Cecil Humphery-Smith
Encyclopedia
Cecil Raymond Julian Humphery-Smith, OBE
, FSA
(born 29 October 1928) is a British
genealogist
and heraldist
. He was educated at Hurstpierpoint College
. It was Humphery-Smith who brought the concept of family history
to the world of genealogy with his 1957 lecture "Introducing Family History." In 1961, he founded the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies
in Canterbury
and has edited its journal, FAMILY HISTORY since 1962. In 2008 Humphery-Smith was awarded an honorary Fellowship of Canterbury Christ Church University
.
Humphery-Smith has been a lecturer at University of London
and other institutions for much of his professional career. He has long been the only British member of Council of L'Académie Internationale d’Héraldique
and has received several other academic and literary honours and awards from around the world. In 2004, he was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for “Services to Education in Heraldry and Genealogy.”
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FSA
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
(born 29 October 1928) is a British
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...
genealogist
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
and heraldist
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
. He was educated at Hurstpierpoint College
Hurstpierpoint College
Hurstpierpoint College is an independent, co-educational, day and boarding school for pupils aged 4–18, located just to the north of the village of Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex in the lee of the South Downs...
. It was Humphery-Smith who brought the concept of family history
Family history
Family history is the systematic narrative and research of past events relating to a specific family, or specific families.- Introduction :...
to the world of genealogy with his 1957 lecture "Introducing Family History." In 1961, he founded the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies
Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies
The United Kingdom's Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies was founded in 1961 by Cecil Humphery-Smith. Its library was created by donations from Humphery-Smith, Aylmer Buesst and others....
in Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
and has edited its journal, FAMILY HISTORY since 1962. In 2008 Humphery-Smith was awarded an honorary Fellowship of Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University is a university in Canterbury, Kent, England. Founded as a Church of England college for teaching training it has grown to full university status and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2012. The focus of its work is in the education of people going into...
.
Humphery-Smith has been a lecturer at University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
and other institutions for much of his professional career. He has long been the only British member of Council of L'Académie Internationale d’Héraldique
Académie Internationale d'Héraldique
L'Académie Internationale d'Héraldique is a prestigious body that was founded in Paris in 1949 to bring together experts in heraldry representing the various areas of the world. Admission is by election, and the number of active academicians is limited to 75. There is no limit to the number of...
and has received several other academic and literary honours and awards from around the world. In 2004, he was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for “Services to Education in Heraldry and Genealogy.”