ROBERTS, RICHARD ARTHUR (1851 - 1943), archivist and editor

Born 13 May 1851 at Carmarthen, son of J.N. Roberts and Margaret (née Jones) his wife. He was educated in private schools and in 1872 was appointed clerk at the Public Record Office. In 1879 he was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple. He was promoted assistant keeper at the P.R.O. in 1903, and from 1912 until his retirement in 1916 he was principal assistant keeper and secretary of the Office. From 1900 to 1919 he acted as Inspecting Officer (legal) under the provisions of the Public Record Office Act, 1887. He was secretary of the Historical MSS Commission from 1903 to 1912, and became a member of the Commission in 1912. He edited The Court Rolls of the Lordship of Ruthin … of the Reign of King Edward the First (London, 1893), A Calendar of the Home Office Papers of the Reign of George III, vol. III, 1770-72 (London, 1891), vol. IV, 1773-75 (London, 1899), and A Calendar of the Inner Temple Records, vol. IV (London 1933), vol. V (London, 1936). He took a prominent part in the editing of A Calendar of the MSS of the Marquis of Salisbury, vols. 4-12, published by the Hist. MSS. Comm. He was also the author of The Episcopal Registers of the Diocese of St Davids 1397-1518, vol. III, A Study of the Published Registers (London, 1920). He published two articles dealing with Welsh records, ' The Public Records relating to Wales ' (Cymm., 1889), and ' Welsh Records and a Record Office for Wales ' (The Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion., 1915-16). He married Agnes, daughter of Samuel Hallam in 1884, and they had a son and three daughters. He died 2 April 1943 at Orford, Woodbridge.

Author

• Griffith Milwyn Griffiths

Sources

• The Times, 6 April 1943
• Who was who?, 1941-50

Additional Links

• VIAF: 2845438
• Wikidata: Q20821440

Published date: 2001

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/