David Vaisey
Encyclopedia
David George Vaisey CBE (born 15 March 1935) is a British librarian who was Bodley's Librarian
(head of the Bodleian Library
at the University of Oxford
) from 1986 until 1996.
in Gloucestershire
and at Exeter College, Oxford
, where he studied Modern History
, graduating in 1959, followed by qualification as an archivist at the Bodleian Library in 1960. While performing his National Service
he was commissioned as a second lieutenant
in the Gloucestershire Regiment on 23 April 1955, and transferred to the Territorial Army on 21 September 1956, and was promoted acting lieutenant
on 28 December 1956. His Who's Who entry states also he served with the King's African Rifles
. After working as assistant archivist for Staffordshire County Council between 1960 and 1963, he joined the Bodleian Library
in Oxford in 1963, initially as Assistant Librarian before becoming Senior Assistant Librarian, then Keeper of Western Manuscripts at the Bodleian in 1975; he also became a Fellow of Exeter College in 1975. He was, in addition, Deputy Keeper of the Oxford University Archives between 1966 and 1975. He was appointed Bodley's Librarian in 1986, succeeding John Jolliffe
who had died in the previous year. He retired from the Bodleian in 1996, with the title of Bodley's Librarian Emeritus, and was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours
. Between 1995 and 2000, he was Keeper of the Archives
of the university.
Other positions that he has held include a visiting professorship in Library Studies at the University of California Los Angeles (1985), membership of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts
(1986 to 1998), and President of the Society of Archivists
from 1999 to 2002. He was made an Honorary Fellow of Kellogg College, Oxford
in 1996, and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
and the Royal Historical Society
. A historian with a particular interest in the use of local source materials, his publications include Staffordshire and The Great Rebellion (1964, jointly), Victorian and Edwardian Oxford from old photographs (1971, jointly), The Diary of Thomas Turner
1754–65 (1984) and various journal articles.
Bodley's Librarian
The head of the Bodleian Library, the main library at the University of Oxford, is known as Bodley's Librarian: Sir Thomas Bodley, as founder, gave his name to both the institution and the position. Although there had been a university library at Oxford since about 1320, it had declined by the end...
(head of the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
) from 1986 until 1996.
Life
Vaisey was educated at Rendcomb CollegeRendcomb College
Rendcomb College is a co-educational boarding and day school for 3 to 18-year-olds, located in the village of Rendcomb five miles north of Cirencester in Gloucestershire, England. The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference....
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
and at Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, where he studied Modern History
Modern history
Modern history, or the modern era, describes the historical timeline after the Middle Ages. Modern history can be further broken down into the early modern period and the late modern period after the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution...
, graduating in 1959, followed by qualification as an archivist at the Bodleian Library in 1960. While performing his National Service
Conscription in the United Kingdom
Conscription in the United Kingdom has existed for two periods in modern times. The first was from 1916 to 1919, the second was from 1939 to 1960, with the last conscripted soldiers leaving the service in 1963...
he was commissioned as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the Gloucestershire Regiment on 23 April 1955, and transferred to the Territorial Army on 21 September 1956, and was promoted acting lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
on 28 December 1956. His Who's Who entry states also he served with the King's African Rifles
King's African Rifles
The King's African Rifles was a multi-battalion British colonial regiment raised from the various British possessions in East Africa from 1902 until independence in the 1960s. It performed both military and internal security functions within the East African colonies as well as external service as...
. After working as assistant archivist for Staffordshire County Council between 1960 and 1963, he joined the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
in Oxford in 1963, initially as Assistant Librarian before becoming Senior Assistant Librarian, then Keeper of Western Manuscripts at the Bodleian in 1975; he also became a Fellow of Exeter College in 1975. He was, in addition, Deputy Keeper of the Oxford University Archives between 1966 and 1975. He was appointed Bodley's Librarian in 1986, succeeding John Jolliffe
John Jolliffe
John William Jolliffe was a British librarian who was Bodley's Librarian from 1982 until his death.-Life:...
who had died in the previous year. He retired from the Bodleian in 1996, with the title of Bodley's Librarian Emeritus, and was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
. Between 1995 and 2000, he was Keeper of the Archives
Keeper of the Archives
The position of Keeper of the Archives at the University of Oxford in England dates from 1634, when it was established by new statutes for the university brought in by William Laud...
of the university.
Other positions that he has held include a visiting professorship in Library Studies at the University of California Los Angeles (1985), membership of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts
Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts
The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts , a UK body, was established in 1869 "to make enquiry as to the places where manuscripts and private papers of historical interest were located and to report on their contents"....
(1986 to 1998), and President of the Society of Archivists
Society of Archivists
The Society of Archivists was the principal professional body for archivists, archive conservators and records managers in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
from 1999 to 2002. He was made an Honorary Fellow of Kellogg College, Oxford
Kellogg College, Oxford
Kellogg College is one of the largest and most international graduate constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Kellogg College is a graduate college and admissions are not open to undergraduates. The college focuses on the concept of higher, postgraduate and lifelong learning...
in 1996, and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
and the Royal Historical Society
Royal Historical Society
The Royal Historical Society was founded in 1868. The premier society in the United Kingdom which promotes and defends the scholarly study of the past, it is based at University College London...
. A historian with a particular interest in the use of local source materials, his publications include Staffordshire and The Great Rebellion (1964, jointly), Victorian and Edwardian Oxford from old photographs (1971, jointly), The Diary of Thomas Turner
Thomas Turner (diarist and shopkeeper)
Thomas Turner was a shopkeeper in East Hoathly, Sussex, England. He is now most widely known for his diary....
1754–65 (1984) and various journal articles.