Fonds Miller - Papers of Edward Miller

Miller was born at Acklington Park, Northumberland in 1915. The son of a shepherd, Miller initially considered a career as a vet. His ability as an historian became apparent at King Edward VI Grammar School, Morpeth, and he won an exhibition to St John's College in 1934. He graduated in 1937 and was elected to the Strathcona Research Studentship, specialising in medieval history. In 1939 he was elected to a research Fellowship at St John's but joined the Durham Light Infantry instead, rising to the rank of Staff Major in 1945. He married Fanny Zara Salingar in 1941 and they had a son, David, later Professor of History at London University.

After the war Miller returned to St John's College, becoming a university lecturer (1948-65) , director of studies (1946-55), and tutor (1951-57). The social and economic history of medieval England was his principal academic interest. Miller published 'The Abbey and the Bishopric of Ely' in 1951, and a history of St John's, entitled 'Portrait of a College', in 1961. The same year he published a study of York for the Victoria County History. In 1965 Miller moved to Sheffield University as Professor of Medieval History. He returned to Cambridge in 1971 to become Master of Fitzwilliam College, a post he held for 10 years. During this time he was also Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University, chairman of the Library Syndicate and chair of the Victoria County History Committee. In collaboration with John Hatcher, Miller published 'Medieval England: rural society and economic change, 1086-1348' (1978) which soon became a standard textbook for students. A companion volume by the same authors, 'Medieval England: towns, commerce and crafts, 1086-1348', followed in 1995. Upon his retirement, Miller became a Fellow of the British Academy and edited various works on medieval England. He died in 2000.