Davidson, Randall Thomas (1848-1930), Baron Davidson

The papers cover the Archbishop's whole life. The collection comprises his official papers, divided into a chronological series of 191 volumes arranged alphabetically (vols. 27-217) and a subject series of 299 volumes (vols. 218-516). The remaining 287 volumes (vols. 517-803) include sermons and addresses, diaries and journals, notebooks, newspaper cuttings, photographs and visitation and ordination records. Also included are diaries of Archbishop Davidson's mother, Henrietta (vols. 653-690), and his father, Henry (vols. 691-733).

Randall Thomas Davidson was chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury (1876-1883), and was appointed dean of Windsor in 1883, bishop of Rochester in 1891, translated to Winchester in 1895 and to Canterbury in 1903. He retired in 1928.

Biographical sources include:

G. K. A. Bell, 'Randall Davidson, archbishop of Canterbury' (second edition, Oxford University Press, 1938) [Lambeth Palace Library H5198.D2B3 [R] ].

Michael Hughes, 'Archbishop Randall Davidson' (forthcoming: Routledge, 2018).

These form part of the Archbishops' Papers. These in turn form part of the archives of the Archbishops of Canterbury, which also comprise: Bishops' Meetings records (BM), Cartae Antiquae et Miscellaneae (Lambeth Charters) (CM), Convocation records (Conv), Court of Arches records (Arches), Faculty Office records (F), Lambeth Conference papers (LC), Temporalities records (ED and T), including correspondence on the Archbishops' estates (TR 8-36), and Vicar General records (V).

Volumes arranged in 21 series as follows:

1-26 Correspondence & papers from Davidson's family (kept separately from Official papers)

27-217 Chronological correspondence

218-516 Subject files

517-523 Miscellaneous correspondence

524-548 Sermons and addresses

549-554 Visitations

555-559 Ordinations

560-583 Diaries & journals

584-631 Pocket diaries

632--652 Engagement diaries

653-690 Diaries of Henrietta Davidson

691-733 Diaries of Henry Davidson

734-742 Notebooks

743-778 Newspaper cuttings

779-784 Visitors' books

785-788 Letter registers

789-790 Photograph albums

791-792 Sketch books

793-794 Presentations

795-798 Financial accounts

799-803 Miscellaneous

Open

Except vols. 1-26, the papers were transferred from Lambeth Palace.

Most 20th-century Archbishops' Papers (Davidson, Lang, Fisher) are catalogued more summarily than the 19th century papers. The indexes to most of the 20th-century papers give a guide to the overall contents to the subjects of individual files, but people are not indexed unless they are the subject of the file (e.g. appointments) - so not every correspondent will appear in the index.

Catalogue descripions based on 'Catalogue of the correspondence and papers of Randall Thomas Davidson, archbishop of Canterbury, 1903-1928' (typescript, 1993). Individual correspondents were not noted in indexing, except where they are the main subject of the correspondence, and therefore users seeking correspondence of particular individuals may therefore need to identify likely subjects of correspondence from the index and search those references.

But see also Davidson 806 (partial card index to some Davidson papers) and Davidson 785-788 (letter registers).

Vols. 1-26 are an important collection of papers which were retained by Archbishop Davidson's family and transferred to Lambeth Palace Library by Miss Mary Mills (Davidson's cousin) after the death of Lady Davidson [further information on the acquisition in Library records: LR/K/2/8].

Note that the numbers in the letter register (vols. 785-8, which provide a complete record of the Archbishop's correspondence), e.g. A1 etc, are not replicated in the present references marked on correspondence in the correspondence volumes, which may bear different numbers.

OTHER PAPERS OF RANDALL THOMAS DAVIDSON IN LAMBETH PALACE LIBRARY

1. Davidson's register, 1902-29.

2. Canterbury diocesan visitation returns, 1907,1912.

3. Lambeth Conference papers.

4. Bishops' Meetings' papers.

5. Archbishop's Assyrian Mission papers.

6. Letters and papers of Randall Thomas Davidson may also be found in the following catalogues:

Index to the letters and papers of Archibald Campbell Tait, archbishop of Canterbury, 1868-1882, in Lambeth Palace Library, 1989.

Index to the letters and papers of Edward White Benson, archbishop of Canterbury, 1883-1896, in Lambeth Palace Library, 1980.

Catalogue of the letters and papers of Frederick Temple, bishop of London, 1885-1896, in Lambeth Palace Library, by Victoria Peters, 1993.

Index to the letters and papers of Frederick Temple, archbishop of Canterbury, 1896-1902, in Lambeth Palace Library, by Melanie Barber, 1975.

Letters and papers of Cosmo Gordon Lang, archbishop of Canterbury, 1928-42, in Lambeth Palace Library, 1986.

Letters and papers of William Temple, archbishop of Canterbury, 1942-4, in Lambeth Palace Library, 1981.

A Catalogue of Manuscripts in Lambeth Palace Library, Mss. 1222-1860, by E.G.W. Bill, 1972.

Catalogue of the Papers of Roundell Palmer (1812-1895) first earl of Selborne, by E.G.W. Bill, 1967.

A Catalogue of Manuscripts in Lambeth Palace Library, Mss. 1907-2340, by E.G.W. Bill, 1976.

A Catalogue of Manuscripts in Lambeth Palace Library, Mss. 2341-3119, by E.G.W. Bill, 1983.

A Catalogue of Manuscripts in Lambeth Palace Library, Mss. 3120-3469, by E.G.W Bill, 1988.

List of the papers of George Kennedy Allen Bell, bishop of Chichester, 1929-1958.

Catalogue of the papers of John Albert Douglas, hon. general secretary of the Church of England Council on Foreign Relations, 1933-1945.

The Library also holds various items relating to Archbishop Davidson in its collection of artefacts.

MATERIAL IN OTHER REPOSITORIES

Ordination papers for the diocese of Winchester, 1895-1902, formerly at Lambeth Palace Library, have been transferred to Hampshire Record Office.

Ordination papers for the diocese of Canterbury, 1902-1944, formerly at Lambeth Palace Library, have been transferred to Canterbury Cathedral Archives.