J. B. Trapp
Encyclopedia
Joseph Burney Trapp was the director of the Warburg Institute
and Professor of the History of the Classical Tradition at London University from 1976 to 1990.
, New Zealand
, on 16 July 1925, and was educated at Dannevirke School. He graduated MA from Victoria University College in Wellington, New Zealand in 1947, and began his career as an academic at that institution in 1950, after a spell working at the Alexander Turnbull Library from 1946 to 1950.
In 1951 he emigrated to the United Kingdom
, where he worked first at Reading University and from 1953 at the Warburg Institute
, London University. At the Warburg he was assistant librarian (1953-1966) and librarian (1966-1976), before succeeding Ernst Gombrich
as director (1976-1990).
Trapp married Elayne Falla in 1953, and the couple had two sons. He died in London on 14 July 2005.
in Victoria.
His most enduring work is his critical edition
of The Apology of Sir Thomas More, published in 1979 as part of the Yale Edition of the Complete Works of St. Thomas More
. He also published a volume of Essays in the Renaisssance and Classical Tradition (1990) and Studies of Petrarch and His Influence (2003). With Lotte Hellinga he was co-editor of The Cambridge History of the Book in Britain, 1400-1557 (1999).
His work on John Colet
and other English humanists, and his study of Petrarch
, were published in the Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes over many years.
in 1978 and a Fellow of the British Academy in 1980. In 1990 he was awarded the CBE
.
Warburg Institute
The Warburg Institute is a research institution associated with the University of London in central London, England. A member of the School of Advanced Study, its focus is the study of the influence of classical antiquity on all aspects of European civilisation.-History:The Institute was founded by...
and Professor of the History of the Classical Tradition at London University from 1976 to 1990.
Life
Trapp was born in CartertonCarterton
Carterton may refer to:* Carterton, Oxfordshire, England* Carterton, New Zealand...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, on 16 July 1925, and was educated at Dannevirke School. He graduated MA from Victoria University College in Wellington, New Zealand in 1947, and began his career as an academic at that institution in 1950, after a spell working at the Alexander Turnbull Library from 1946 to 1950.
In 1951 he emigrated to the United Kingdom
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...
, where he worked first at Reading University and from 1953 at the Warburg Institute
Warburg Institute
The Warburg Institute is a research institution associated with the University of London in central London, England. A member of the School of Advanced Study, its focus is the study of the influence of classical antiquity on all aspects of European civilisation.-History:The Institute was founded by...
, London University. At the Warburg he was assistant librarian (1953-1966) and librarian (1966-1976), before succeeding Ernst Gombrich
Ernst Gombrich
Sir Ernst Hans Josef Gombrich, OM, CBE was an Austrian-born art historian who became naturalized British citizen in 1947. He spent most of his working life in the United Kingdom...
as director (1976-1990).
Trapp married Elayne Falla in 1953, and the couple had two sons. He died in London on 14 July 2005.
Works
Trapp's first publication was a history of rugbyRugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
in Victoria.
His most enduring work is his critical edition
Textual criticism
Textual criticism is a branch of literary criticism that is concerned with the identification and removal of transcription errors in the texts of manuscripts...
of The Apology of Sir Thomas More, published in 1979 as part of the Yale Edition of the Complete Works of St. Thomas More
Yale Edition of the Complete Works of St. Thomas More
The Yale Edition of the Complete Works of St. Thomas More is the standard scholarly edition of the works of Thomas More, published by Yale University Press. The first of the fifteen volumes to be published appeared in 1963, and the last in 1997...
. He also published a volume of Essays in the Renaisssance and Classical Tradition (1990) and Studies of Petrarch and His Influence (2003). With Lotte Hellinga he was co-editor of The Cambridge History of the Book in Britain, 1400-1557 (1999).
His work on John Colet
John Colet
John Colet was an English churchman and educational pioneer.Colet was an English scholar, Renaissance humanist, theologian, and Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. Colet wanted people to see the scripture as their guide through life. Furthermore, he wanted to restore theology and rejuvenate...
and other English humanists, and his study of Petrarch
Petrarch
Francesco Petrarca , known in English as Petrarch, was an Italian scholar, poet and one of the earliest humanists. Petrarch is often called the "Father of Humanism"...
, were published in the Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes over many years.
- 1990: Gray lectures at Cambridge
- 1991: Panizzi lectures at the British Library, Erasmus, Colet, and More
- 1994: Lyell Reader at Oxford
Awards and honours
Trapp became a Fellow of the Society of AntiquariesSociety 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...
in 1978 and a Fellow of the British Academy in 1980. In 1990 he was awarded the CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
.