Jennifer was born in Nottingham on 9 July 1946, the eldest daughter of James and Beatrice Gill. She grew up in the Nottingham suburb of Thorneywood and recalled, from an early age, the pleasure of long summer days lying on the grass, reading, after the morning’s foray to the local library in search of new titles. Jennifer’s lifelong love of books was inspired by her father, an optician, who had a fondness for Dickens and brought home books by the suitcase load for her to devour.
After a grammar school education, she took a London University external general degree (completed at Nottingham Technical College), followed by an MA in Modern Social History at the University of Lancaster in November 1969. For the next two years she worked as a teacher before, inspired by the wealth of her native Nottingham City Archives under Adrian Henstock, deciding on a career in archives. In 1973 she completed a Diploma in Palaeography and Archive Administration at the University of Wales. Her mischievous and infectious chortle enlivened classes if they ever threatened to become dull!
Her first post as an archivist was at Glamorgan Record Office under the tutelage of Mrs Patricia Moore. Highlights, ahead of 1974 local government reorganisation, were surveying and rescuing the many archives remaining in Council offices. For example, a Rural District Council Clerk’s office housed historic signed minutes and accounts on an open shelf while the tea, coffee and biscuits were in the locked safe.
Jennifer moved to Durham County Record Office as assistant archivist in April 1976, embarking on a period of 32 years dedicated to its archive service. Promoted to senior assistant archivist in August 1977, she served as County Archivist from 1989 until her retirement in 2008.
An accomplished cataloguer and palaeographer, she revelled in the early opportunities to coordinate a major cataloguing project for the Strathmore papers, so it reads and to help implement the Parochial Registers and Records Measure of 1978.
In 1980 Jennifer wrote ‘Streatlam and Gibside: The Bowes and Strathmore Families in County Durham’, published to accompany an exhibition commemorating the 80th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Her presentation to ‘Her Maj’ at the exhibition opening in County Hall was always remembered with great pride. She went on to write a new biography of George Bowes for the Dictionary of National Biography.
The 1980s and 1990s were characterised by significant cataloguing achievements from a team of very able archivists, the commemoration of the county council’s centenary in 1989, and the acquisition of the immense National Coal Board archive following the closure of the Durham coalfield — the preservation of these archives achieved after Jennifer’s persistent advocacy of their importance as public records.
In 1998 Jennifer channelled her energies in a new direction, when the Durham Light Infantry archives were transferred from the nearby regimental museum. By 2006, access to the collection was transformed, not least by a major digitisation project. In recognition Jennifer was made an honorary friend of the regiment. She always valued her association with the regimental trustees.
In retirement, Jennifer continued her contribution to the cataloguing output of the Record Office, working first on a mining records project and more recently on an inspiring collection of Darlington Quaker archives.
An unforgettable presence in any room, Jennifer loved to entertain an audience, whether on the stage of the Durham Dramatic Society or at the search room desk. Her wit, together with great knowledge and passion for archives in her care, made her a popular speaker and teacher of palaeography. Few will forget the off-white dust coat she wore as a badge of pride while ‘fossicking about’ in the lower reaches of County Hall. A committed supporter of the Durham County Local History Society and the Record Office Friends, she made many good friends through amateur dramatics and through the university.
Jennifer died at Melbury Court nursing home, Durham, on 20 October 2020 after a long illness, faced with great stoicism and courage. A strong woman who made an impression on everyone she met, many will remember her as one of the archive profession’s irrepressible characters from a world we have lost.