viewpoints of his philosophy. Within the archival profession, Jenkinson's core tenets regarding the objectivity of archives and the archivist as neutral custodian have undergone considerable criticism and revision in recent years. Writing in 1997, Terry Cook commented: "At its most extreme, Jenkinson's approach would allow the archival legacy to be perverted by administrative whim or state ideology, as in the formerHonours
Jenkinson was appointed CBE in 1943 and knighted in 1949. As well as being a member of the Society of Archivists of Great Britain, he was an honorary member of the Society of American Archivists. He was granted an honorary fellowship at University College, London, and an honorary LLD at thePersonal life
Jenkinson married Alice Violet Rickards in 1910. She died in 1960. Jenkinson died a year later on 5 March 1961 at St Thomas' Hospital, London. They had no children.Legacy
After his death, Oliver W. Holmes wrote in the '' American Archivist'' that Jenkinson's work had become a reference source for all inexperienced staff. Writing in 1980, Roger Ellis and Peter Walne commented that " one man had more influence on the establishment of the profession of archivist in Great Britain than Sir Hilary Jenkinson". Terry Eastwood in 2003 called Jenkinson "one of the most influential archivists in the English-speaking world". Jenkinson influenced University College, London's decision to establish an archives diploma course, and would later present its first lecture. Such a course provided advancement towards his desire for the scientific archival profession to advance beyond the Public Record Office, and to train a new generation of archivists in his English method. Since 2007, the Department of Information Studies at University College London has hosted an annual Jenkinson Lecture named in honour of Sir Hilary. The series was established to mark the sixtieth anniversary of archival education at UCL.Principal publications
* ''English Court Hand, A.D. 1066 to 1500'', with Charles Johnson (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1915) * ''Palaeography and the Practical Study of Court Hand'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1915) *''A Manual of Archive Administration'' (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1922; revised edition 1937, reissued 1965) ** 1922 edition via the Internet Archive ** 1937 edition via the Internet Archive *''Elizabethan Handwritings: a preliminary sketch'' (London: Oxford University Press/Bibliographical Society, 1922) *''The Later Court Hands in England from the Fifteenth to the Seventeenth Century'', 2 vols (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1927) *''The English Archivist: a new profession'' (London: H. K. Lewis & Co. Ltd., 1948) *''A Guide to Seals in the Public Record Office'' (London: HMSO, 1954; second edition 1968) *''Selected Writings of Sir Hilary Jenkinson'', ed. Roger H. Ellis & Peter Walne (Gloucester: Alan Sutton, 1980; reissue (with a new introduction) 2003) A fuller bibliography of Jenkinson's writings to 1956 appears as: *References
Bibliography
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