Lythe, Samuel George Edgar, 1910-1997, economic historian

Lythe was Professor of Economic History, 1962-1976, Vice-Principal, 1972-1976, and Honorary Archivist,1977-1980, at the University of Strathclyde.

Lythe graduated with an MA from Selwyn College, Cambridge after which he was employed as a lecturer at the University of Hull. In 1935, he moved to Dundee School of Economics. During the Second World War he served in the RAF. After the war, he continued working at the Dundee School of Economics where he pioneered the teaching of economic history, publishing in 1950 the groundbreaking book 'British Economic History since 1760'.

In 1962, he was appointed to the first Chair of Economic History at the Royal College of Science and Technology in Glasgow. In 1963, there were only four other lecturers teaching alongside Lythe in the department. After the College gained University status in 1964 becoming the University of Strathclyde, Lythe strove to develop the department, for example introducing political history. In 1974, he obtained approval from the Senate and Court for a new degree course in Modern History. A new Chair was created and the department renamed the Department of History.

Lythe was appointed the first Dean of the School of Arts and Social Studies and served in this role for nine years. In 1972, he was appointed Vice Principal of the University. He retired in 1976. In 1977, he was appointed Honorary Archivist in which role he collected and established the University's historical collections. He served as Honorary Archivist until 1980.

In addition to his appointments at Strathclyde, Lythe was a founding member, in the 1960s, of the Abertay Historical Society. He also produced booklets on the history of Walkington, the village in which he grew up. He was a member of the Scottish Local History Council, Hamilton College of Education, the Scottish Field of Archaeology, and the Scottish Universities Summer School Committee.

He died in 1997.

Selected publications:

• 'British Economic History since 1760', 1950
• 'The Economy of Scotland in its European Setting 1550-1625', 1960
• 'The Economic History of Scotland 1100 to 1939', 1975
• 'A History of Dundee School of Economics', 1981 (Co author)

ISAAR(CPF): International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families, International Council on Archives (2nd edition, 2003); Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names, National Council on Archives (1997).

Created by Carol Stewart, June 2021. Further information written and researched by Madeline Robertson, placement student, and uploaded by Rachael Jones, March 2024. Amended by Victoria Peters, April 2024.

• Obituary in Prism, 138, March 1997, p.9
• University of Strathclyde Calendars
• University of Strathclyde staff magazines: Bulletin