Helen Wallis
Encyclopedia
Helen Margaret Wallis was the Map Curator of the British Library from 1967 to 1987.
, Wallis attended St Paul's School for Girls and studied at St Hugh's College, Oxford
, where she completed her D.Phil degree in 1954.
In 1951, she was appointed assistant to R.A. Skelton, superintendent of the Map Room at the British Library
, succeeding him in 1967.
She was the chairman of the standing commission on the history of cartography of the International Cartographic Association
. In 1986, she became president of the International Map Collectors' Society and she was a founder of The Geography and Map Section of the International Federation of Library Associations. She served as President of The Society for Nautical Research
, 1972-1988, and President of the British Cartographic Society
.
She died in London.
Biography
Born in BarnetBarnet
High Barnet or Chipping Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet, North London, England. It is a suburban development built around a twelfth-century settlement and is located north north-west of Charing Cross. Its name is often abbreviated to Barnet, which is also the name of the London...
, Wallis attended St Paul's School for Girls and studied at St Hugh's College, Oxford
St Hugh's College, Oxford
St Hugh's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford. It is located on a fourteen and a half acre site on St Margaret's Road, to the North of the city centre. It was founded in 1886 as a women's college, and accepted its first male students in its centenary year in 1986...
, where she completed her D.Phil degree in 1954.
In 1951, she was appointed assistant to R.A. Skelton, superintendent of the Map Room at the British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
, succeeding him in 1967.
She was the chairman of the standing commission on the history of cartography of the International Cartographic Association
International Cartographic Association
The International Cartographic Association , French Association Cartographique Internationale , is an organization formed of national member organizations, to provide a forum for issues and techniques in cartography...
. In 1986, she became president of the International Map Collectors' Society and she was a founder of The Geography and Map Section of the International Federation of Library Associations. She served as President of The Society for Nautical Research
Society for Nautical Research
The Society for Nautical Research was founded in 1910 to promote the academic field of maritime history in the United Kingdom.The aims of the society are to:* support and encourage research in maritime history and underwater archaeology....
, 1972-1988, and President of the British Cartographic Society
British Cartographic Society
The British Cartographic Society is an association of individuals and organisations dedicated to exploring and developing the world of maps. It is a registered charity...
.
She died in London.
Honours and awards
- Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe 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...
, 1986 - Hon. D.Litt. Davidson CollegeDavidson CollegeDavidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine, although it has recently dropped to 11th in U.S. News...
, North Carolina - Honorary Fellow of Portsmouth Polytechnic
- Gold Medal of the British Cartographic SocietyBritish Cartographic SocietyThe British Cartographic Society is an association of individuals and organisations dedicated to exploring and developing the world of maps. It is a registered charity...
- Caird Medal of the National Maritime MuseumNational Maritime MuseumThe National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom and may be the largest museum of its kind in the world. The historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, it also incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich,...
- Victoria MedalVictoria Medal (geography)The Victoria Medal is an award presented by the Royal Geographical Society. It is awarded "for conspicuous merit in research in geography" and has been given since 1902.-Past recipients:...
of the Royal Geographical SocietyRoyal Geographical SocietyThe Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...