Author talk:James Hooper

Attempts to identify this author

Difficult to determine Author:James Hooper. No specific information available to my current searches. Found author has written two articles that are bios of people interested in nature. Parked -- billinghurst (talk) 05:05, 12 December 2008 (UTC)

I think this is James Hooper of Queen's Road, Norwich - who published on Norwich, George Borrow etc., & contributed occasionally to Notes & Queries. Some letters to Hooper about Curtis (one of the two Norwich scientists on whom he wrote for the DNB) are amongst Hooper material at the Norfolk Record Office. Dsp13 (talk) 23:30, 12 December 2008 (UTC)

James Hooper, b.1845, Kingston On Thames, d.1920 Norwich, Norfolk. In 1901 census listed as retired civil servant, wife Anna M Blizzard(?) (b.1858 Friston, Suffolk, England). In 1891 states Civil Servant HM PO; and 1881 states Civil Servant, Assist Supt PO Borrow

So are people happy that we have the right person? -- billinghurst (talk) 14:11, 13 December 2008 (UTC)

Seems right to me. Charles Matthews (talk) 09:38, 16 November 2009 (UTC)

Note, neither at Oxford nor Cambridge.billinghurst (talk) 10:30, 16 November 2009 (UTC)

Back to this again. Page from UK National Archives is for James Hooper "fl 1898-1918), local historian of Norwich", and mentions his "book on Nelson". Which will be Nelson's Homeland: A Topographical Description of North Norfolk... from 1905. I'm convinced that this is the same person. Charles Matthews (talk) 16:30, 10 January 2018 (UTC)

Further research

So James Hooper (1845-1920). This shows guide books we can assume he wrote.

"Hooper, James (1845-1920) Born at Kingston-on-Thames, Hooper was educated at various London schools after which he entered the civil service. After he retired in 1891 he went to live in Norwich where he ‘devoted his time to literary pursuits’. ‘Death of Mr James Hooper’, Eastern Daily Press, 23 January 1920." This is from "Guide to NHC special collections 2019 - Norfolk County Council", a PDF found online.

[1] from 1912 has a biography. Also an image, may not be able to use.

"James Hooper, 92, Queen's Road, Norwich; son of James Hooper, leather factor, of Kingston-on-Thames; born at Kingston-on-Thames, February 17th, 1845; self-educated in Brazil, 1850-55, Misses Pace’s School, Camberwell, at which Joseph Chamberlain received his rudiments somewhat earlier, St. Olave’s Grammar School, Southwark, and Stoke House Academy, Guildford. Entered Civil Service, G.P.O., 1864, pensioned, 1891 ; Chief Clerk and Assistant Superintendent at several District Post Offices in London, Western, Vere Street, Eastern, Commercial Road, West Central, Holborn, etc. Now engaged in literary work; has written various articles for the Gentleman's Magazine, 1894-97, “ George Borrow,” National Review, January, 1896, “ Nelson’s Homeland,” 1905, “ Invultation ” in Albany Review, August, 1908, copious contributions to Notes and Queries, “Norfolk and Suffolk in East Anglia,” “Corporation Official Guide to Norwich,” 1907, and many other guide books, etc. Travelled to Brazil with parents, 1850-55. Married, November 6th, 1882, Anna Marie Blizzard."

Charles Matthews (talk) 19:59, 19 January 2020 (UTC)

@Billinghurst: Good enough to close the file on this one, I think. The obituary notice could be found, some day.

Good get. Agree with your assessments. — billinghurst sDrewth 22:21, 19 January 2020 (UTC)

Also, the book East Anglia in the twentieth century : contemporary biographies linked to above looks useful. Hundreds of biographies. We'd need some further luck to be clearer about the images. Charles Matthews (talk) 20:11, 19 January 2020 (UTC)

The editor died 1924, so we can upload it Commons. If Commons complains about the photographs, then we can repatriate work and imags to enWS; all going well ia-upload bot will have it at file:East Anglia in the twentieth century.djvu soon. — billinghurst sDrewth 00:30, 20 January 2020 (UTC)

• FreeBMD

Name: James Hooper
Death Age: 75
Registration Date: Jan Q. 1920
Registration district: Norwich
Inferred County: Norfolk
Volume: 4b
Page: 117