Checkland, Sydney George (1916-1986: economic historian, Professor of Economic History, 1957-1982, University of Glasgow)

Sydney George Checkland was born in Ottowa, Canada, on 9 October 1916 . He was educated at Lisgar Collegiate Institution, Ottowa, and the University of Birmingham, England, where he gained a first class honours BCom in 1941 and an MCom in 1946 . During his time at Birmingham, he was President of the National Union of Students 1941-1942 and of the International Union of Students 1942-1943 . His studies were interrupted by war service and he severely wounded at Normandy, France, whilst serving with the Governor General's Foot Guards. Following the war, he stood as a Parliamentary candidate for the Commonwealth Party in Eccleshall, Staffordshire, England, in the General Election of 1945 . He gained a MA from the University of Cambridge, England, and a PhD from the University of Liverpool, England in 1953.

His first academic appointment in 1946 was assistant lecturer in Economic Science in the University of Liverpool where he progressed quickly to lecturer and then by 1949 was senior lecturer. In 1953 he left Liverpool for Cambridge where he was a University Lecturer in History from 1953-1957 . He also held the post of Lector in History at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, between 1955 and 1957 . He became the first Professor of Economic History University at the University of Glasgow in 1957 , a post he held until 1982 , subsequently becoming a Senior Research Fellow.

He published constantly throughout his career, his distinction being recognised by his election as Fellow of the British Academy in 1977 , and as Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1981 . He was a member of the Economic History Committee of the Social Science Research Council and then a Council member between 1970 and 1972. He was President of the Economic History Society between 1977 and 1980 .

His impact on Scottish business history and Scottish business archives is unsurpassed. He built on his Liverpool University experience of collecting the archives of merchant firms, and initiated the University of Glasgow's collection of business records. His contribution to the archive world continued as chair of the Scottish Records Advisory Council, the National Register of Archives (Scotland) and vice-president of the Business Archives Council of Scotland. His local interests were also expressed in the service on the East Kilbride Development Corporation, an involvement in urban development which lay behind the publication of his study of Glasgow in the The Upas Tree . After his retirement from University teaching was chair of the Industry and Employment Committee of the Social Science Research Council.

His publications include The Rise of Industrial Society in England, 1815-1885 ( 1964 ) ; The Mines of Tharsis: Roman, French and British Enterprise in Spain ( 1967 ) ; The Gladstones: A Family Biography, 1764-1975 ( 1971 ) ; Scottish Banking: A History, 1695-1973 ( 1975 ) ; The Upas Tree: Glasgow 1875-1975: a study in growth and contraction ( 1976 ) ; British Public Policy 1776-1939: An Economic, Social and Political Perspective ( 1983 ) ; Industry and Ethos: Scotland, 1832-1914 ( 1984 ) (with Olive Checkland); Dictionary of Scottish Business Biography 1860-1960, vol 1 ( 1986 , Aberdeen ) and Dictionary of Scottish Business Biography 1860-1960 ( 1990 , Aberdeen ) (co-editor Anthony Slaven) .

Sydney George Checkland died in 1986 .

Sources: Who's Who ( 1979 ) and College Courantvol.69 ( University of Glasgow )

From the guide to the Papers of Sydney George Checkland, 1916-1986, economic historian, 1958-1977, (Glasgow University Archive Services)