COLL P 01

Reference code

COLL P 01

Title

Papers of Provost Goodall, 1809 - 1840

Level

Series

Administrative / Biographical history

Joseph Goodall was born 2 March 1760 and came to Eton in 1770, becoming a King's Scholar in 1773 and going to King's College Cambridge in July 1779. He was a Fellow of King's 1782-1788 and returned to Eton as an assistant master in 1783. On marriage in 1788 to Harriot Prior, the daughter of another assistant master, he resigned his fellowship but remained at Eton and became Head Master in 1801. He held the livings of Ellingham, Hants. (1804 - 1808), West Ilsley (1827) and Hitcham (1811 - 1833) and was a Canon of Windsor from 1808 until his death. He appeared as a pluralist in the Black Book. In 1809 he was elected Provost, a position he retained until his death. His reading and interests were wide and he was much loved. A fine classical scholar (the second volume of Musae Etonenses is dedicated to him and his verses appear in the first), he spoke several languages and was interested in antiquities, especially coins. He was also a great collector of shells.Thackeray's Memoir of Edward Craven Hawtrey speaks highly of his ability to encourage boys and to inspire them but he was unwilling to allow any changes in either school or College and tolerated abuses that attracted adverse comment. However the Newcastle Scholarship was founded during his time of office, and he founded a scholarship for superannuated King's Scholars. He left his copy of Boydell's Shakespeare to College Library. See typed list for more detailed account.

Date

1773 - 1847

Content description

Only a few scattered items of Provost Goodall's official correspondence have survived. The bulk of the papers relate to his private affairs, and are particularly notable for a fine series of letters to his brother William, his wife Harriot and his nephew Joseph. These describe in some detail such things as holidays (including visits abroad) and also his interest in coins and shells, as well as giving interesting sidelights on the royal family. There are some notes on Eton matters and it is clear that he took a great interest in the College's history and its archives; many registers and audit books have annotations or indices in his hand.