Professor Émile Cammaerts papers

Émile Cammaerts (1878-1953) was born in Brussels (he was baptized Émile Pieter at the age of 34). He was educated at the University of Brussels and later at the revolutionary Université Nouvelle where he studied geography. Cammaerts held the post of Professor of Belgian Studies and Institutions in the University of London, 1931-1947, and became Professor Emeritus after his retirement from the university in 1947. He also received an honorary LL.D. from the University of Glasgow and a CBE. He was a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. During his life, Émile Cammaerts was a cartographer, geographer, journalist, poet, playwright, historian, art critic and devoted Anglican. He was Belgian by nationality, and deeply immersed in Belgian politics and culture. Cammaerts moved to England in 1908 and married the Shakespearean actress (Helen) 'Tita' Brand (1879-1963), daughter of the opera singer Marie Brema (1856–1925). They had four daughters and two sons; Pieter died in the Second World War while serving in the RAF, and Francis (1916-2006), a prominent intelligence officer. Cammaerts spent his life in England at Radlett, Hertfordshire, from where he commuted to his office in London. He died in 1953 at his home at Radlett, Hertfordshire. Publications by Cammaerts include: 'Belgian Poems: Chants patriotique, et autres poems' (translated into English by his wife in 1916) 'Through the iron bars, two years of German occupation in Belgium' (1917) 'A history of Belgium from the Roman invasion to the present day' (1921) 'Discoveries in England' (1930) 'Albert of Belgium, defender of right, a biography of King Albert I of Belgium' (1935) 'The laughing prophet: The seven virtues and G.K. Chesterton' (1937) 'Upon this rock' (1943) 'The flower of grass' (1945) 'The peace that is left' (1945)