Lecture Note Book of Professor T.E. Jessop

Papers in this collection consist of a volume of lecture notes made by Professor Thomas Edmund Jessop

Thomas Edmund Jessop was born on 10 September 1896 in Huddersfield to Newton Jessop and his wife Georgiana (nee Swift). He studied at the University of Leeds where he received his BA in 1921 and his MA in 1922. From Leeds he went on to study at Oriel College, Oxford, where he received his BLitt in 1924.

His first teaching post was as an assistant lecturer at the University of Glasgow (1925-1928). In 1928 he took up a position at the newly formed University College of Hull. For seventeen years he was the first and only member of the Philosophy Department, whilst simultaneously teaching on the Psychology degree course. He was the first Ferens Professor of Philosophy at the University College of Hull from 1928 to 1960. After this he then served as Professor Emeritus teaching at various universities abroad.

Noted for his writing on travel and philosophy, Jessop's best known published works include 'A Bibliography of George Berkeley by T.E. Jessop: with an Inventory of Berkeley's Manuscript Remains by A.A. Luce' (1934), 'A Bibliography of David Hume and of Scottish Philosophy from Francis Hutcheson to Lord Balfour' (1938), 'The Works of George Berkeley, Bishop of Cloyne', 9 volumes (1948-1957) edited with A.A. Luce, and 'Berkeley: Philosophical Writings' (1952).

A staunch Methodist, he also wrote extensively on relationship between Christianity and ethics and science. Some of his best known published works in this area include the titles 'Law and Love: A Study of the Christian Ethics' (1940) and 'The Christian Morality' (1960).

During WWII Jessop undertook public relations work on behalf of the government, addressing troops and public audiences on the nature of the war, especially Nazism, its background and origins.

He received a number of honours throughout his life, including the degrees of Litt D (honoris causa) from the University of Dublin and the University of Hull. He was also awarded the Order of the British Empire for his educational work with the British Forces.

His contribution to the development of the University of Hull extended beyond his teaching responsibilities. He was the first Chairman of the Library Committee (1928-1934). His suggestion in the late summer of 1928 that the university's motto be 'In obscuritatem lampada Ferens' was eventually adopted as the simplified contraction 'Lampada Ferens'. He donated two items to the university's library with the intention of building up a special collection and archive. These items were a letter from Austen Chamberlain dated 18 May 1927 and an item of writing by Chu Hsi dated c.1950. He also helped create a fine art collection for the university by purchasing and donating a portfolio of etchings.

Jessop died in Hull on 10 September 1980, his wife Dora having predeceased him in 1965.

Access will be granted to any accredited reader

The item was purchased by Hull University Archives from Bernard Quaritch Ltd in September 2015

[U DJP] Papers of Professor Thomas Edmund Jessop

[U LIB] Papers of the University Library

Miscellaneous relevant items at U DX236/3; U ADU/1/544; U ADU/1/565