| Administrative History | Jenkinson was educated at Dulwich College and Pembroke College, Cambridge. He achieved a First in Classical Tripos in 1904. Passing the Civil Service entrance exam the following year, Jenkinson began his career in the Public Records Office in London in 1906. He was Maitland Lecturer at Cambridge from 1911 to 1935 and during the years 1938 and 1949. He also lectured at the London School of Economics in 1913 and at King's College and University College between 1920 and 1925. From 1925 to 1947 Jenkinson was Reader in Diplomatics and Archives at the University of London. He held the post of Deputy Keeper of the Public Records and Keeper of the Land Revenues from 1917 and 1954. Jenkinson was Honorary Secretary of the British Records Association from 1932 until 1947. During WWII he was adviser of archives to the War Office. Awarded the CBE in 1943 and a Knighthood in 1949, Jenkinson was published on a number of subjects throughout his distinguished professional career. The University of Aberdeen awarded him an honorary LLD in 1949.
For an appreciation of his life and career, and a list of his publications see The Times obituary of March 7th, 1961; Who Was Who 1961-70 ; Myrtle Anderson-Smith, 'The Special Collections in Aberdeen University Library', 'Aberdeen University Review', 71 (1984), 265-87 (p. 280); 'Essays in Memory of Sir Hilary Jenkinson', ed. by Albert E.J. Hollaender, sponsored by the Society of Archivists (Chichester, 1962); 'Selected Writings of Sir Hilary Jenkinson', sponsored by the Society of Archivists (Gloucester: Sutton, 1980); and 'Studies presented to Sir Hilary Jenkinson', ed. by J. Conway Davies (London, 1957). |
| Custodial History | The pamphlets (mainly on archives, archival studies, history and palaeography), were accessioned as a special library collection, under the reference pHJ; whilst his books (covering a greater variety of topics) have been dispersed throughout the library system. The letters referred to in his bequest have been removed from the volumes and deposited in the archives as MS 2786. |