The Harold James Dyos Collection

The collection contains correspondence between Professor Dyos and scholars from around the world, material relating to the organisation of the Urban History Group's annual conferences, research and correspondence relating to Professor Dyos' publications and material relating to his public roles and local conservation work.

H.J. Dyos pioneered the study of urban history in Britain and promoted it through his contacts with leading urban, economic and social historians from around the world. Born in 1921, he left school at 15 and served in the Royal Artillery during the war, before going to the London School of Economics to study economic history in 1946. In 1952 he was appointed to a lectureship at University College, Leicester, a well-respected centre for the study of local history and Victorian studies. Dyos remained at Leicester for the rest of his career, becoming Professor of Urban History. In 1961 he published 'Victorian Suburb: A Study of the Growth of Camberwell'. His other principal writings include: 'The Study of Urban History' in 1968 (editor); 'British Transport: An Economic Survey from the Seventeenth Century to the Twentieth' in 1969 (with Derek H. Aldcroft); and 'The Victorian City: Images and Realities' in 1973 (editor with Michael Wolff). As part of the conference of the Economic History Society in 1963, he convened the first meeting of the Urban History Group, and he started and contributed frequently to the 'Urban History Newsletter', which was succeeded by the 'Urban History Yearbook' in 1974. He died suddenly and prematurely in 1978.

• 1/1-24 Correspondence between Professor Dyos and other leading urban, economic and social historians from around the world

• 2/1-50 Photographic Slides 3/1-12 Correspondence, programme of events, newsletters and other material relating to the Urban History Group

• 4/1-16 Material relating to 'Urban History Newsletter' and other journals

• 5/1-6 Camberwell

• 6/1-14 Alphabetical by-subject index of material collected during Professor Dyos' researches

• 7/1-12 Correspondence and other material relating to organisations/institutes/societies

• 8/1-4 Material relating to lecturing and marketing

• 9/1-6 Correspondence concerning applications for various research grants

• 10/1-7 Working with publishers

• 11/1-5 Notes and copies from journals;

• 12/1-2 Material for journal articles published in 'Devon Historian' and 'Victorian Studies' and a paper given at All Souls College

• 13/1 'The Victorian City: Images and Realities' reviews

• 14/1-8 Miscellaneous papers

Also included is a listed collection of reel-to-reel tapes.

Some files are unavailable for general access due to closure periods set by the Data Protection Act 2018.

The Special Collections Reading Room is open Monday-Friday. Opening hours vary, for updates see our Archives Hub repository page.

Researchers are required to book an appointment before their visit, through specialcollections@le.ac.uk or 0116 252 2056.

The Collection was deposited with the University of Leicester Archives in July 2010 by Linda Dyos, daughter of H.J. Dyos. No further accruals are expected.

Catalogue available via: University of Leicester Archive Catalogue

A handlist of the collection (catalogued by Dympna Sheil, funded by the Pilgrim Trust and the Aurelius Trust) is available from University of Leicester Special Collections upon request.

Description prepared by Margaret Maclean on 8 December 2010.

Much of the material in the archive remains in copyright. Copyright of Professor Dyos' own papers is held by his estate. Copyright of the residual material, such as letters written to him and works by other authors, remains with individual authors. Photocopies of material can be supplied for private research purposes only. However, it is the responsibility of users to obtain the copyright holder's permission for reproduction of copyright material for purposes other than research or private study. A copy of such written approval from the copyright holder must be received by University of Leicester Special Collections before reproductions can be made. It is also the researcher's responsibility to obtain the relevant copyright holder's permission to publish or cite papers from the archive. A copy of such written approval from the copyright holder must be received by University of Leicester Special Collections prior to publication. The University will not be responsible for any failure on the part of authors and publishers to seek such permission to publish. Readers are required to sign a form accepting these conditions.

The Dyos Collection was formerly held by the Centre for Urban History at the University of Leicester and was catalogued by Miss Dympna Sheil, funding being provided by the Pilgrim Trust and the Aurelius Trust. With the exception of a sizeable collection of slides, used by Professor Dyos to illustrate his lectures, it was transferred to the University of Leicester Archives in July 2010.

No further accruals are expected.

An extensive collection of slides, used by Professor Dyos to illustrate his lectures and talks, is available from the Centre for Urban History, University of Leicester.