Florence Harmer facts for kids
Florence Elizabeth Harmer (born May 14, 1890, died August 5, 1967) was an amazing English historian. She was an expert on the Anglo-Saxon period, which was a very old time in English history. She spent her life translating old writings from Old English and Latin. These writings were important primary sources that helped us learn about early English history. Her book, Anglo-Saxon Writs, published in 1952, is still a very important book for historians today.
Life of a Historian
Florence Harmer was born in Mitcham, England. She went to the City of London School for Girls. She was a very bright student and won a special scholarship to study at Girton College, Cambridge. At Cambridge, she studied medieval and modern languages. She finished her studies in 1912 with top marks.
After college, Florence Harmer became a professor at the University of Manchester. She worked there from 1920 until she retired in 1957. She became a Senior Lecturer in 1949 and a Reader in 1955. People who knew her described her as "the formidable Anglo-Saxonist, Florence Harmer." This means she was a very impressive and respected expert in Anglo-Saxon history.
Even after she retired, she stayed involved in history. She lived near her sister and continued to attend meetings of the British Academy. She was a Fellow of the British Academy, which is a great honor for scholars. She was also good friends with another famous historian, Dorothy Whitelock. Dorothy Whitelock wrote about Florence Harmer after she passed away in 1967.
Important Books and Papers
Florence Harmer wrote many important books and articles about Anglo-Saxon history. Her work helped other historians understand this ancient period better. Here are some of her key publications:
- Select English Historical Documents of the Ninth and Tenth Centuries (1914)
- An Anglo-Saxon Chronicle from British Museum Cotton MS, Tiberius B. IV. (1926)
- Anglo-Saxon Writs (1952) – This is considered her most famous and important work. It is still used by historians today.
Awards and Honors
Florence Harmer received many awards and honors for her important work in history. These show how much her research and writings were valued:
- President of the Viking Society for Northern Research (1949)
- She received a special degree called Doctor of Letters from the University of Cambridge (1953)
- She became a Fellow of the British Academy (1955)
- She won the Sir Israel Gollancz Prize (1957)
- She was made an Honorary Fellow of Girton College, Cambridge (1957)
- She received another honorary degree, Hon. D. Litt, from the University of Manchester (1964)
