Professor Maurice Whitehead, an emeritus professor of history, has been recognized for his decade-long contributions as Director of Heritage Collections and Research Fellow at the Venerable English College in Rome. The institution, established in 1362 on Rome’s via di Monserrato, is noted as the oldest British establishment outside the UK. Since 1579, it has functioned primarily as a seminary preparing men from England and Wales for the Catholic priesthood.
During his tenure, Professor Whitehead managed archives dating back to 1280, a collection of 16,000 rare books, and numerous works of art. He also organized concerts and exhibitions while publishing extensively on British heritage in both English and Italian. His previous role at Swansea University as associate dean for postgraduate research was instrumental in fostering international collaborations during his time in Rome. This led to supporting scholars worldwide who conducted research using the College’s resources.
His achievements have earned him honorary research fellowships at Durham and Newcastle universities and the British School at Rome. In partnership with New College, Oxford, he facilitated the export and loan of documents once owned by Cardinal Reginald Pole for a significant exhibition held at Lambeth Palace Library in 2023.
Professor Whitehead's responsibilities included working closely with institutions such as the Anglican Centre in Rome and the British Embassy to the Holy See. He also collaborated with Italy's Ministero della cultura on Tolkien exhibitions across major cities like Rome, Naples, and Turin.
In 2024, alongside Dr. Alana Mailes from Harvard University, Professor Whitehead made an interdisciplinary breakthrough by proving that English Renaissance composer Richard Dering converted to Catholicism in 1612. Their findings were published in Music & Letters.
Reflecting on his recognition, Professor Maurice Whitehead stated: “I share this honour with a wonderful group of colleagues in Rome aspiring to open up further the College’s remarkable Heritage Collections within a new historical institute.”