James Heard Pulman (1821 – 22 April 1900) was an English barrister and librarian who was the second librarian at the

House of Lords Library The House of Lords Library is the library and information resource of the House of Lords, the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It provides Members of the House and their staff with books, Parliamentary material and reference ...

, serving from 1861–97. Pulman was born in

Westminster Westminster is an area of Central London, part of the wider City of Westminster. The area, which extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street, has many visitor attractions and historic landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, B ...

, the eldest son of officer-at-arms James Pulman. He was educated at

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, ...

and Lincoln's Inn. He was called to the bar in 1849. He was assistant librarian to

John Frederic Leary John Frederic Leary (1798 – 1 August 1861) was a British librarian and antiquarian who was the first librarian at the House of Lords Library. Leary was born in London. In 1826, he was working as a clerk when he was appointed the first librarian ...

, 1852–61, and succeeded Leary after his death in August 1861. A barrister by training, Pulman's tenure as Lords librarian was marked by his lack of interest in historical collections. He was notably "reluctant" to acquire any works that were not legal volumes or Parliamentary papers." His assistant librarian, writer

William Thoms William John Thoms (16 November 1803 – 15 August 1885) was a British writer credited with coining the term "folklore" in 1846. Thoms's investigation of folklore and myth led to a later career of debunking longevity myths, and he was a pione ...

, the founder of founded ''

Notes and Queries ''Notes and Queries'', also styled ''Notes & Queries'', is a long-running quarterly scholarly journal that publishes short articles related to " English language and literature, lexicography, history, and scholarly antiquarianism".From the inne ...

'', was much more eager to acquire valuable historical manuscripts, but was discouraged by Pulman. Pulman's reluctance to expand the collection beyond the law and Parliamentary books was so great that in 1875 "he had to be ordered to resume the purchasing of important historical works." Pulman retired in 1897 and was succeeded by Sandford Arthur Strong. He died in

Wandsworth Wandsworth Town () is a district of south London, within the London Borough of Wandsworth southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. Toponymy Wandsworth takes its nam ...

, aged 79.

References

1821 births 1900 deaths People from Westminster People educated at Eton College English librarians English barristers Members of Lincoln's Inn 19th-century English lawyers {{Library-bio-stub