Dr J. A. Langford (1823-1903): a Self-taught Working Man and the Sale of American Degrees in Victorian Britain

Marc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index. Publisher Marketing: In British provincial newspapers in the 1860s and 1870s brief reports began to appear informing readers that a number of writers, ministers and schoolmasters had been awarded LL. D degrees from Tusculum College in the United States. Correspondents to the newspapers began to query these degrees, claiming that they could not find Tusculum on the map. In fact Tusculum College did exist, and after the devastation of the Civil War, began to raise funds by selling degrees overseas to men deemed worthy of them. This pamphlet tells the story of this extraordinary saga. The autodidact, poet and radical John Alfred Langford (1823-1903) was one recipient of a Tusculum LL. D. He was deeply proud of the honour, recording it on the title pages of his books and even on his census returns. This pamphlet examines the routes taken by this remarkable working man into journalism, literature and radical politics, and the part he played in promoting the famous Civic Gospel which transformed Birmingham into 'the best-governed city in the world'. This account draws on a recently-located cache of Langford's correspondence, and offers the first full picture of his life. Stephen Roberts is Visiting Research Fellow in Victorian History at Newman University, Birmingham. He has written or edited a number of books on Chartism and related subjects. Contributor Bio:  Roberts, Stephen The Twitter Version: Author. Speaker. Poet. Reader. Designer. Minimalist. Vegan. Inner and Outer Health Advocate. Author of 'Soulshift' and 'The Stillness at the Edge of Time'. The Longer Version: Steve's life-focus over the last 20+ years has been helping others encounter grace and seeing them released into a deeper awareness of the freedom, joy and contentment that flows from a life rooted in divine love. Since 1997 Steve and his wife Lydia have lived in Asia and have spoken in many nations about this life-transforming message - Nepal, Myanmar, Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and China. Steve has a Masters Degree in Cross Cultural Studies with a major in world religions and has experienced life living long-term in secular, Buddhist and Muslim cultures.