Joyce Godber

Joyce Godber (1906–1999) was an English local historian, the county archivist of Bedfordshire and the author of a number of books about the history of that county.

Biography Christened Amy Joyce Godber, Godber was born in 1906, in Bedfordshire. She was the daughter of Isaac Godber and Bessie Godber. She had six brothers: agricultural expert William Godber, physician and Chief Medical Officer George Godber, rubber plantation owner John Godber, council executive Geoffrey Godber, Conservative party politician Joseph Godber, and Frank Godber.

Godber studied for a history degree and briefly worked as a teacher. She subsequently became clerk of the records and county archivist for Bedfordshire, where she oversaw the planning of a new repository in the County Hall, now known as Borough Hall and expanded the number staff working in the archives. She retired in 1968 and was succeeded as archivist by her colleague Patricia Bell. She was also an active member of the Society of Archivists and the British Records Association. Among her other publications was a history of the local Quaker religious movement: Friends in Bedfordshire and West Hertfordshire and a history of charity the Harpur Trust.

Godber died in 1999.