Howard Nixon
Encyclopedia
Howard Millar Nixon OBE (3 September 1909 – 18 February 1983) was Librarian of Westminster Abbey
from 1974 until his death and was called the "doyen of historians of bookbinding".
of Westminster Abbey
and Nixon accordingly grew up in the vicinity of the Abbey. He was educated at Marlborough College
before studying at Keble College, Oxford
, where he graduated in 1931: he was accepted by the college to read medicine, but switched to history within a week of starting university. After graduating and finding employment hard to come by, he took up his father's suggestion of working in the Abbey's library, a task that Nixon enjoyed sufficiently to study for a diploma at the School of Library Studies at University College, London. He then began work at the British Museum
in 1936, initially as an assistant in the Department of Printed Books, but rising to Assistant Keeper in 1946 and Deputy Keeper in 1959. His career was interrupted by war service: he was a Major in the Royal Artillery
during the Second World War. He spent this time visiting anti-aircraft sites across the country, visiting many local libraries in the process.
At the British Museum, Nixon was involved in setting up a microfilm unit, and also developed an interest in bookbinding history, a subject upon which he published extensively. In his obituary, The Times
called him the "doyen of historians of bookbinding", with a "keen eye" for detail who had given the subject "not merely an academic distinction that it had lacked before but also a basis on which others will build with confidence".
On retiring from the British Museum, Nixon became Librarian of Westminster Abbey in 1974, and held the post until his death. He was appointed Lecturer in Bibliography at the Schoole of Library Studies at University College, London, in 1959, holding the post until 1976; he was also Sandars Reader in Bibliography at the University of Cambridge
from 1967 to 1968 and Lyell Lecturer in Bibliography at the University of Oxford
from 1978 to 1979. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1983 and was elected to an Honorary Fellowship of Keble. He died on 18 February 1983.
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
from 1974 until his death and was called the "doyen of historians of bookbinding".
Life
Nixon's father was precentorPrecentor
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is "præcentor", from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" ....
of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
and Nixon accordingly grew up in the vicinity of the Abbey. He was educated at Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
before studying at Keble College, Oxford
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
, where he graduated in 1931: he was accepted by the college to read medicine, but switched to history within a week of starting university. After graduating and finding employment hard to come by, he took up his father's suggestion of working in the Abbey's library, a task that Nixon enjoyed sufficiently to study for a diploma at the School of Library Studies at University College, London. He then began work at the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
in 1936, initially as an assistant in the Department of Printed Books, but rising to Assistant Keeper in 1946 and Deputy Keeper in 1959. His career was interrupted by war service: he was a Major in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
during the Second World War. He spent this time visiting anti-aircraft sites across the country, visiting many local libraries in the process.
At the British Museum, Nixon was involved in setting up a microfilm unit, and also developed an interest in bookbinding history, a subject upon which he published extensively. In his obituary, The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
called him the "doyen of historians of bookbinding", with a "keen eye" for detail who had given the subject "not merely an academic distinction that it had lacked before but also a basis on which others will build with confidence".
On retiring from the British Museum, Nixon became Librarian of Westminster Abbey in 1974, and held the post until his death. He was appointed Lecturer in Bibliography at the Schoole of Library Studies at University College, London, in 1959, holding the post until 1976; he was also Sandars Reader in Bibliography at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
from 1967 to 1968 and Lyell Lecturer in Bibliography 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 1978 to 1979. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1983 and was elected to an Honorary Fellowship of Keble. He died on 18 February 1983.
Writings (selected)
- 1971: "Printed Books", in: Francis, Frank, ed. Treasures of the British Museum. London: Thames & Hudson; Chap. 9 (pp. 309-31)