Plumb, Sir John Harold, 1911-2001 (Knight, historian and college head)
Dates
- Existence: 1911 - 2001
Biography
Studied History at University College, Leicester, and in 1933 started a PhD at Christ's College Cambridge on the Convention Parliament of 1689. On completing his thesis Plumb was elected to an Ehrman research fellowship at King's College. He spent most of the second World War at Bletchley Park in charge of a section which monitored the German naval code, RHV. Following the War, he failed to regain a fellowship at King's, and moved back to Christ's instead, becoming a lecturer. Given a LittD by Cambridge in 1957, and promoted to reader in 1962. Vice-master of Christ's from 1964 to 1968. Chair in English history 1966. Retired in 1974. Master of Christ's 1978-1982, Knighted 1982.
Plumb's notable works inclue England in the Eighteenth Century (1950), Sir Robert Walpole (1950, 1960, biographies).
Found in 23 Collections and/or Records:
272 ARTHUR PECK, LETTERS, POEMS AND OTHER MATERIALS, 1969 - 1974
275 ITEMS CONNECTED WITH PROFESSOR SIR JOHN PLUMB, MASTER OF CHRIST'S COLLEGE (1978-1982), 1979 - 1991
Historic events, 19720421
Flags are up in college as it is the Queen's forty-sixth birthday. Peck referes cryptically to 'the great egg prodgect', continuing the mysterious egg theme in his correspondence. The Bishop of Ely is dining as Nigel's guest, and Sir John Plumb was present (Peck refers to him as 'Plumly'). Peck reports the news that men have been active on the moon (the Apollo 16 landings).
Items commemorating Sir John Plumb collected by Professor David Reynolds, 1977 - 2011
Letters to and from Sir John Plumb, 1937 (circa)
[154] JHP to ROY [?], 16 NOV 1937. 'Peil is a fool. Don't take any notice of his inanities'; 'Snow was frightfully angry about the job'; reminiscences of holiday on 'Cote Basque';
[155] JHP to ROY [?], part of a letter, n.d. Teaching dull women at Girton; how he spends his days in Cambridge, wishes he had time to write;
[156] [ROY?] to JHP, n.d. Reaction to JHP's election to a fellowship at Christ's.
Menu of the dinner held on 2 July 2011 following the one-day symposium to commemorate J. H. Plumb., 2011
Pamphlets recording cricket matches played at Althorp, 1980 - 1991
Programmes for the 'Symposium to Celebrate the Centenary of J. H. Plumb', held at Christ's College on Saturday 2 July 2011, 2011
Speakers at the symposium were: Sir David Cannadine, Linda Colley, Stefan Collini, Paul Langford, Neil McKendrick and Roey Sweet.
Recording made, in the autumn, of J. H. Plumb's conversation with Roy Plomley for 'Desert Island Discs', 1977
Recording made on the day of the symposium to commemorate J. H. Plumb, 2011
Small collection of correspondence of Plumb's
This small collection is mainly concerned with bequeathing his papers and books, and one note dated 12 June 1996 about a bill for a dinner at Christ’s hosted by Plumb.
Wisteria flowering, 1972
Sunday afternoon is time for the 'egg project'. Sir John Plumb (whom Peck refers to as 'Plumley') gave a pleasant speech.