Asa Briggs, Baron Briggs
Encyclopedia
Asa Briggs, Baron Briggs (born 7 May 1921) is a British
historian
, one of the most respected historians who has written on the Victorian era. In particular, his trilogy, Victorian People, Victorian Cities, and Victorian Things made a lasting mark on how historians view the nineteenth century. He was made a life peer
in 1976.
, West Riding of Yorkshire
in 1921, he was educated at Keighley Boys' Grammar School before gaining a BA
from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
in 1941, and a BSc
in Economics from the University of London External Programme
, also in 1941.
From 1942 to 1945 during World War II
, Briggs served in the Intelligence Corps and worked at the British wartime codebreaking station, Bletchley Park
. He was a member of "the Watch" in Hut 6
, the section deciphering Enigma machine
messages from the German Army and Air Force.
After the War, he was elected a Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford
(1945-55) and was subsequently appointed University
Reader
in Recent Social and Economic History (1950-55). He was Faculty Fellow of Nuffield College
1953-55 and a member of the Institute for Advanced Study
, Princeton Township, New Jersey
1953-54.
From 1955 until 1961 he was Professor of Modern History at the University of Leeds
. From 1961 until 1976 he was Professor of History at the University of Sussex
, while also serving as Dean of the School of Social Studies (1961-65), Pro Vice-Chancellor
(1961-67), and Vice-Chancellor (1967-76). On June 4 2008 the University of Sussex Arts A1 and A2 lecture theatres, designed by Basil Spence
, were renamed in his honour.
In 1976 he returned to Oxford to become Provost
of Worcester College
until 1991.
He was Chancellor
of the Open University
1978-1994 and in May 1979 was awarded an honorary degree
as Doctor of the University. He has been an Honorary Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
since 1968, of Worcester College, Oxford
since 1969, and of St Catharine's College, Cambridge
since 1977. He also held a visiting appointment at the Gannett Center for Media Studies at Columbia University
in the late 1980s and again at the renamed Freedom Forum Media Studies Center at Columbia in 1995-96. In 1976 he was created a life peer
as Baron Briggs, of Lewes in the County of East Sussex
.
He has written a five-volume text on the history of broadcasting
in the UK (essentially, the history of the BBC
) from 1922 to 1974.
In 1987, Lord Briggs was invited to be President of the Brontë Society, a literary society established in 1893 in Haworth, England. He presided over the Society's centenary celebrations in 1993 and continued as President until he retired from the position in 1996.
He married Susan Anne Banwell in 1955 and they have two sons and two daughters.
in 2002, exploring the social impacts of the media. A particular focus is the initiation of cultural changes by the printing press
, or its effect as a catalyst for change within society. The authors point out that the invention of the printing press impacted on occupations within European cities, changing the traditional structure. As printers came to exist, so did a new a new social group. Similarly, jobs became available for proof readers, followed by a rise in book stores and positions available at libraries. Elizabeth Eisenstein
too has argued that printing is an underestimated “agent of change”. She laid down that "print standardised and preserved knowledge" but also stimulated new ideas, including the critique of authority and society, allowing for the establishment of a diversity of ideas and voices.
The printing press and what followed commercialised leisure, with reading being broken up into five kinds, as Briggs and Burke discuss, “critical reading…dangerous reading…creative reading…extensive reading…private reading…”(Briggs and Burke, 2002).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, one of the most respected historians who has written on the Victorian era. In particular, his trilogy, Victorian People, Victorian Cities, and Victorian Things made a lasting mark on how historians view the nineteenth century. He was made a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
in 1976.
Life
Born in KeighleyKeighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
, West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
in 1921, he was educated at Keighley Boys' Grammar School before gaining a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.The college was founded in 1596 and named after its foundress, Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. It was from its inception an avowedly Puritan foundation: some good and godlie moniment for the mainteynance...
in 1941, and a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Economics from the University of London External Programme
University of London External Programme
The University of London International Programmes is a division of the University of London that manages external study programmes.Several colleges and institutes of the University of London offer degrees through the programme, including Birkbeck, Goldsmiths, Heythrop College, Institute of...
, also in 1941.
From 1942 to 1945 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Briggs served in the Intelligence Corps and worked at the British wartime codebreaking station, Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park is an estate located in the town of Bletchley, in Buckinghamshire, England, which currently houses the National Museum of Computing...
. He was a member of "the Watch" in Hut 6
Hut 6
Hut 6 was a wartime section of Bletchley Park tasked with the solution of German Army and Air Force Enigma machine ciphers. Hut 8, by contrast, attacked Naval Enigma...
, the section deciphering Enigma machine
Enigma machine
An Enigma machine is any of a family of related electro-mechanical rotor cipher machines used for the encryption and decryption of secret messages. Enigma was invented by German engineer Arthur Scherbius at the end of World War I...
messages from the German Army and Air Force.
After the War, he was elected a Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
(1945-55) and was subsequently appointed University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
Reader
Reader (academic rank)
The title of Reader in the United Kingdom and some universities in the Commonwealth nations like Australia and New Zealand denotes an appointment for a senior academic with a distinguished international reputation in research or scholarship...
in Recent Social and Economic History (1950-55). He was Faculty Fellow of Nuffield College
Nuffield College, Oxford
Nuffield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is an all-graduate college and primarily a research establishment, specialising in the social sciences, particularly economics, politics and sociology. It is a research centre in the social sciences...
1953-55 and a member of the Institute for Advanced Study
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...
, Princeton Township, New Jersey
Princeton Township, New Jersey
Also Princeton Borough is an independent municipality completely surrounded by the township.Princeton North is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Princeton Township....
1953-54.
From 1955 until 1961 he was Professor of Modern History at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
. From 1961 until 1976 he was Professor of History at the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
, while also serving as Dean of the School of Social Studies (1961-65), Pro Vice-Chancellor
Pro-Vice-Chancellor
In a university, an assistant to a vice-chancellor is called a pro-vice-chancellor . These are sometimes teaching academics who take on additional responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities are in charge of Administration, Research and Development, Academic and Education affairs...
(1961-67), and Vice-Chancellor (1967-76). On June 4 2008 the University of Sussex Arts A1 and A2 lecture theatres, designed by Basil Spence
Basil Spence
Sir Basil Urwin Spence, OM, OBE, RA was a Scottish architect, most notably associated with Coventry Cathedral in England and the Beehive in New Zealand, but also responsible for numerous other buildings in the Modernist/Brutalist style.-Training:Spence was born in Bombay, India, the son of Urwin...
, were renamed in his honour.
In 1976 he returned to Oxford to become Provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
of Worcester College
Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
until 1991.
He was Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
1978-1994 and in May 1979 was awarded an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
as Doctor of the University. He has been an Honorary Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.The college was founded in 1596 and named after its foundress, Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. It was from its inception an avowedly Puritan foundation: some good and godlie moniment for the mainteynance...
since 1968, of Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
since 1969, and of St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St. Catharine’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473, the college is often referred to informally by the nickname "Catz".-History:...
since 1977. He also held a visiting appointment at the Gannett Center for Media Studies at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in the late 1980s and again at the renamed Freedom Forum Media Studies Center at Columbia in 1995-96. In 1976 he was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Briggs, of Lewes in the County of East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
.
He has written a five-volume text on the history of broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
in the UK (essentially, the history of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
) from 1922 to 1974.
In 1987, Lord Briggs was invited to be President of the Brontë Society, a literary society established in 1893 in Haworth, England. He presided over the Society's centenary celebrations in 1993 and continued as President until he retired from the position in 1996.
He married Susan Anne Banwell in 1955 and they have two sons and two daughters.
A Social History of the Media: From Gutenberg to the Internet
Briggs wrote this book with Peter BurkePeter Burke
Peter Burke is a British historian and professor.He was born to a Roman Catholic father and Jewish mother . He was educated by the Jesuits and at St John's College, Oxford, and was a doctoral candidate at St Antony's College...
in 2002, exploring the social impacts of the media. A particular focus is the initiation of cultural changes by the printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
, or its effect as a catalyst for change within society. The authors point out that the invention of the printing press impacted on occupations within European cities, changing the traditional structure. As printers came to exist, so did a new a new social group. Similarly, jobs became available for proof readers, followed by a rise in book stores and positions available at libraries. Elizabeth Eisenstein
Elizabeth Eisenstein
Elizabeth Lewisohn Eisenstein is an American historian of the French Revolution and early 19th century France. She is well-known for her work on the history of early printing, writing on the transition in media between the era of 'manuscript culture' and that of 'print culture', as well as the role...
too has argued that printing is an underestimated “agent of change”. She laid down that "print standardised and preserved knowledge" but also stimulated new ideas, including the critique of authority and society, allowing for the establishment of a diversity of ideas and voices.
The printing press and what followed commercialised leisure, with reading being broken up into five kinds, as Briggs and Burke discuss, “critical reading…dangerous reading…creative reading…extensive reading…private reading…”(Briggs and Burke, 2002).
Select bibliography
- The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom 5 volumes (Oxford University Press)
- The birth of broadcasting - 1961
- The golden age of wireless (1927-1939) - 1965
- The war of words (1939-1945) - 1970
- Sound and vision (1945-1955) - 1979
- Competition (1955-1974) - 1995
- The Age of Improvement, 1783-1867 (Harlow: Pearson, 1959, 2nd edn 2000)
- The Channel Islands, Occupation and Liberation 1940-1945, Batsford Books, London, ISBN 0-7134-7822-5
- A Social History of England
- Victorian People
- Victorian Cities
- Victorian Things
- Marx in London, An Illustrated Guide
- A Social History of the Media 2002
- Secret Days: Codebreaking in Bletchley Park: A Memoir of Hut Six and the Enigma Machine (Frontline Books, ISBN-13: 978-1848326156, May 2011)