Papers and correspondence of Herbert John Fleure

Scope and Content

There is some biographical material including Fleure's impressions of Aberystwyth in 1900, and recollections of Welsh colleagues. There are notes and drawings for lectures on biological theory, 1906-1907, and some working papers in respect of the Channel Islands, mainly Guernsey (including a short account of life under German occupation), and Fleure's book A natural history of man in Britain; conceived as a study of changing relations between men and environments (London 1951). Fleure maintained his research interests to the end of his long life, despite increasing loss of sight. Many of the documents were written under this severe handicap, some with the assistance of his wife.

Administrative / Biographical History

Fleure was born in Guernsey. He had a long association with University of Wales, Aberystwyth, as astudent, 1897-1901, and then after study at the Zoological Institute, Zürich, 1902-1904, successively as Lecturer, Head of Department and Professor in Zoology, Geology, Geography and Anthropology, 1904-1930. He was Professor of Geography, Manchester University, 1930-1944. He served the Geographical Association as Honorary Secretary, 1917-1946, and President, 1948, and was President of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 1945-1947. His research interests were exceptionally wide-ranging as the disciplines of the departments he headed suggests - from the purely biological studies of some of his early researches through the physical anthropology and human geography which he continued to pursue in active retirement. He was elected FRS in 1936.

Arrangement

By section as follows: Biographical and personal, Printed material, Bibliographies and studies, Notes and working papers, Manuscripts, papers and addresses, Correspondence, Maps, charts and slides.

Access Information

Public

Admission is by reader's ticket. Both long and short-term readers' tickets may be issued to applicants over eighteen years of age. These may be obtained at the Library's General Office near the main entrance. The Library's reading rooms are open from 9.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. on weekdays and 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on Saturdays.

Other Finding Aids

Printed catalogue of the papers and correspondence of Herbert John Fleure FRS, 1877-1969 by J. Alton and H. Weiskittel, CSAC catalogue no. 38/2/76, 6 pp. Copies available from NCUACS, University of Bath.

Separated Material

Fleure's research papers and correspondence relating to the distribution of blood groups in the United Kingdom, with particular reference to Wales (donated by Dr E. Davies in 1982, 1 box) and research material for H.J. Fleure and E. Davies's 'Anthropometric Survey of Welsh Wales' are also held by the National Library of Wales. Fleure's anthropometric cards are held at the Royal Anthropological Institute, London. Fleure's medals, published work, and library are at the Geographical Association, Sheffield.

Custodial History

Received for cataloguing in 1974 by the Contemporary Scientific Archives Centre from Mr J.L. Fleure, son. Placed in the National Library of Wales in 1976.