Biography of John P Collas

John Collas was a Lecturer of French at the University of Glasgow from 1937 until 1942. He was a renowned Anglo-Norman scholar and leading philologist.

Born in 1911, in Guernsey, Collas graduated BA from Jesus College, Oxford, in 1932, and BLitt in Norman-French in 1934. He was appointed lecturer at Manchester University in 1936, before being appointed Lecturer of French at the University of Glasgow in October 1937. After leaving the University in 1942, Collas continued to maintain research correspondence with Glasgow academics, an example of which is held in Lionel Stones' papers, Professor of Medieval History (1956-77).

In 1947, Collas was appointed Lecturer of French at Queen Mary College, London, where he subsequently became professor and head of department, and remained there until his retirement in 1976.

Collas died in 1984, at the age of 73, in Dorset. In his obituary, he was described as being "the principal Anglo-Norman scholar of the day" and "one of the leading philologists of his generation".

Sources

Other Online Resources

• Bytes, Words, Texts: The Anglo-Norman Dictionary and its Text-Base
• J.P. Collas - Wikipedia
• Making the Anglo-Norman Dictionary
• Studies in French Language and Mediaeval Literature: Presented to Professor Mildred K. Pope, by Pupils, Colleagues, and Friends

Archival Materials

• C1/1/44 Court Minutes
• C1/1/49 Court Minutes
• C1/1/50 Court Minutes
• DC 028/251 Papers of Edward Lionel Gregory Stones, 1914-1987, Professor of Medieval History, University of Glasgow, Scotland 1956-1977

Summary

John P Collas
Born 1911.
Died 13 August 1984.
GU Degree:
University Link: Lecturer
Occupation categories: lecturers; philologists
English snippet: Lecturer of French at the University of Glasgow
Record last updated: 2nd Apr 2013

Country Associations

Guernsey, No Region
Place of Birth

England, South West England, Dorset
Place of Death

France, No Region

University Connections

University Roles

• Lecturer