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Magdalen Libraries & Archives

@magdlibandarch.bsky.social

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Magdalen College, Oxford has a large circulating library, a significant early printed & manuscript books collection, and an extensive archive.

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Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · Jan 7

We're delighted to join the BlueSky community. Sadly, today's weather is not playing ball! Here are some GreySky pics of College, which we think still looks pretty lovely.

Exterior of the Longwall Library, Magdalen College, with a dull white sky. A touch of frost on the roof and ground.

St Swithun's quad, Magdalen College, with the Great Tower in the background. The sky is grey and there's a touch of frost on the lawn.

St Swithun's quad, Magdalen College. A touch of frost on the building's roof and on the lawn. The sky is totally cloudy.

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 8h

Basil has a Halloween joke for you 🎃👹👻

Basil, the library mascot (a soft toy badger) wearing a witch's hat and holding a magic wand, perched in front of a shelf of books. Text above reads: "Witch genre of books is the most popular at the Longwall Library?"

Basil, the library mascot (a soft toy badger) wearing a witch's hat and holding a magic wand, perched in front of a shelf of books. Text above reads: "The Magic Section - those books fly off the shelves!"

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 1d

The actor Robert Hardy was born #OnThisDay 100 years ago. Hardy was a Demy student at Magdalen in 1944 and 1947-8. Here we have a programme for a Magdalen Players production of "The Flies", by Jean-Paul Sartre, performed at Magdalen from 28 May to 2 June 1948 in which Hardy took a leading role.

Cover of a theatre programme for a Magdalen Players production of "The Flies", by Jean-Paul Sartre, produced in the Grove at Magdalen from 28 May to 2 June 1948 in which the actor Robert Hardy took a leading role.

Page in a theatre programme giving names of the Magdalen Players Committee

Page in a theatre programme giving information about the play "The Flies", by Jean-Paul Sartre, put on at Magdalen from 28 May to 2 June 1948.

Page in a theatre programme listing the cast and crew of a 1948 production of "The Flies", by Jean-Paul Sartre, produced at Magdalen from 28 May to 2 June 1948. First listed is Robert Hardy.

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 2d

This week is #GreenLibrariesWeek2025. We've put together a book display showcasing titles which explore the relationships between humans and the natural world. 💚🌿🌱🍀

Poster for Green Libraries week 27.10.25-2.11.25

Book display of library books about the natural world

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 8d

Stop scrolling and get back to your studies! The Longwall Library now has a brick device. The brick lets you temporarily suspend distracting apps and notifications on your smartphone - effectively turning it into a brick. You'll find our brick in the foyer. We hope you'll find it helpful.

Poster explaining how to use the library's brick device, to turn off apps on your phone temporarily - with the idea that it will help you focus on your work

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 9d

We have (ref. v.2.21) a pocket Greek New Testament, (ref. D.1.32) an 18th century miniature edition of classical Greek poetry, and (ref. Magd. LAW-T QUR (res.)) a tiny Qur'an used as a protective amulet by Muslim soldiers in the First World War. Pencil included for scale.

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 9d

Thanks to everyone who came to this afternoon's Meet a Rare Book session. Today we had not 1 but 3 books to showcase. They may be tiny but we think they are also fascinating. Ranging from 3 to 9cm high, these are some of the smallest books in our collection.

3 tiny books on bubblewrap paper. A pencil included to show how small the books are

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Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 10d

19- 25th October is Ace Week, an annual campaign to raise awareness of asexuality. Here we have a few books that we think are ace.

Do you have any suggestions for more ace (in both senses of the word) reading material. Let us know! 🖤🩶🤍💜

Poster advertising a book display for Ace Week

Three books next to each other:
Queer Chameleon and Friends by Amee Wilson
Love Expanded: how asexuals and aromantics are redefining love, life, and family by Wren Burke
Ace : what asexuality reveals about desire, society, and the meaning of sex by Angela Chen

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 13d

The writer Alan Garner was born #OnThisDay in 1934. He studied classics at Magdalen in the 1950s. Here we have two of his works which are part of our Magdalen Authors Collection, Red Shift and The Owl Service. Both books have been signed by the author. Many happy returns to Mr Garner 🎉🎂🎈

Two books side-by-side on a wooden book rest. They are 'Red Shift' and 'The Owl Service' by Alan Garner

Title page for the library's copy of 'The Owl Service' by Alan Garner, which has been signed by the author

Title page for the library's copy of 'Red Shift' by Alan Garner, which has been signed by the author

Dedication page in 'The Owl Service' by Alan Garner. Typed in is 'For Cinna' and added in ink is '& Julia from Alan'

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Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 14d

#WeeklyWildeWitticism Oscar Wilde was born #OnThisDay in 1854. Last 16th Oct, we opened our exhibition, Magdalen's Wilde, celebrating the writer's time as a student at Magdalen and his life afterwards. You can see the online version of our exhibition on our website: magdalenswilde.magd.ox.ac.uk

Black and white figure (Oscar Wilde) with a green and white party hat superimposed onto his head. At the centre, a black rectangle with white text inside reading: "Most modern calendars mar the sweet simplicity of our lives by reminding us that each day that passes is the anniversary of some perfectly uninteresting event" - Oscar Wilde, quoted in Oscar Wilde: his life and wit, p. 114

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 14d

Fed up of people badgering you during your study session? Why not follow Basil's lead and use the library's new Brick? The brick lets you temporarily suspend distracting apps and notifications on your smartphone - effectively turning it into a brick. You'll find our brick in the Longwall foyer🦡

The library's mascot (Basil, a soft toy badger) holding a pretend smartphone in his paw, next to a brick device. The brick is a small grey square, attached to a poster which explains how to use the brick device to block apps on your smartphone temporarily.

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 18d

It's the beginning of Michaelmas Term! Happy 1st week and welcome back to all our returning students. Here are some words of wisdom from a former Magdalen student! #WeeklyWildeWitticism

Black and white portrait of Oscar Wilde, wearing a fur coat and holding a cain. Above him, text reads: Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing worth knowing can be taught — Oscar Wilde, The Critic As Artist

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 21d

Betjeman was a Magdalen student in the 1920s and the collection begins with a poem about another Magdalen student, Oscar Wilde, and his arrest at the Cadogan Hotel in London in 1895.

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 21d

One of the latest additions to our Special Collections is this copy of John Betjeman's Continual Dew, signed by the author. Published in 1937, this was the first time Betjeman's famous poem 'Slough' appeared in print.

Collection of poems entitled 'Continual Dew' by John Betjeman

Contents page of 'Continual Dew' by John Betjeman

Inside cover of a copy of 'Continual Dew' by John Betjeman, which is dedicated to John Arlott and signed by the poet

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Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 23d

Pam dw i'n dysgu Cymraeg? To annoy C.S. Lewis, of course! Here we have one of our latest acquisitions to Magdalen's archive. A note typed by the poet John Betjeman. Betjeman was a student at Magdalen in the 1920s and was taught by C.S Lewis. Lewis described Betjeman as 'an idle prig.'

Typewritten note by John Betjeman, dated 30/9/1977. He wrote that he 'did learn Welsh at Oxford for one term to annoy C.S. Lewis.' Betjeman has signed the note, with 'all the best John B' in blue ink

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 24d

This October marks Black History Month, a reminder to educate ourselves on Black history, experiences and culture. The theme this year is Standing Firm in Power and Pride. This book display showcases a selection of fiction, non-fiction, essay collections and poetry by Black British writers.

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 26d

Tomorrow is the beginning of 0th week, a busy week for the library - we'll be welcoming our new students at their Longwall Library inductions. We hope our new students like Magdalen as much as former student, Oscar Wilde, did. (Let's not focus on the last part of the quote...) #WeeklyWildeWitticism

View of Magdalen College cloisters, with the New Buildings in the distance, from the top of the Great Tower. In the sky, text reads: "I was the happiest man in the world when I entered Magdalen for the first time. Oxford—the mere word to me is full of an inexpressible, an incommunicable charm. Oxford—the home of lost causes and impossible ideals." Quoted in Oscar Wilde by Frank Harris

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 27d

Here's a drawing of Martin Routh, President of Magdalen College 1791-1854. Routh was very traditional and continued to wear a wig (made of horsehair) long after it was fashionable to do so. After his death, Charles Daubeny had it fossilised in a petrifying spring. IYKYK. #MeanGirlsDay #ItsOctober3rd

Drawing of Martin Routh. Text reads: Nice wig, Martin, what's it made of?

Martin Routh's fossilised wig, on display in the Old Library.

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · 28d

Today is #nationalpoetryday
So we've put together this book display
Featuring poets from across the world
Many of whom, we're sure you'll have heard
So why not visit the library today
To pick one out for yourself, hooray?

We promise that the poems in these collections are much better than this one!

3 shelves of books with their covers facing outwards, all poetry collections or about poetry

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Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · Sep 28

We suppose Oscar Wilde would have approved of this statue of him in Dublin #WeeklyWildeWitticism

Statue of Oscar Wilde, Dublin. At the top, text reads: "One should either be a work of Art, or wear a work of Art."
— Oscar Wilde, Phrases and Philosophies for the Use of the Young, The Chameleon

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · Sep 26

Happy #NationalDoodleDay. Here's our copy of Tallis's Litany - a collection of prayers and psalm tunes. Here we can see some of our choristers may have been a bit distracted during their choir practice. One of them has signed his name, Richard Redhead - who was a chorister in the 1830s.

Title page of
Tallis's Litany adapted to the Latin words with additions by Dr. Aldrich. ; A collection of old psalm tunes adapted to the old and new version for the use of the University Church,Oxford, ; and Tallis's "Come Holy Ghost," performed at Ordinations;

Doodles in a book and the words 'R. Redhead of Magdalen College 22 December 1836'

Doodles in a book and the words 'R. Redhead of Magdalen College'

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · Sep 25

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 (who had his own teddy bear, Aloysius) in Brideshead Revisited.

Members of the John Betjeman Society browsing an exhibition on the poet, in Magdalen's Old Library

John Betjeman's teddy, Archie. He is rather warn, wears a jumper made from an old bear of socks and has red eyes

Jumbo, a soft toy elephant that belonged to John Betjeman. The toy has a knitted jumper on, which must have been made especially for it.

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · Sep 25

Last week, we very much enjoyed hosting The John Betjeman Society to view an exhibition on the poet, and former Magdalen student, in our Old Library. Items on display included two of Betjeman's teddy bears, Archie and Jumbo.

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Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · Sep 24

Check out our latest addition to Digital Bodleian!

MS Lat 217, a collection of scholastic questions from the late 1200s, is now available for you to consult online.

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · Sep 19

What do you call a pirate who loves to read? Captain Hooked, of course! Happy #InternationalTalkLikeAPirateDay. Get hooked on these books, featuring captains and pirates, available in the Longwall Library. ☠📚

6 books lined up (they are: The Collected Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, Persuasion by Jane Austen, Moby Dick by Herman Melville, Pirates of Barbary by Adrian Tinswood, and Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. Above them, text reads 'What do you call a pirate who loves to read?' in old-fashioned font

Magdalen Libraries & Archives @magdlibandarch.bsky.social · Sep 19

It's Open Day! Be sure to join one of the College's student-led tours. They'll show you the most important places - including the library!