Thomas Papers

Papers and correspondence, 1939-1981, of Professor Joseph Anthony Charles Thomas concerning his work, comprising manuscript and typescript notes for lectures attended while a student at Cambridge, 1939-1947; typescripts and manuscripts for 'The Institutes of Justinian'; typescripts and manuscripts, including translations, for various articles, lectures and talks, some unpublished; texts for his lectures at Nottingham, 1953-1954, Glasgow, 1955-1961, and University College London, 1965-1980 and undated; general correspondence, 1953-1978, correspondence concerning book reviews, 1962-1980, correspondence concerning articles, 1966-1969, 1975-1981, and correspondence concerning outside talks, 'A Casebook on Contract', 'Textbook of Roman Law', and 'The Institutes of Justinian'.

Born, 1923; educated at the County Grammar School, Bridgend; served with the Intelligence Corps, Psychological Warfare Branch, and Allied Commission, Austria, 1942-1946; attended Trinity College Cambridge; BA, 1948; MA, LLB, 1949; Lecturer in Law, Nottingham University, 1949-1954; barrister, Gray's Inn, 1950; member of the UK National Committee on Company Law from 1952; Senior Lecturer, University of Glasgow, 1954-1957; Douglas Professor of Civil Law, University of Glasgow, 1957-1965; Professor of Roman Law, University College London, 1965-1981; member of Council, Society for Roman Studies, 1968-1971; Crabtree Orator, 1969; member of the Comitato Internaz Scientifico, IURA, from 1969; Medaglia d'oro dei benemeriti della cultura della Repubblica Italiana, 1974; died, 1981. Publications: 'Private International Law' (Hutchinson's University Library, London, 1955); with John Cyril Smith, 'A Casebook on Contract' (Sweet & Maxwell, London, 1957); 'The Institutes of Justinian' (North Holland Publishing Co, Amsterdam and Oxford, 1975); 'Textbook of Roman Law' (North Holland Publishing Co, Amsterdam and Oxford, 1976); articles in various legal periodicals. There is a full bibliography in box 15 of his papers.

The papers are arranged in the following sections: published works (2 boxes); various lectures, articles and talks (5 boxes); lecture notes from Cambridge (1 box); lectures (5 boxes); correspondence (4 boxes).

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This collection is not fully catalogued. Please contact Special Collections for further information.

Presented by Thomas's son, Mark Thomas, on behalf of the family and transferred from the Law Faculty of University College London in 1982.

A box list is available. Please contact Special Collections for further information.

Normal copyright restrictions apply.

University College London Special Collections also holds 45 letters addressed to the Faculty of Laws, University College London, on the death of Professor Joseph Anthony Charles Thomas, 1981 (Ref: MS ADD 293). University College London Records Office holds Thomas's personnel file (Ref: GO 1438/17, 18); a file on public lectures (Ref: file no 143/471, location GO 555/9); a file on Donations and Bequests: Thomas Memorial Fund (Ref: file no 299/319, location GO 857/3).