From: 149 Spring 2019
Author: Howard Crapper
As mentioned in From the Editor the position of Archivist is currently vacant. The Freemen would like to hear from anyone interested in holding this position, some details of which are provided below.
If you believe this is something you would be interested in, please contact our chairman, Howard Crapper, whose contact details can be found inside the front cover.
Archives: Maintain the Freemen’s archives, and research the history of the Freemen. Place results of research into the archives and advise the General Committee when necessary.
Newsletter: Maintain a complete set of The Oxford Freeman.
Mailing List: Experience has shown that the mailing list of Oxford Freemen quickly becomes out of date. The archivist is therefore instructed to carry out a biennial survey by placing a notice in The Oxford Freeman every two years requesting Freemen to return an enclosed survey form. These forms are then returned to the archivist for processing. Changes to the list also occur between surveys and the list should be amended accordingly. Changes include admissions, deaths, changes of address, and the addition of existing Freemen not on the list but subsequently found.
Freemen’s Cards: Maintain the list of cards (ID cards) issued to Freemen. Issue cards to new Freemen and to Freemen not previously in receipt of one. Card numbers issued to Freemen remain with them for life. Lost cards are not replaced.
Notes For Freemen: Issue to new Freemen the booklet Notes for Freemen and the Chairman’s welcoming letter. Revise these when necessary.
Enactments: Keep a separate record of Common Hall and Committee decisions for easy reference and, when appropriate, advise the Committee of those still in force.
Historical Enquiries: Answer historical enquiries from the Committee, individual Freemen, other organisations, members of the press, and members of the public. Sometimes research into Freemen descendants is requested by Freemen and by members of the public.
Press Cuttings: Search local newspapers for articles on Oxford Freemen and add to those already held in the archives.
Articles for publication: Write articles on Freemen’s history for publication in The Oxford Freeman.
Space readily at hand is required to store archival material.
A collection of books on Oxford’s history is desirable. These include Records of the City of Oxford, 1509 - 1583; the five volumes of Oxford Council Acts; Strangers in Oxford; Royal Letters Addressed to Oxford; Oxford City Documents; Oxford City Properties; Oxford Topography, etc. There are many other books on Oxford’s history that would sometimes be useful. Many are available for study at the Westgate Library but attendance there would be less convenient than working from home.
The only published historical books or booklets presently held by the Freemen are Memoirs of an Oxford Freeman; Freemen of England, 1967; Freemen in England, 1975; An Oxford Charter of 1191 and the Beginnings of Municipal Freedom (photocopy); The Outwith Guilds of Great Britain; and two volumes of the Oxford Council Acts. Also held is a unique and, as far as I am aware, unpublished account of Nixon’s School and various articles and reports by R. A. J. Earl.
The present Archivist purchased their own collection of books relevant to the history of Oxford and the Freemen.