Philanthropy in England 1480-1660: A study of the changing pattern of English social aspirations (1959)

The first of the two major histories of English philanthropy to be published in the mid-twentieth century, Jordan bases his work on a comprehensive study of all charitable legacies made within this period from the late 15th to mid 17th century. Whilst not as comprehensive or widely appreciated as Owen’s history, the fine detail provided in the data, and his argument that benefactions allow us to trace changing social aspirations, makes this a fascinating read.