Papers of Frank James Allen

Scope and Content

Manuscript music; various publications; Cambridge Antiquarian Society material.

Administrative / Biographical History

The son of a cheese dealer, Allen was admitted to St John's in 1875, following a course of study at the Royal College of Chemistry. He graduated B.A., with a First Class in the Natural Sciences Tripos, in 1879, and subsequently obtained the qualifications M.R.C.S. (1882), L.R.C.P. (1883), M.B. (1885) and M.D. (1895). Having worked for a time at St George's Hospital, London, Allen returned to Cambridge in 1885 as a research student. In 1887 he was appointed Professor of Physiology at Mason University College, Birmingham, a post he held until 1899. Allen was Secretary of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society for 17 years (1913-30), publishing many papers on architectural subjects, together with a monograph on 'The Great Church Towers of England' (1932). Allen studied music throughout his life, and some of his songs were published by Novello in 1887 under the title 'Dainty ditties, or, nursery rhymes with new tunes'.

Access Information

Open for consultation

Acquisition Information

Bequeathed by F.J. Allen, 1942. The Cambridge Antiquarian Society material was given by John Pickles, Oct. 2007.

Note

The son of a cheese dealer, Allen was admitted to St John's in 1875, following a course of study at the Royal College of Chemistry. He graduated B.A., with a First Class in the Natural Sciences Tripos, in 1879, and subsequently obtained the qualifications M.R.C.S. (1882), L.R.C.P. (1883), M.B. (1885) and M.D. (1895). Having worked for a time at St George's Hospital, London, Allen returned to Cambridge in 1885 as a research student. In 1887 he was appointed Professor of Physiology at Mason University College, Birmingham, a post he held until 1899. Allen was Secretary of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society for 17 years (1913-30), publishing many papers on architectural subjects, together with a monograph on 'The Great Church Towers of England' (1932). Allen studied music throughout his life, and some of his songs were published by Novello in 1887 under the title 'Dainty ditties, or, nursery rhymes with new tunes'.

Preferred citation: St John's College Library, Papers of Frank James Allen

Archivist's Note

16 Nov 2007

Additional Information

Published