Asa Briggs, Baron Briggs

Asa Briggs, Baron Briggs ( born May 7, 1921 in Keighley ) is a British historian and life peer. He is considered one of the most respected historians who write about the Victorian era. In particular, his trilogy Victorian People, Victorian Cities and Victorian Things made ​​a lasting impression on how historians consider the 19th century. In 1976 he became a life peer.

Life and career

Briggs was born in 1921 in Keighley, where he attended the Grammar School. At Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University in 1941, he reached the degree of Bachelor of Arts at the University of London in 1941 he reached the degree of BSc in Economics.

From 1941 to 1945 Briggs worked in the research organization of the Intelligence Corps Bletchley Park, where he was involved in the deciphering of the Enigma.

Briggs was 1978-1994 Chancellor of the Open University. 1976 to 1991 he was Provost of Worcester College, University of Oxford.

After the war he was elected a Fellow of Worcester College ( 1945-55 ) and was appointed University Reader in the recent social and economic history ( Recent Social and Economic History ) appointed ( 1950-55 ). He was 1953-1955 Faculty Fellow of Nuffield College and from 1953 to 1954 member of the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton Township, New Jersey.

From 1955 to 1961 he was Professor of Modern History (Modern History) at the University of Leeds.

From 1961 to 1976 he was professor of history at the University of Sussex, while he also 1961-1965 Dean of the School of Social Studies, 1961-1967 Pro Vice-Chancellor and 1967-1976 Vice- Chancellor ( Vice-Chancellor ) was at the same time. On 4 June 2008, Arts 1 and 2 lecture halls of the University of Sussex, designed by Basil Spence, were renamed in his honor.

He was honored in May 1979 with an honorary doctorate degree as Doctor of the University. He is since 1968 an Honorary Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, since 1969 from Worcester College, and since 1977 at the St. Catharine 's College.

He was a visiting professor at the Gannett Center for Media Studies at Columbia University in the late 1980s and again in the renamed Freedom Forum Media Studies Center from 1995 to 1996.

He wrote a five-volume text on the history of broadcasting in the United Kingdom. In particular, the history of the BBC over the period from 1922 until 1974.

1987 Briggs invited President of the Brontë Society was to be, a literary society, which was founded in 1893 in Haworth. He led the celebrations for the 100th anniversary in 1993 and remained until 1996, in office.

A Social History of the Media: From Gutenberg to the Internet

Briggs wrote this book in 2002 with Peter Burke, where he explored the social impact of the media. A special focus is to initiate cultural changes through the press or their effect as a catalyst for change in the society. The authors emphasize that the invention of the printing press had an impact on professions in European cities. As the professional printer was also a new social group was formed. Also, jobs were created for editors, after the number of bookstores increased. Elizabeth Eisenstein argued also to the effect that the pressure an underrated " agent of change " was. She noted that " pressure standardized knowledge and received ", but also stimulated new ideas, including the critique of authority and society, a diversity of ideas and voices allowed.

Briggs and Burke discussed that can distinguish five types of reading: " Critical Reading, dangerous reading, creative reading, extensive reading, private reading .. " ( Briggs and Burke, 2002).

Membership in the House of Lords

On July 19, 1976, he became a life peer as Baron Briggs of Lewes in the County of East Sussex appointed. His maiden speech in the House of Lords he held on 19 February 1979. He sits there as a Cross Bencher.

When his political interests he calls on the website of the House Education and Social Policy. As states of interest he calls France, Portugal and the United States.

From 1996 to 2002 he was Chairman of the Consultative Committee Eurydice.

He reported 1979 Nurses, Midwives And Health Visitors Bill to speak. In the 1980s, he spoke on the subject of a Council Bill, a Commons amendment and a bill on education reform ( Education Reform Bill). In the 1990s ( 1996), he enlisted in the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Bill to speak. On September 10, 2004, Briggs reported so far for the last time to speak on the topic of the Dictionary of National Biography.

Between the late 1990s and early 2000s, Briggs was very sporadic attendance. From the session 2006/2007 he was absent. Since June 21, 2012, he is on leave of absence granted by the House of Lords Leave of Absence.

Other offices and honors

Briggs was 1970-1972 Chairman ( Chairman ) of the Committee on Nursing, the Advisory Board of the Redundant Churches from 1983 to 1988 and from 1988 to 1993 Briggs was chairman of the Commonwealth of Learning.

From 1976 to 1984 he was Chairman ( Chair ) of the European Institute of Education and Social Policy, Paris. At the United Nations University Briggs was from ( 1997-1980? ) Vice Chairman ( Vice -chair ).

In 1982 he was honored with the Marconi Medal of the French Academy of Architecture 's medal for formation and teaching. He received in 1991 the Snow Medal. 2000 Briggs was awarded the Wolfson prize for history. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers and Fellow of the British Academy.

Work in the public

On the occasion of his 80th birthday, the Asa Briggs History Awards were founded.

On the occasion of his 90th birthday, he gave a lecture and held a reception at the University of Sussex. At the same time he published his memoirs, in which he reported about his war experiences.

Family

Briggs is married to Susan Anne Banwell since 1955. The couple has two sons and two daughters.

Publications

• The Age of Improvement, 1783-1867, Harlow: Pearson, 1959, 2nd edition 2000, ISBN 978-0-582-36959-7
• Victorian Cities, Penguin Books Ltd, 1968, ISBN 978-0-14-020944-0
• Victorian People, Penguin Books Ltd, 1970, ISBN 978-0-14-020684-5
• Victorian Things, Penguin Books Ltd, 1990, ISBN 978-0-14-012677-8
• The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom, Volume I, Oxford University Press, 1995, ISBN 978-0-19-212926-0
• The Channel Islands Occupation and Liberation 1940-1945, Batsford Books, 1995, ISBN 0-7134-7822-5
• A Social History of England, Penguin UK, 1999, ISBN 978-0-14-026954-3
• Marx in London, An Illustrated Guide, Lawrence & Wishart, 2007 ISBN 978-1-905007-60-8
• History of Western Europe: 400-1914 (History of the World), Blackwell Publishers, 2015, ISBN 978-0-631-21449-6 ( in planning)