The Revis Barber and Dennis Bellamy
Papers. Collection Description.
Archive reference: GB 0532 BEL
Special Collections
J.B. Priestley Library
University of Bradford
Bradford. BD7 1DP.
Email: special-collections@bradford.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1274 235256
INTRODUCTION
This small archive is a useful source of biographical information about two
individuals who played key roles in the development of the University of Bradford:
Revis Barber and Dennis Bellamy.
This description was written in 2001. It is being made available online with minor
edits as part of our Quick Wins programme.
Alison Cullingford, Special Collections Librarian.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION
Reference code
GB 0532 BEL.
Title
Revis Barber and Dennis Bellamy Papers.
Dates
1935-1979.
Level of description
Collection.
Extent
0.01 linear metres.
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Barber and Bellamy Papers, Special Collections, University of Bradford
Name of creator
Joyce M. Bellamy, Senior Research Officer at the University of Hull and one of
the editors of the Dictionary of Labour Biography, daughter of Dennis Bellamy.
Biographical history
Revis Barber was a Bradford trades union activist, conscientious objector and
Labour Party councillor and alderman. He was especially interested in further
education, and, as Chairman of the Further Education Sub-Committee, supported
the Bradford Technical College in its ambition to become a university. He was
the first Chairman of the Board of Governors for the College when it became
Bradford Institute of Technology, one of the new Colleges of Advanced
Technology, in 1957.
In 1962, the CATs were released from the control of local education authorities.
Dennis Bellamy was appointed as the representative of the Ministry of Education
on the new Board of Governors of the Bradford Insitute of Technology. Bellamy
had just retired from his role as Chairman of the Yorkshire Electricity Board, after
a long career of managing electricity services, alongside social concerns notably
the Rotary Club. He was appointed Chairman of the new Board, and over the
next two years helped plan the transition of BIT into a University, taking particular
interest in the management school at Emm Lane and in social and cultural
activities. He died in 1964. Revis Barber was Chairman again in 1965, signing
the petition to the Queen to create a Royal Charter for the University of Bradford.
He died a few days later.
These two chairmen were commemorated in the naming of halls of residence at
the University and Alice Barber, Revis’s widow, received an honorary degree in
1981.
Immediate source of acquisition
Donated to the University by Joyce M. Bellamy in 1979.
Scope and content
Biographical information about Alderman Revis Barber (1895-1965) and Dennis
Bellamy (1894-1964).
1. Speech by Revis Barber on the status of Bradford Technical College, 21
September 1954.
2. Biography by Joyce Bellamy of Revis Barber (published in Bellamy, Joyce M.,
and Saville, John, Dictionary of Labour Biography, Vol. 5, London : Macmillan,
1979).
3. Biographical notes and interview with Dennis Bellamy, from Electra-Mag vol.
4, no. 9, December 1935.
4. Biography by Joyce Bellamy of Dennis Bellamy.
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Barber and Bellamy Papers, Special Collections, University of Bradford
Access conditions
Available to researchers, by appointment. Access to archive material is subject
to preservation requirements and must also conform to the restrictions of the
Data Protection Act and any other appropriate legislation. There are currently no
restrictions on access to this collection.
Copyright/conditions governing reproduction
Rights in items 2-4 held by Joyce Bellamy.
Copies may be supplied or produced at the discretion of Special Collections staff,
subject to copyright law and the condition of the originals. Applications for
permission to make published use of any material should be directed to the
Special Collections Librarian in the first instance. The Library will assist where
possible with identifying copyright owners but responsibility for ensuring copyright
clearance rests with the user of the material.
Language of material
English.
Archivist’s note
Described by John Brooker, minor edits by Alison Cullingford.
Rules or conventions
ISAD(G) 2nd ed.
Date(s) of description
April 2001 (minor edits May 2013).
Indexing
Persons
Barber, Revis
Bellamy, Dennis, 1894-1964
Bellamy, Joyce M., Joyce Margaret
Corporate Bodies
Bradford Technical College
Bradford Institute of Technology
Subject
City council members – England – West Yorkshire – Bradford – Biography
College trustees – England – West Yorkshire – Bradford – Biography
College administrators – England – West Yorkshire – Bradford – Biography
Locations
Bradford – West Yorkshire – England
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