Obituary of George Henry Palmer, FSA

George Henry Palmer (1871–1945) was a librarian with a special interest in bookbinding who joined the Library of the Victoria & Albert Museum (later the National Art Library) in 1889. He became Keeper of the Library in 1897 and during his long tenure was responsible for building up the incomparable and up-to-date collection of books.

From The Times, 5 July 1945

Late Librarian, V&A Museum
Mr G H Palmer, FSA, former Librarian of the Victoria and Albert Museum, died suddenly on Monday (as briefly announced in our later editions yesterday). Two generations of readers in the library have reason to be grateful for the unfailing patience, courtesy, and learned assistance with which he furthered their studies.

George Henry Palmer was born at Rochester in 1871 and educated there at the King's School and at the University of London. He joined the staff of the museum in 1889 and in 1897 succeeded W H J Weale in the keeper-ship of the library. His long tenure of that office, from which he retired only in 1931, covered the scientific development in the history of art which marked the first quarter of the century. As keeper of the library during that period he was responsible for building up the incomparable and up-to-date collection of books which now forms a unique instrument for art-historical research in this country. His special field in bibliographical study lay with the history of bookbinding and with characteristic modesty, his work is anonymously embodied in various catalogues and publications of the museum. In addition to numerous articles and translations, he published a history of the cathedral of his native city.

During the 1914-18 war he served with The Royal West Kents and notably distinguished himself by his imperturbability in the bloody landing at Suvla Bay. He was later Army Embarkation Officer at Alexandria and left the Army with the rank of major. From 1940 to 1944 he was local Army welfare officer for Surrey.

Reproduced with kind permission of The Times
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