iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Would you go to a party if the dress code was 'slimy and decomposed'?! A recent find in the college archives encourages exactly that!

An invitation that reads 'You are invited to celebrate the 50th birthday of Donoghue v. Stevenson. 9pm, May 26th in the Junior Decanal Chambers. Snails & ginger beer. Dress: slimy and decomposed.' The invitation is written in the shell of a grinning cartoon snail, wearing a bowtie.

100

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

As the nights draw in and the leaves are turning crisp, Basil's getting ready to hibernate with a good book🦡 🍂 📖 Check out our display of cosy autumnal reads, in the Longwall library foyer, and let us know your favourite seasonal read in the comments!

Library display promoting "Cosy reads for the changing seasons," with a framed poster showing a deer, plaid background, autumn leaves and an acorn, accompanied by a plush badger toy and a book on a wooden shelf.

Poster advertising 'Cosy Reads for the Changing Seasons,' with a quilted background and pictures of oak leaves, an acorn, and a deer.

Poster reads: 'With the autumn equinox just behind us, the nights are getting shorter and the days are getting colder. It's the perfect weather to hunker down with a wonderfully cosy book. The Longwall Library has a rich collection of books to lose yourself in, from classics and modern fiction, to poetry, non-fiction, and our welfare collection. We hope you enjoy our selection and, as always, we would love to hear your suggestions!

Library display of cosy seasonal reads on wooden shelves, centred on a framed sign with a small plush badger and featuring assorted fiction and nonfiction books arranged upright and face-forward with paperbacks laid flat on the lower shelf.

010

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Today is #InternationalDoodleDay Sometimes in our Library and Archives we come across doodles and drawings – particularly in the margins or on the reverse of documents, even ones of an official nature.

A small hand-drawn ink owl with round eyes and striped wing sketched on creased, aged paper stained with faded brown handwriting, with wood grain visible at the top and bottom.

2205

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Sometimes simple changes make a difference! We've improved our stationery offering and organised items into 'Stationery Stations.' Our guides tell you where you can find things in the library. Thanks to whoever left the positive comment about it on our graffiti wall - that's made our day! ✏📏🖇💕

Communal stationery station on a counter with stacked paper trays labeled "Please Help Yourself", a mug holding colored pencils, containers of pens, highlighters and pencils, plus tape, a stapler and other writing supplies for visitors to use.

Stationery station on a round table showing a large jar of orange foam earplugs labeled "Earplugs Yours to keep," an empty jar for returned fidget rings, several hole punches and staplers, and a printed sign listing available office supplies.

Stationery Station poster listing communal supplies and a “take what you need, return what you don’t” note, with bulleted items and locations including paper, pens, envelopes, adaptors, headphones, laptop stands and whiteboards.

Handwritten thank-you note in blue marker reading: "the stationery station is amazing. thank you for always being so thoughtful" with a small heart drawn at the end.

010

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

One of Magdalen's most legendary figures, Martin Routh was born #OnThisDay in 1755. He served as our President for 63 years, between 1791–1854. This daguerreotype of Routh was taken on his 99th birthday on 18 September 1854, making him one of the earliest born people to be photographed.

Black-and-white daguerreotype portrait of an elderly man leaning forward and looking down, displayed behind glass in a distressed yellow mat speckled with blue and a red velvet frame.

02918

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

As part of the annual Oxford Open Doors weekend, our Old Library will be open today from 11am to 3pm. Take a look at this historic space, where there's been a library for over 500 years, and take a good sniff of that old-book-smell. There's also a small exhibition on animals in special collections.

111

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

As part of the annual Oxford Open Doors weekend, our Old Library will be open tomorrow 11am to 3pm. Take a look at this historic space, where there's been a library for over 500 years, and take a good sniff of that old-book-smell. There's also a small exhibition on animals in special collections.

042

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

It's not often you can trace exactly where and when a book was read. With our first edition copy of Hobbes' Leviathan, we know that its first owner read it at least twice: finishing it in August 1651 in Amsterdam and a second time in January 1659 in London, as they recorded the fact inside the book.

Final page of an early printed book (Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes) with the centred word "FINIS." and heavy seventeenth‑century cursive annotations above and around it recording reading dates, places and notes, with ink bleed-through and foxed paper.

Title page of the first edition of Hobbes' Leviathan. A gigantic crowned sovereign, made of thousands of tiny citizens, holding a sword and ornate staff, stands above a walled city and rolling countryside, symbolizing Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan and the unity of a commonwealth under central authority.

Aged book page showing an 17th-century handwritten annotation dated "August 17, 1651," with a red rectangle highlighting a two-line cursive marginal note. The highlighted words read: "treacherous snake" and "hugd as a serpent"

160

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Today is #NationalReadABookDay 📚📚📚 Is your TBR as stacked as these shelves in our office? What are you reading at the moment?

It's National Read a Book Day! on a black square centered over wooden shelves of ornate vintage books, with a small red balloon emoji beneath, promoting reading.

010

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

1 afternoon. 7 libraries. Countless unexpected treasures. On 28 September, 7 Oxford college libraries (including us!) are opening their doors for a free afternoon exploring their extraordinary historic collections. 📅 28 September, 2–5pm 🎟️ Free, no need to book 🔗 Find out more: ow.ly/qplE50ZAqE8

066

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

John Betjeman was born #OnThisDay in 1906. He studied English at Magdalen College from 1925-8. As a Magdalen student, Betjeman’s behaviour was so flamboyant, it inspired his friend and contemporary Evelyn Waugh to create the character of Sebastian Flyte in Brideshead Revisited.

Teddy bear, which belonged to John Betjeman

120

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Yesterday was #InternationalDogDay. We recently acquired a photograph album which belonged to Hartley Graham, who studied History at Magdalen from 1894-7. We love this photo in particular, as it names of the dogs featured: including Rhoda, Rufus, and Roy. Graham stands in the back row, holding Twist

Group photo of men posed on the front steps of a building. Several dogs lie at the men's feet and one man holds a dog in his arms. In the frame, the names of the men and the dogs have been recorded.

010

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

T. E. Lawrence, Lawrence of Arabia, was born #OnThisDay in 1888. Lawrence was a postgraduate student here from 1911-1914. He was given a scholarship - a Senior Demyship- which funded him to work on archaeological digs at Carchemish in Syria.

122

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Some of the latest books we've added to the library. All these books were donated by a generous Magdalen student. We appreciate it - and we're sure lots of Magdalen students will appreciate them in the future, too. 📚😊🎉

Pile of new library books atop a bookcase

010

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Happy #InternationalCatDay🐾 This early printed book is Sophologium, an influential 15th-century compendium of moral, philosophical, and theological wisdom. Written around 1370, the text was designed to provide guidance on virtue, vice, and proper conduct by drawing from both classical and

Page from an early printed book. There are paw prints, from a cat, scattered across the page

111

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Magdalen has won University Challenge four times to date: in 1996-7, 1997-8, 2003-4, and 2010-2011. After the third victory, we were allowed to keep this trophy. It's displayed in the Longwall Library. Let's hope for similar success in this evening's match, where Magdalen take on Warwick University.

Metal trophy, in the shape of an open book. Either side of it, two captions give the details of the four winning Magdalen teams on the TV quiz University Challenge

Metal trophy, in the shape of an open book.

000

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Have you seen Christopher Nolan's latest film, The Odyssey? Can you tell us if the Greek God Eros features in it? Here's an entry in our Senior Common Room betting book. It shows that C. S. Lewis and Ancient History Fellow C. E. Stevens placed a wager over whether Eros appears in Homer’s Odyssey.

Page from a notebook. Handwritten note reads: Lewis bets Stevens that the ??? Eros (written in Greek) does not occur in its Odyssey (a bottle of port) May 14th, 46. Paid by Mr Stevens.

130

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

👀Spotted during the stock check 😊 (Thank you, we are getting through it one beep at a time!)

A handwritten note left on a bookcase, which reads: You are doing so well! :-)

000

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Over the next two weeks, library staff will be carrying out an inventory of all our books in the Longwall. The reading rooms will be a bit noisier than usual, as the scanners we're using make a beeping noise. There are earplugs in the library foyer.

Library shelves. In front of them, text reading: Stock check noise warning. Beeping scanners in use. Vertical lines indicate noise levels/ decibel reading.

020

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Today is the feast day of #StMaryMagdalene, one of Christianity’s most important saints (as well as our namesake). Magdalen has a long history of celebrating this day. This record is from the College's liber computi [Account Book] for 1502-3. It reads:

Page from Magdalen's medieval account book. It reads: “Solutum pro prandio dato Episcopo Rofensi & aliis doctoribus & abbatisse de Godstowe in cubiculo domini presidentis in festo sancte Marie Magdalene vis viiid.”
which translates as “Payment for a lunch given to the Bishop of Rochester and other doctors and to the abbess of Godstow in the room of our lord President on the feast of St Mary Magdalene, 6 shillings eightpence.”
This passage has been highlighted, with a red box around it.

140

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Take this as your sign to go to the pub. (See what we did there). In 1948, Magdalen let a pub called Home Sweet Home in Roke a small piece of land at the edge of the main road so they could put up a sign to direct visitors. Its leaseincludes this lovely plan showing the design for the sign.

Design of a pub sign for 'Home Sweet Home'. It is red with a leaf at the centre. Ref. LE.83.BL.51

100

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

This image is from 'Tortoises, Turtles and Terrapins' by James Sowerby. Published in 1872, the book was a landmark in natural history illustration & features 60 lithographed plates, illustrated by Edward Lear, including this turtle. Best known as a poet, he was also a talented zoological illustrator

010

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

This kingfisher is from volume 1 of the 8-volume work 'Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Islands' by Lord Lilford, published between 1885-1897. One of Britain's most colourful birds, lucky visitors may spot a kingfisher while walking around Addison's Walk. (ref. o.15.18 ).

coloured illustration of a kingfisher birds, from a book

040

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Today the College is hosting a Gaudy for students who matriculated between 1982 and 1984. Here we have a speech, in Latin, delivered by C. S. Lewis at a Gaudy 100 years ago.

Document consisting of handwritten Latin speech. It is page 1/4 of a speech given by C.S. Lewis at a Gaudy in 1926. Archival reference: MS 294

Document consisting of handwritten Latin speech. It is page 2/4 of a speech given by C.S. Lewis at a Gaudy in 1926. Archival reference: MS 294

Document consisting of handwritten Latin speech. It is page 3/4 of a speech given by C.S. Lewis at a Gaudy in 1926. Archival reference: MS 294

Document consisting of handwritten Latin speech. It is page 4/4 of a speech given by C.S. Lewis at a Gaudy in 1926. Archival reference: MS 294

110

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

July is Disability Pride Month! Celebrated every year in the UK since 2015, we're marking the month with this selection of books from our welfare collection on display in the Longwall library. Can you recommend any books to add to our collection?

Book display featuring the following books: Feminist Queer Crip; Care Work; How Not to Fit In; How to Be Autistic; Un-typical; Neuroqueer Heresis; An Unquiet Mind; Mad World; The Maps We Carry; Brilliant Imperfection; Pain is Really Strange; Disability: the basics; Anxiety is Really Strange; Why I Burned My Book.

010

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Today is Magdalen's Commemoration Ball. Here we have a poster for the 1964 ball, which featured up-and-coming 'rock group' The Rolling Stones. They weren't even the headline act! Who knows what tonight's acts will go on to achieve? We hope everyone has a blast at the ball. 🎉🎊💃🕺

Poster for 1964 Commemoration Ball at Magdalen College. It lists the bands performing, including The Rolling Stones

020

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Good things come in small packages! (Pen for size comparison). It's always nice to hear that our students appreciate us; this teeny thank you card, and not so teeny message, brought huge smiles to our faces. The homemade biscuits were delicious, by the way 😋

Small thank you card, next to a pen for size comparison

Note reading 'Homemade chocolate biscuits - apologies that they are so crumbly. Really hope they are ok!'

010

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

🔎👑Can you spot the future King of England, Edward VIII, in this photograph from the Magdalen College Archives? Born #OnThisDay in 1894, Edward studied at Magdalen between 1912 and the outbreak of the First World War.

Black and white photograph of men attending a dinner. Several sit down at a rectangular dining table, while others stand surrounding them. All wear black tie.

000

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Happy Long Vacation! To all Finalists, please remember to return your library books - looks like a lot of you already have! 📚📚📚

Piles of books by the self-issue machine, overflow from the full returns bin

011

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

You are cordially invited to an Early Modern gender reveal party? This anatomical flapbook has multi-layered engravings of male and female bodies, including this pregnant torso. Readers can 'dissect' the body, peeling back layers to reveal veins, nerves, and skeleton underneath.

130

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

In honour of England's first #WorldCup match this evening, here is a photo of Magdalen's starting 11 from the 1884/5 academic year. The attached slip provides the names of these players, which include 2 brothers: A. L. and H. P. Hansell. [Archival ref: P201/P1/1]

11 young men pose in the Cloisters at Magdalen College, in the late 19th century. Two are standing, leant against the college walls. Others are sitting on chairs, the ground, or the College walls. One holds a football in his lap. A label with the names of the men has been added. It reads: F. J. Barmby
F. H. Brown
H. P. Dempsey
R. V. Forbes
A. L. Hansell
H. P. Hansell
F. M. Ingram
A. A. Jackson
C. E. Murdoch
B. E. Nicholls
and R. B. J. Stewart.

010

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

What would you do after a long day of bookselling to the Oxford public? Go for a refreshing dip in your own private pool, of course. #FromTheArchives we have some maps relating to land owned by Magdalen.

Map of Holt Copse near Appleton, showing a swimming pool and a stream which was to be diverted to fill the pool

Typewritten agreement relating to land owned by Magdalen College and leased to Basil Blackwell (who owned Blackwell's bookshop), whereby the College gives permission to Blackwell to divert a stream in order to supply a swimming pool with water

Map of Tubney Manor Farm estate, showing land leased to Basil Blackwell. There is a rectangle indicating a swimming pool

Zoom in on the map of Tubney Manor Farm estate, showing land leased to Basil Blackwell. The swimming pool has been circled in blue, so people can easily spot it.

120

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

If you're looking for something new to read, we've received this selection of books from the 2026 Women's Prize shortlists for non-fiction and fiction - on display now in the Longwall library foyer. 📚👀 Winners announced tomorrow...📣

Book stack featuring the following titles: Kingfisher; Artists, Siblings, Visionaries; Flashlight; Dominion; Heart the Lover; Nation of Strangers; Mother Mary Come to Me; To Exist as I Am; Finding Albion; Art Cure; Hotel Exile; The Finest Hotel in Kabul.

140

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Our Wolsey Manuscripts website is now back online. You can look at Wolsey's Gospel and Epistle lectionaries, housed at Magdalen and Christ Church respectively, at the same time. Learn more about these beautiful manuscripts, their history and read research about them here: www.wolseymanuscripts.ac.uk

wolseymanuscripts.ac.uk

The Wolsey Manuscripts - The Wolsey Manuscripts

Only half a decade before England broke with the Roman Catholic Church, two intensely beautiful liturgical manuscripts were made for the country’s leading cleric. For Thomas Wolsey, cardinal and…

000

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Happy Pride Month 🏳️‍🌈 Did you join the Pride parade in Oxford today? If today's celebrations have inspired you to learn more, take a look at the books in our Pride display in the Longwall Library. You'll also find some very prideful origami paper, if you fancy helping us decorate the display ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩵🩷🤍

Book display featuring memoirs/ stories of people from the LGBT+ community. The display has been decorated with a Pride flag in the shape of a heart and colourful origami.

020

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Following a request on our Graffiti Wall, we have added a whiteboard to the breakout room at the end of the Beckwith Reading Room. We hope it helps aid your studies ✏️👩‍🏫

Freestanding whiteboard in front of bookcases. A message written on the whiteboard reads: Hello from the library team! We hope you find this useful for your revision + group discussions. Please be mindful of others studying in the library - this room is not completely soundproof! Happy studying :)

010

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Vacation loans now apply. If you'd like to take your library books home over the long vacation, you can. Renew your loans now for a due date of 15th October! 📚📚📚

3 ice creams in cones. Text, superimposed over the image, reads: "VACATION LOANS"

020

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Did you hear about the success of our women's crew during this year's Summer VIIIs? They bumped three times over the course of the competition, bumping Keble, Christ Church, and Wolfson. Congratulations to all involved! This photograph shows the ‘Maids of Magdalen’ in action

Black and white photo of 9 women rowing during the Summer VIIIs at Oxford, in 1984.

110

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

This week is National #VolunteersWeek. We are lucky to have a number of volunteers, who regularly help us out with tasks like shelving, creating book displays, and invigilating our Old Library exhibitions. A huge thank you to Aidan, Caitlin, Rawdah, Marilyn, Fin, Maddy, and Pam for their help 🙏⭐

Poster from the Volunteers' Week initiative which says 'thank you, volunteers'

000

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

This season's crop of roses, in the Longwall Library quad, are pretty magnificent 😍🌹🥀

Longwall Library exterior, showing a rosebush of peach coloured roses in full bloom

Close-up of a rose bush in the Longwall Library quad, showing white roses in full bloom

Rosebush in the Longwall Library quad, with magenta pink roses in full bloom

Close-up of peach-coloured roses in the Longwall Library quad

010

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

5th week is always a bit of a milestone as we pass the halfway point of term. Here in the library we have 'Welfare Week', where we provide various activities and resources aimed at improving student wellbeing. Students can:

Library poster advertising 'Welfare Week.' The words 'Welfare Week' placed over images of flowers. Text reads: Week 5: welfare week. Join us in Longwall Library for welfare week! check out some of the books we have selected, plant some seeds, or spend some time doing a jigsaw in the library foyer! This week, take some time out to do something you enjoy in the sun!

Selection of library books, which all promote wellbeing, on display in the Longwall Library

A basket containing envelopes of seeds, compost pellets, and biodegradable pots.

Jigsaw puzzle pieces in a large box, ready to be assembled. The design is a colourful illustration of a bookshop exterior.

110

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

We endorse this message. Found in the Beckwith Reading Room. ❤️

Blue scrap of paper with the handwritten message: "you're doing great! I'm so proud of you" with a heart

030

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

We can't believe it's been 10 years since the grand reopening of the Longwall Library, following its renovation. Prince William joined us for the occasion, speaking to Magdalen students and staff, and unveiling the engraving on our wall. Happy 10th to the Longwall Library. 🎉🎈🔟 📸credit John Cairns

Prince William and David Clary (President of Magdalen College, 2005-2020) walking away from the Longwall Library followed by a dozen or so people

Prince William standing next to an engraving on the Longwall Library exterior. The engraving reads: "The Longwall Library was opened by HRH The Duke of Cambridge KGKT 11 May 2016". Two men stand on the other side of him, applauding

Prince William talks to students working in the Longwall Library, Magdalen College

Prince William and David Clary (President of Magdalen College, 2005-2020) arriving at the Longwall Library. William acknowledges a crowd of onlookers

000

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

We're celebrating Trans+ History Week in the Longwall library with this book display - a date deliberately chosen as the anniversary of the Nazi raid on the world’s first ever trans clinic in 1933, May 6.

Transgender history: the roots of today's revolution; Female husbands: a trans history; A short history of trans misogyny
Trans history: from ancient times to the present day (graphic novel); Black on both sides: a racial history of trans identity; Trans Lives: social realities across the globe; The autobiography of a transgender scientist; The transgender issue : an argument for justice
Selected diaries of Lou Sullivan; Trans Britain: our journals from the shadows.

020

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

How did you get so wise, Yoda? Use the library, I do often. All these books, I read. #maythe4thbewithyou

Baby Yoda figurine atop a shelf of books in Magdalen's Old Library

020

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Cerulean blue, naturally. #DevilWearsPrada2 This quote is from a letter to the Editor of The Daily Telegraph [The Complete Letters of Oscar Wilde, p. 465].

Black and white portrait of Oscar Wilde, dressed in a coat with furry collar and cuffs. He holds a cane in his right hand and his left hand to his face. A speech bubble has been added to the portrait and a quote from a letter Wilde wrote to the Editor of the Daily Telegraph has been copied inside. The quote reads: The coat, then, of next season, will be an exquisite colour-note, and have also a great psychological value. It will emphasise the serious and thoughtful side of a man’s character. One will be able to discern a man’s views of life by the colour he selects. The colour of the coat will be symbolic.

000

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Did you get up bright and early for #MayMorning this year? Here are some images #FromTheArchives of the annual 6am choral performance by choristers from Magdalen College School, which takes place at the top of our Great Tower.

Black and white 1885 engraving of May Morning celebrations, with choristers singing atop Magdalen's Great Tower. Birds fly nearby, adding to the atmosphere. [Archive ref: FA1.7.15P.1]

Group portrait of Magdalen College choir in the 1880s posing altogether outside in a quad. 4 rows of men and boys, some of the men are sitting on chairs, some of the boys are sitting cross-legged on the ground. [Archive ref: FA1/9/2P.1]

Black and white photograph of May morning circa 1900. Magdalen College choir sing atop The Great Tower.

Colour postcard of May Morning from circa 1900 with a drawing of the choir performing on top of the Great Tower at Magdalen College. Two Oxford spires in the sky take up the top 2/3 of the image. [Archive ref: P322.P13.3]

020

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Today is the last time our exhibition, 'The spirit of the place': Magdalen College and its staff from foundation to the present day, will be open to the public. Curated by two of our brilliant Archivists, Dr Richard Allen and Dr Emily Jennings, it seems only right that they both feature in this post

A man and a woman standing outside a College building. They have been labelled Chris Woolgar, S.S.R.C. Archivist 1980-81 and Brenda Parry- Jones Archivist, 1977-87

Three people, two women and a man standing inside Magdalen College's Muniment Tower (where its medieval deeds are stored). They are Magdalen's Archivists: Dr Richard Allen, Dr Emily Jennings, and Ms Claudia Williams

130