Poster advertising an Old Library exhibition at Magdalen College. The exhibition is 'The spirit of the place': Magdalen College and its staff from foundation to the present day. The exhibition was curated by Dr Emily Jennings and Dr Richard Allen. It runs to 29th April 2026. A black and white photograph of Magdalen staff posed in the Cloisters forms the header of the poster.

See this, and more, in our exhibition 'The spirit of the place': Magdalen College and its staff from foundation to the present day
📍Old Library
📆🕑 OPEN Today, 2-4:30pm

A black and white photograph of Magdalen staff (circa 70 people) posed in the Cloisters.

This photograph captures all of Magdalen’s staff at some point in the early twentieth century. Seated at centre is Herbert Warren, then President. To his right is Richard Gunstone, who was JCR Steward between 1880 and 1914.

Folio from a medieval manuscript, where the scribe has written text in two columns. A Red and blue flourished initial J indicates the beginning of a new section.

Folio from a medieval manuscript, where the scribe has written text in two columns. A small hole at the bottom of the parchment - possibly formed naturally from the animal it came from

Folio from a medieval manuscript, where the scribe has written text in two columns. A Red and blue flourished initial indicates the beginning of a new section.

We're pleased to advise that another of our Latin manuscripts has been fully digitised and is available to view on Digital Bodleian. MS Lat 117, John Wycliffe's Postilla super totam Bibliam, was made in the early 15th century - most likely in Oxford.
digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/3ec4...

Poster advertising an Old Library exhibition at Magdalen College. The exhibition is 'The spirit of the place': Magdalen College and its staff from foundation to the present day. The exhibition was curated by Dr Emily Jennings and Dr Richard Allen. It runs to 29th April 2026. A black and white photograph of Magdalen staff posed in the Cloisters forms the header of the poster.

See the statutes, and more, in our exhibition 'The spirit of the place': Magdalen College and its staff from foundation to the present day
📍Old Library
📆🕑 OPEN Today, 2-4:30pm

Women are only to act as laundresses, and only then if ‘they are of an age and condition’ (quam talis etatis talisque conditionis) so as not to bring suspicion upon the college.

This particular clause stipulates the posts that are to be created and the sort of people who should occupy them. Provision is therefore made for a cook, manciple, and porters, all of whom must be men.

MS 278 medieval document, written in Latin. The parchment it's written on is cream in colour. The majority of the text is in black ink, but there are some words in red ink and there is an illuminated initial I

Another page from MS 278 - a medieval document, written in Latin. The parchment it's written on is cream in colour. The majority of the text is in black ink, but there are some words in red ink and there is an illuminated initial I

These are the original college statutes, as written by Magdalen’s founder, William Waynflete (c.1395–1486). They cover the workings of every aspect of college life, including the employment of servants.

Black and white image of a young Oscar Wilde, with 3 friends: 2 women and 1 man. Oscar sits cross-legged, holding an oar. While the other man stands, holding another oar.

We think Oscar had it right — why get exhausted rowing, when you can just pose with the oars? Good luck to all 4 crews competing in #TheBoatRace this year.

This photo appears in an album belonging to Jules Nicholas Guggenheim, who had a studio on High Street. [Archival ref: Acc1999/62]

Book display showing the following titles: How to be Autistic; Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Adults; How to Read Minds; Autism in Adults; Girl Unmasked; Unmasking for Life; Spectrum Women; Unmasked; Taking off the Mask; We're all Neurodiverse; Un-Typical; How Not to Fit in.

2 April is Autism Acceptance Month, which marks the start of World Autism Acceptance Month, celebrated each April. Browse from this brilliant selection of books by neurodivergent educators and advocates writing and working in the field of autism, or ask about our welfare collection on floor -1.

Unfortunately, we don't know a great deal about the plans. They were found among a collection of 20th century maps and plans in our Estates Office. The plans make reference to a report by Messrs Ryde and Sons dated 4 June 1914 but sadly this report has been lost to time.

Architectural plan of Magdalen College, from 1914, which shows a proposed new road that bizarrely cuts right through the college - even through the chapel

Closer up view of the Architectural plan of Magdalen College, from 1914, which shows a proposed new road that bizarrely cuts right through the college - even through the chapel

Close-up on a map of Magdalen College, showing 'Longwall House', which now houses the Longwall Library. It's labelled as Magdalen College School, as it used to be a school room for that school, (Magdalen College School is now situated on the other side of the Plain roundabout).

April Fools!

Earlier we posted these plans, which proposed new roads in College— one of which, bizarrely, cut across the Chapel, Cloisters, & New Buildings. They're from 1914 and, thankfully, the proposed changes never went ahead. Can you imagine Magdalen with a road passing through the Cloisters?

Poster advertising an Old Library exhibition at Magdalen College. The exhibition is 'The spirit of the place': Magdalen College and its staff from foundation to the present day. The exhibition was curated by Dr Emily Jennings and Dr Richard Allen. It runs to 29th April 2026. A black and white photograph of Magdalen staff posed in the Cloisters forms the header of the poster.

See these, and more, in our exhibition 'The spirit of the place': Magdalen College and its staff from foundation to the present day
📍Old Library
📆🕑 OPEN Today, 2-4:30pm

Toast list for a dinner put on for the Oxford University and College Servants’ Rowing Club. They toasted to: Church and king Floreat Magdalena The club The visitors

Menu for a dinner given to the Oxford University and College Servants’ Rowing Club. The food served was: Puree Americaine to start, Fried fillets sole, roast sirloin beef, roast sparerib pork, vegetables for the main, and apple tart and cream or meringues a la chantilly for dessert

Black and white photograph of 5 men rowing (4 hold oars and 1 is the cox). Their names have been written on the photo in blue ink. R. Willis, T.G. Charlett, B. Castle, W. Jarvis, P. Wright. Along with the information that they were 'winners of senior fours 1946 & 1947'

Successful crews would be fêted for their success - here we can see the menu for a dinner put on for the club. The photograph shows the Magdalen servants’ crew in 1946/7. Among those pictured is Bill Jarvis (1913–2002), Magdalen’s Second Chef from 1932 to 1978.

Front cover of a menu for a dinner put on for the Oxford University and College Servants’ Rowing Club on 30/9/1927. It states that they were winners of various competitions.

With #TheBoatRace happening this weekend, we thought we'd share this piece of university rowing history. Founded in 1850, the Oxford University and College Servants’ Rowing Club was formed of different college crews. Like its student counterpart, the OUCSRC competed against its Cambridge rival.

Close-up on a map of Magdalen College, showing 'Longwall House', which now houses the Longwall Library. It's labelled as Magdalen College School, as it used to be a school room for that school, (Magdalen College School is now situated on the other side of the Plain roundabout).

One of the roads does pass directly through the Chapel, Cloisters and New Buildings so we do apologise to colleagues with offices in these spaces.

Thankfully, the Longwall Library (which we occasionally refer to as Longwall House) remains unaffected.

Closer up view of the Architectural plan of Magdalen College, from 1914, which shows a proposed new road that bizarrely cuts right through the college - even through the chapel

We are happy to share plans for some upcoming building work across College. The new roads will provide direct access from the High Street to the Grove, for anyone wishing to see Magdalen's deer.

Front cover of a theatre programme, for a play put on by Magdalen College Dramatic Society from the 3rd- 7th December 1928

first page of a theatre programme, for a play put on by Magdalen College Dramatic Society from the 3rd- 7th December 1928. It lists the officers and thanks the President and Fellows for giving them means and permission to put on the play.

Second page of a theatre programme, for a play put on by Magdalen College Dramatic Society from the 3rd- 7th December 1928. The play was Two Gentlemen of Soho by A. P. Herbert. The cast and crew are listed, including its producer 'J. Betjeman'

🎭Happy #WorldTheatreDay! Here we have a theatre programme from a production by Magdalen College Dramatic Society from 1928. Two Gentleman of Soho ran from December 3rd-7th. It was produced by John Betjeman who was a student at Magdalen in the 1920s. [ref. Acc2025/158]🎭

Poster advertising an Old Library exhibition at Magdalen College. The exhibition is 'The spirit of the place': Magdalen College and its staff from foundation to the present day. The exhibition was curated by Dr Emily Jennings and Dr Richard Allen. It runs to 29th April 2026. A black and white photograph of Magdalen staff posed in the Cloisters forms the header of the poster.

See these, and more, in our exhibition 'The spirit of the place': Magdalen College and its staff from foundation to the present day
📍Old Library
📆🕑 OPEN Today, 2-4:30pm

Invitation to a lunch at Magdalen College on 4/4/1981 to celebrate the 100th birthday of Eleanor Richardson, who was landlady to generations of Magdalen students.

Known affectionately as ‘Mrs R’, she made such a lasting impression on her wards that, when she turned 100 in 1981, over seventy of them returned to Magdalen to mark the occasion.

Black and white photograph of Mrs Eleanor Richardson, smiling and holding up a drink, with a crowd of people standing in the background. They are all former Magdalen students who lodged with her in the past. ref: MCA, Acc2022/54

Today, Magdalen undergraduates may live in College accommodation throughout their degree. In years past, they spent part of their time living outside college walls, lodging in the homes of Oxford locals. The remarkable Mrs Eleanor Richardson was landlady to generations of Magdalen students.

7 cookbooks on a shelf. On their right, a soft toy badger (Basil, the library's mascot). The badger has a chef's hat on (the hat image was made using AI).

Library mascot, Basil (a soft toy badger), next to a cookbook open on a wooden bookstand. The page shown is a recipe for raspberry and scotch pancake stacks.

poster advertising a new collection of books in the Longwall Library. The collection is called Skills & Crafts and has books on cooking, sewing and origami. There's a QR code where people can suggest more titles.

We hope you've been enjoying the Easter vacation. Basil has been using the time to explore our new Skills & Crafts collection. Although he was a bit put off by one cookbook's recipe for raspberry and Basil scotch pancakes! 🦡🌱🥞

fritillaries (both white and purple snake's head variety) and daffodils from Magdalen College's Fellow's garden in March 2026

snake's head fritillaries on Addison's Walk, Magdalen College in March 2026

snake's head fritillaries from Magdalen College's Fellow's garden in March 2026

Page about fritillaries from Baxter, William, J. H Parker, and Treacher and Co Whittaker. British Phænogamous Botany; : Or, Figures and Descriptions of the Genera of British Flowering Plants. Oxford: published by the author; sold by J.H. Parker; and by Whittaker, Treacher, and Co., London., 1835.

Happy Spring Equinox! As we welcome the arrival of spring, here are some photos of our snake's-head fritillaries. As told by Baxter in his 1834 work 'British phænogamous botany' (ref. R.4.18, Old Library), both the purple and white varieties are abundant in Magdalen College meadow. 🥀

See these, and more, in our exhibition 'The spirit of the place': Magdalen College and its staff from foundation to the present day
📍Old Library
📆🕑 OPEN Today, 2-4:30pm

The second picture, taken in front of the Golden Rain tree, shows our current Head Gardener, David, with Sawyer’s daughters, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter.

2 men planting a tree outside the President’s Lodgings at Magdalen College

5 people stand in front of the Golden Rain tree outside the President’s Lodgings at Magdalen College

Poster advertising an Old Library exhibition at Magdalen College. The exhibition is 'The spirit of the place': Magdalen College and its staff from foundation to the present day. The exhibition was curated by Dr Emily Jennings and Dr Richard Allen. It runs to 15th April 2026. A black and white photograph of Magdalen staff posed in the Cloisters forms the header of the poster.

Gardeners have been looking after Magdalen’s expansive grounds since its foundation. The first picture shows Jack Sawyer who worked at Magdalen in various roles from 1925–1984, ending as Head Gardener. Here he is helping to plant a Golden Rain tree outside the President’s Lodgings in November 1979.

A soft toy badger (our library mascot, Basil) atop a library desk, with bookshelves in the background. Republic of Ireland flags and a banner have been superimposed onto the photograph. The banner has a limerick reading: Basil the badger, so clever and spry, Helps readers find books stacked up high. With a nod and a grin, He says, "Step right in! Adventure awaits - give it a try!"

A limerick from Basil, this #StPatricksDay

Book display featuring books on neurodiversity. The books on display are: Avoiding anxiety in autistic adults & Autism in adults both by Luke Beardon Neuroqueer heresies by Nick Walker Taking off the mask by Hannah Belcher I go quiet by David Ouimet Spectrum women by Barb Cook Unmasked by Ellie Middleton Untypical by Peter Wharmby We're all neurodiverse by Sonny Jane Wise How not to fit in by Jess Joy & Charlotte Mia

Poster encouraging people to celebrate neurodiversity and showcase a book display on the topic. A QR code, leading to a book suggestions form, is included.

Today is the start of #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek. Thank you to our volunteer, Maddy, for putting together this display of books on autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.

Any more suggestions for us to add? Let us know in the comments.

Full book returns bin

Overflowing book returns slot at the Longwall library. Piles of returns left at the self-issue machine

Happy Easter Vacation / triannual workout for Oxford Librarians 📚📚📚💪💪💪

Black and white photograph of Oscar Wilde, sitting down. His left hand rests against his face and, in his right, he holds a cane. A speech bubble has been added with a quote from one of Oscar Wilde's plays, An Ideal Husband, reading "Fathers should be neither seen nor heard. That is the only proper basis for family life. Mothers are different. Mothers are darlings"

A quote from our favourite alumnus. Happy #MothersDay

See this, and more, in our exhibition 'The spirit of the place': Magdalen College and its staff from foundation to the present day
📍Old Library
📆🕑 OPEN Today, 2-4pm
Note the earlier closing time than usual.