COLL P 08

Reference code

COLL P 08

Title

Papers of Provost Marten, 1945 - 1948

Level

Series

Administrative / Biographical history

Henry Marten came to Eton in 1886, boarding at Evans' and with Arthur Benson for his tutor. In 1891, he went to Balliol College, Oxford where he obtained first-class honours in history. In 1896 Dr Warre asked him to return to Eton as the first master specifically to teach history; even so, it was 10 years before boys were allowed to become true specialists in the subject. In 1907 he took a house, which he held until 1927, and from 1926 - 1929 was Lower Master. In 1930 he became Vice-Provost and succeeded Lord Quickswood as Provost in 1945. He taught history to Princess Elizabeth and in recognition of this was knighted on the steps of College Chapel on 3 March 1945. He was an active member of the Historical Association, of which he became President in 1929, and his researches in the College archives produced many historical memoranda and informed the discussions of the Provost and Fellows, although he published little. At Eton he is commemorated by the Marten Library, the departmental history library, which began with a gift of his books.

Date

1901 - 1948

Arrangement

Marten appears to have made no distinction between files he maintained as Vice-Provost and those as Provost, and some contain even earlier material. No attempt has therefore been made to separate them here.

Associated material

Marten removed documents he thought `interesting' from the strong room to the Lodge. The box was returned after his death but their context was lost; some items could be restored to their original place but those with no obvious home have been catalogued as COLL/CHKM