Brockett Papers

Scope and Content

Literary papers (mostly unpublished), talks, librarianship articles, historical essays, papers on religious themes, family history papers. The historical papers include his MA thesis, Nonconformism in the South West, MA thesis, 1960, and other papers on nonconformism in Exeter and the region and chapels, a survey of Devon historians, and essays towards his first degree at Exeter. His literary papers include several short stroies and miscellaneous pieces, and an unpublished novel, 'Certain Unalienable Rights', with plan of chapters at back and note of statement given to the Bristol Tribunal for Conscientious Objectors, August 1940. There is also a file of papers relating to sources for Devon history, and a file of materials relating to the history and development of Exeter University Library.

Administrative / Biographical History

Arthur Allan Brockett (who normally referred to himself as Allan A Brockett), Librarian, historian, writer, conscientious objector, was born in 1920 and read history at the University College of the South West, Exeter. He won the Gladstone Memorial Prize for his essay on British Foreign Policy and the unification of Germany 1815-1871 in 1940. He became a librarian and wrote a 'bibliographical appreciation' of the historians of Devon as Part 6 of his final examinations for the Library Association, which he passed in 1949. He remained on the staff at Exeter University Library until his retirement in the 1970s. He published three books: Nonconformity in Exeter, 1650-1875 (Manchester University Press, 1962), The Exeter Assembly: the minutes of the assemblies of the United Brethren of Devon and Cornwall, 1691-1717 (Exeter, 1963), and most notably The Devon union list: a collection of written material relating to the county of Devon (1977).

Access Information

Usual EUL arrangements apply

Other Finding Aids

Unlisted

Conditions Governing Use

Usual EUL arrangements apply

Custodial History

The papers were given to an employee of Exeter University Library, by the author in two batches, as implied on a slip inside the front of one of the two boxes, dated February 1967. The material in the second box being of later date than 1967, this presumably represents a second deposit.

Geographical Names