Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Jones, Thomas (1810-1875)
JONES, THOMAS (1810–1875), librarian of the Chetham Library, born at Underhill Margam, near Neath, Glamorganshire, in 1810, was educated at Cowbridge grammar school and Jesus College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1832. He compiled a catalogue of the Neath library in 1842, and in 1845 was appointed librarian of the Chetham Library, Manchester. Under his care the Chetham Library was increased from nineteen thousand to forty thousand volumes, and he compiled two volumes of the catalogue of the institution (1862–3) in continuation of those issued by J. Radcliffe in 1791 and W. P. Greswell in 1821. He also wrote an admirably annotated ‘Catalogue of the Collection of Tracts for and against Popery (published in and about the reign of James II) in the Manchester Library founded by Humphrey Chetham’ (Chetham Society, 1859–65, 2 vols. 4to).
He issued a prospectus of a general literary index, and printed specimens of the intended work in ‘Notes and Queries,’ to which he was a regular contributor, usually under the signature ‘Bibliothecarius Chethamensis.’ He also began extensive collections for a life of Dr. Dee. He was a witness before a committee of the House of Commons on public libraries in 1849, and was elected F.S.A. in 1866. He died unmarried at Southport, Lancashire, on 29 Nov. 1875, and was buried at St. Mark's Church, Cheetham Hill, Manchester. His portrait, painted by John Hanson Walker, was presented to the Chetham Library in October 1875.
[Memoir by W. E. A. Axon in Papers of the Manchester Literary Club, ii. 59; App. to Chetham Soc. Publications, vol. xcvi.]