Albert Barkas
Albert Atkin Barkas (21 August 1861–15 May 1921) was a librarian in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames for 30 years who established the Local History Collection.
Early life
[edit]He was born 21 August 1861 in St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands.[1]
Career
[edit]He worked in Brighton and in 1881 he was appointed assistant librarian at the Birmingham Free Library. He married in 1888 and in 1891 the family moved to Richmond from Bordesley, Birmingham, when he was appointed librarian in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames at a salary of £120pa.[1] The family lived rent free over the library on Little Green. This accommodation was cramped and his youngest daughter, Jacqueline, died in 1905 aged only 4 years after falling down the stairs.[1][2] From 1911 the family lived at The Cottage, next to the library, on Little Green, Richmond.[1][3]
In 1893 he established the Local History Collection. He obtained the fine photographic survey of the town taken c.1900. The ‘Albert Barkas Room for Local Studies’ at the Old Town Hall is named in his memory.[4][5]
Personal life and death
[edit]In 1888 he married in Birmingham Anna Julia De Gruchy (1863-1911), also from Jersey.[6] They had two daughters and two sons.[7] His wife died in 1911.[8]
His youngest son, Geoffrey de Gruchy Barkas, was awarded the Military Cross in 1916 aged 20;[9][10] between the Wars he became a filmmaker and led the British Middle East Command Camouflage Directorate in the Second World War.
Barkas committed suicide in 1921.[11] He was found in Richmond Park with a bullet wound to his head and died 2 days later on 15 May without regaining consciousness.[12][13] The funeral service took place at the Presbyterian Church and he was buried in Richmond Cemetery.[14][15]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Corbitt, Joanna M. (1987). "Albert Atkin Barkas. A Richmond Librarian". Richmond History. 8: 54–57.
- ^ "Richmond Rakings". Richmond and Twickenham Times. 28 October 1905. p. 7.
- ^ "England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957". Family Search. 22 June 1921.
- ^ "LOCAL STUDIES – COLLECTIONS POLICY" (PDF). London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
- ^ "A Tribute to the late Mr A A Barcas". Richmond Herald. 31 January 1925. p. 9.
- ^ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005. Albert Atkin Barkas, 1888". Find My Past. 13 December 2014.
- ^ "England and Wales Census, 1911. Albert A Barkas, Richmond, Surrey, England". FamilySearch. 8 July 2019.
- ^ "The late Mrs Barkas". Richmond Herald. 29 July 1911. p. 6.
- ^ "2nd Lt. Geoffrey de Gruchy Barkas, Lond. R." The London Gazette (29859): 12102. 8 December 1916 – via The Gazette.
- ^ "Geoffrey de Gruchy Barkas". Richmond Herald. 6 January 1917. p. 10.
- ^ "Richmond's Borough Librarian, found shot near Pembroke Lodge". Richmond Herald. 14 May 1921. p. 10.
- ^ "News in Brief". The Times. 16 May 1921. p. 5 – via The Times Digital Archive.
- ^ Ronayne, Ian (December 2009). "Far From Over by Christmas" (PDF). Channel Islands Great War Study Group. pp. 22–23.
- ^ "The funeral". Richmond Herald. 21 May 1921. p. 15.
- ^ "Albert Atkin BARKAS Deceased details". London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.