Magdalen Libraries & Archives
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Magdalen Libraries & Archives
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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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Here we have a MC Dramatic Society dinner menu, for a meal that was held after a performance of Two Gentlemen of Soho, which ran from Dec 3rd-7th 1928. The players enjoyed four courses. As is traditional, attendees have all signed the menu, including the play's producer John Betjeman.
St John's quad, Magdalen College in the evening. At the centre, a Christmas tree is lit up with fairy lights. In the blue sky, a silhouette of Santa's sleigh with his reindeer fly in the sky. There are 6 rows of 4 dotted rectangles with numbers in them - totalling 24. It is an advent calendar, and seven of the ‘doors’ are open. Booklet (a dinner menu) with the Magdalen crest and M.C.D.S. (Magdalen College Dramatic Society) and 1928 written on it. Pencilled signatures cover the white spaces Dinner menu from 1928 Back of a booklet (a dinner menu for the Magdalen College Dramatic Society). Pencilled signatures , doodles and comments cover the white spaces. It was printed by Holywell Press.
December 7, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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It’s officially the end of term! Basil has a pile of fabulous books to read over the vacation – and so can you. Renew your books now for a due date of Thursday 22nd January.
St John's quad, Magdalen College in the evening. At the centre, a Christmas tree is lit up with fairy lights. In the blue sky, a silhouette of Santa's sleigh with his reindeer fly in the sky. There are 6 rows of 4 dotted rectangles with numbers in them - totalling 24. It is an advent calendar, and six of the ‘doors’ are open. Library mascot, Basil (a soft toy badger) sits atop a pile of books. The books all have 'Holiday' or 'vacation' in the title. Basil wears a knitted santa hat. A speech bubble with the words "You can take your books home over the vacation" appears next to his mouth
December 6, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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Are you dreaming of a White Christmas? We’re not sure our favourite alumnus, Oscar Wilde, would agree. Here we have our Longwall Library covered in a light dusting of snow.
St John's quad, Magdalen College in the evening. At the centre, a Christmas tree is lit up with fairy lights. In the blue sky, a silhouette of Santa's sleigh with his reindeer fly in the sky. There are 6 rows of 4 dotted rectangles with numbers in them - totalling 24. It is an advent calendar, and five of the ‘doors’ are open. Exterior of Longwall Library on a snowy day. In the completely white sky, black text reads: “The weather in Paris is quite awful — real snow and other horrors.” Oscar Wilde, in a Letter to Leonard Smithers
December 5, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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For today's #Magdvent, we have: a theatre programme from a production by Magdalen College Dramatic Society. Two Gentleman of Soho ran from December 3rd-7th, 97 years ago. It was produced by the poet John Betjeman, who was a student at Magdalen in the 1920s. [ref. Acc2025/158]
St John's quad, Magdalen College in the evening. At the centre, a Christmas tree is lit up with fairy lights. In the blue sky, a silhouette of Santa's sleigh with his reindeer fly in the sky. There are 6 rows of 4 dotted rectangles with numbers in them - totalling 24. It is an advent calendar, and four of the ‘doors’ are open. Front cover of a theatre programme, by Magdalen College Dramatic society dated December 3rd-7th 1928 Cast and crew list for a production of Two Gentleman of Soho, by A. P. Herbert. It lists the producer as J. Betjeman. The last page of a theatre programme for a Magdalen College Dramatic Society performance of Two Gentleman of Soho, by A. P. Herbert. It lists administrative positions of the society and gives a list of acknowledgments
December 4, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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For today's #Magdvent, we have: Gunner's scrapbook, featuring royalty. Compiled by JCR Steward Richard Gunstone, this scrapbook is packed with items about the ‘great and the good’ who passed through our doors- including the future Edward VIII. See this, and more, in the Old Library: TODAY 2-4:30pm
St John's quad, Magdalen College in the evening. At the centre, a Christmas tree is lit up with fairy lights. In the blue sky, a silhouette of Santa's sleigh with his reindeer fly in the sky. There are 6 rows of 4 dotted rectangles with numbers in them - totalling 24. It is an advent calendar, and three of the ‘doors’ are open. Photograph of Prince Edward (later King Edward VIII), from a scrapbook. Above, a cutting says "The Prince of Wales's match at Windsor: royal household vs Magdalen College staff. Exciting match ends in victory for the Royalists' Acc2014/175
December 3, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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Each year, the kitchen team generously delivers a Christmas pudding to every member of College staff. Here we have a recipe for Christmas pudding from
'Handbook of practical cookery' by Matilda Lees Dods. We’re not sure what recipe our chefs follow, but it is delicious! 😋😋😋
St John's quad, Magdalen College in the evening. At the centre, a Christmas tree is lit up with fairy lights. In the blue sky, a silhouette of Santa's sleigh with his reindeer fly in the sky. There are 6 rows of 4 dotted rectangles with numbers in them - totalling 24. It is an advent calendar, and two of the ‘doors’ are open. Drawings of puddings, including a Christmas pudding Page from a book, which begins the recipe for Christmas plum pudding Page from a book, which finishes the recipe for Christmas plum pudding
December 2, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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Happy #Magdvent! This snowy view of Magdalen’s Great Tower #FromTheArchives, was photographed in the 1950s. Some parts of College have changed very little over the decades and it’s only from the clothing and cars featured in other photographs, filed alongside this one, that we can estimate the date.
St John's quad, Magdalen College in the evening. At the centre, a Christmas tree is lit up with fairy lights. In the blue sky, a silhouette of Santa's sleigh with his reindeer fly in the sky. There are 6 rows of 4 dotted rectangles with numbers in them - totalling 24. It is an advent calendar, and one of the ‘doors’ is open. A black fence encloses a the water meadow at Magdalen College, which is completely covered in a blanket of snow. In the distance, the Great Tower can be seen. [ref. FA/1/9/2P/1/82(2)]
December 1, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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With the beginning of Advent tomorrow, we will be sharing our annual #Magdvent Calendar. Stay tuned as we share something special from our library and archives collections every day for the next 24 days. Happy #Magdvent! 🎄🎅🏻🎁
St John's quad, Magdalen College in the evening. At the centre, a Christmas tree is lit up with fairy lights. In the blue sky, a silhouette of Santa's sleigh with his reindeer fly in the sky. There are 6 rows of 4 dotted rectangles with numbers in them - totalling 24. It is an advent calendar, but none of the 'doors' are yet open
November 30, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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We always knew Basil was destined to be a star! 🌟🎄
Please help us decorate our Christmas tree. You'll find baubles next to the tree in the Longwall Library foyer.
Christmas tree decorated with tinsel and baubles. Atop, rather than a star, we have our library mascot (Basil, a soft toy badger, who's sporting a knitted santa hat) Christmas tree decorated with tinsel and baubles. Atop, rather than a star, we have our library mascot (Basil, a soft toy badger, who's sporting a knitted santa hat) Christmas tree decorated with tinsel and baubles. Atop, rather than a star, we have our library mascot (Basil, a soft toy badger, who's sporting a knitted santa hat)
November 28, 2025 at 4:30 PM
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Our exhibition 'The spirit of the place':Magdalen College and its staff from foundation to the present day is OPEN TODAY 2-4:30pm in our Old Library. Included in the exhibition are Magdalen's College Statutes (Archive reference: MS/278), as written by founder William Waynflete (c. 1395-1486).
medieval document of Magdalen College's statutes medieval document of Magdalen College's statutes 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.
November 26, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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🐦🐥We think we may have come up with a new verse for The Twelve Days of Christmas carol: On the 13th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... a Heron on an Oak Tree. Spotted by our Assistant Archivist, Emily, on Addison's Walk.
One month to go to Christmas!🐦🐥
Heron high up on an oak tree, on Addison's Walk, in the grounds of Magdalen College A closer up photo of the heron high up on an oak tree, on Addison's Walk, in the grounds of Magdalen College
November 25, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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🎬🍿🎥Earlier this month we were treated to an interview with Stephen Fry, in which he talked about his favourite films. For his Desert Island Movies, Sir Stephen chose:

Gaslight (1940)
His girl Friday
The life and death of Colonel Blimp
The man who shot Liberty Valance
12 Angry men
The verdict
A small island populated by palm trees, surrounded by teal ocean and a blue sky. In the sky, the words 'Stephen Fry's' have been added as well as cartoons of clapperboards. In the sea, the words 'desert island movies' have been added. 6 DVD/ Blu ray films from the library, these are: Gaslight (1940) His girl Friday The life and death of Colonel Blimp The man who shot Liberty Valance 12 Angry men The verdict
November 23, 2025 at 4:30 PM
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With the recent drop in temperatures outside, we are monitoring the heating levels in the library - please do let us know if you have any feedback about the temperature in the library.
Basil (The Library mascot- a soft toy badger) on a bookshelf. He is wearing a knitted wool hat
November 21, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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We've marked Transgender Awareness Week (13 - 19 November) with this display in the Longwall Library - a selection of books and e-books on transgender identities and histories, including non-fiction, memoir, and creative anthologies.
November 19, 2025 at 7:00 PM
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📣📣New exhibition: The Spirit of the Place: Magdalen College and its staff from foundation to the present day 📣📣

Our latest exhibition, celebrating the contributions made by staff to Magdalen’s past and present, is now OPEN.

OPENS TODAY 2-4:30pm in our Old Library.

Online version coming soon!
Poster advertising an archival exhibition, on staff at Magdalen College, Oxford.
November 19, 2025 at 2:16 PM
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Dreams vs Reality
4 books on a library shelf. The two on the left are copies of 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens. The two on the right are copies of 'Hard Times' by Charles Dickens
November 17, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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Oscar Wilde was a big fan of Ellen Terry (Victorian England’s leading Shakespearean actress who lived from 1847–1928). He dedicated his first play, The Duchess of Padua to her. Terry’s opera glasses, pictured here, featured in our recent exhibition ‘Magdalen’s Wilde’ magdalenswilde.magd.ox.ac.uk
Opera glasses in a case. On the bridgem E. TERRY is engraved. Above, text reads: "To whatever character Miss Terry plays she brings the infinite charm of her beauty, and the marvelous grace of her movements and gestures. It is impossible to escape from the sweet tyranny of her personality." Below the glasses, Text reads Oscar Wilde, reviewing Ellen Terry's performance in Olivia at the Lyceum, Dramatic Review
November 15, 2025 at 4:30 PM
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Wellbeing week continues in the library today. Thank you to the person who donated these three puzzles to the library - they should keep us going for a while! We always have a jigsaw on the go in the Longwall Library - on your next study break, help us out and place a few pieces. 🧩
Three boxes containing jigsaw puzzles, on a table. Across the image, a black rectangle has white text reading: I finally finished my jigsaw puzzle- it only took me six months. The box said '2-4 years'
November 14, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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Why did the origami paper refuse to be folded?
Because it didn’t want to crane its neck! 🐦

For Wellbeing Week, we've got lots of mindful activities for you to do, on your next study break - why not have a go at origami? You'll fine some new origami paper, with cute bird designs, in the foyer.
Squares of origami paper with different bird designs, fanned out. One top, a plain blue origami crane.
November 13, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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Wellbeing week continues in the Longwall Library. Here are some staff recommendations of titles to be enjoyed with a hot water bottle and cosy blanket on dark winter evenings. 📚🍂
Pile of books. Atop a sign with autumn leaves and the words 'cosy reads for the changing seasons' Insufficient space to record book titles- contact the library for a list. library.desk@magd.ox.ac.uk
November 12, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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5th week is wellbeing week in the library - and Basil is promoting the ergonomic wrist supports and mouse mats in the Longwall Library readers, kept in the Beckwith reading room.

See the list of equipment here 👉 www.magd.ox.ac.uk/library-and-...
Image of Basil, the library mascot who is a stuffed toy badger, modelling an ergonomic wrist support for desktop, while viewing a screen displaying 'UK Disability History Month 2025' website
November 11, 2025 at 10:01 AM
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Happy 5th Week! It's Wellbeing Week here in the Longwall Library. We've got a range of mindful activities to have a go at, throughout the week. Take a break from your studies and try out some cross stitch. We hope you like the designs we chose, which features foxes and bookshelves 🦊📚
Cross stich bookmark kit, with threads in a range of colours, bookmark guides with foxes and bookshelves on them, and instruction sheets, laid out on a table
November 10, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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The painting was purchased at a car boot sale in Bude, Cornwall, earlier this year. When the purchaser of the lily painting discovered it, they very kindly donated the photograph to our Archives. Good luck to those taking part in today's regatta.
Portrait of four men with a trophy, atop a table. Two men stand behind the table, and two sit on chairs either side of the table. It appears to be in Magdalen College cloisters. Peace lily painting
November 9, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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🚨⚠️ New blog post ⚠️🚨
Unlocking the mysteries of a Magdalen College treasure. Read our latest blog post, written by our lovely volunteer Yanjing, all about our 1665 volume "An Embassy from the East-India Company to the Emperor of China." www.magd.ox.ac.uk/blog/from-tw...
black and white drawing, of a map of China, from the 1665 book "An Embassy from the East-India Company to the Emperor of China." It includes borders and drawings of trees.
November 7, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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Would be much more fun to be a Traitor, though, right? A quote from The Picture of Dorian Gray. #WeeklyWildeWitticism Enjoy the final! #TheTraitorsUK
Sepia photograph of Oscar Wilde, holding a cane. A speech bubble next to him has the words "Her trust makes me faithful, her belief makes me good" inside it
November 6, 2025 at 4:30 PM