Magdalen Libraries & Archives

Introduction - The Spirit of the Place Like all Oxford colleges, Magdalen’s story is one in which the President, Fellows, and students loom largest. But the men and women who have made this college their academic home since 1458 have been…

⚠️⚠️⚠️ We're also pleased to advise that the exhibition is also available online NOW spiritoftheplace.magd.ox.ac.uk ⚠️⚠️⚠️

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 ten of the ‘doors’ are open.

Typewritten short story

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.

This extract is from ‘Cup and Bells’, a short story written by a member of Magdalen staff from the 1930s. Inspired by Magdalen’s annual Christmas Eve carol service, it is a comic mystery about the misplacement of the college’s Founder’s Cup. See this, and more, at 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 nine of the ‘doors’ are open.

Books lined up next to each other. The books are: The ballad of Reading Gaol (Magd.Wilde-O. (BAL) 1907); Impressions of America (Magd.Wilde-O. (IMPR) 1906); The portrait of Mr. W.H. (Magd.Wilde-O. (POR) 1901); De profundis (Magd.Wilde-O. (DEP) 1905); Vera; or, the Nihilists. : A drama in a prologue and four acts. (Magd.Wilde-O. (VER)) ; La ballade de la geôle de reading (Magd.Wilde-O. (BAL) 1952); and Poems in prose (Magd.Wilde-O. (POE) 1905) Behind them, bays of bookshelves with a rope blocking off their entrance and a stool at their side - in Magdalen's Old Library

It's not just at Christmas that the library gets gifts. Here we have some lovely editions of Oscar Wilde books which were gifted to us earlier in the year by an Old Member. They were previously owned by our late President, Tony Smith. #Magdvent #WeeklyWildeWitticism

engraving from a poetic life of Jesus, written by Samuel Wesley (1662-1735

The third is another engraving, this time from a poetic life of Jesus, written by Samuel Wesley (1662-1735). Wesley’s son John would go on to found a whole new Church denomination: Methodism.

Shelfmarks: MS Lat. 223, b.15.4, c.9.13

engraving from a 17th century Dutch “picture Bible”, designed to make Jesus’s story accessible to those who couldn’t read

The second scene is an engraving from a 17th century Dutch “picture Bible”, designed to make Jesus’s story accessible to those who couldn’t read.

hand-painted nativity scene on parchment, from Cardinal Wolsey’s gospel lectionary, made in the late 1520s (MS Lat. 223)

The first one is a hand-painted nativity scene on parchment, from Cardinal Wolsey’s gospel lectionary, made in the late 1520s (MS Lat. 223). Wolsey used his enormous power and resources to employ the most sought-after artists of his time.

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 eight of the ‘doors’ are open.

As we get closer to the big day, these images from the Old Library remind us of what Christmas is all about.

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.

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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)]

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, but none of the 'doors' are yet open

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! 🎄🎅🏻🎁

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)

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.

See this, and more, in the Old Library this afternoon, from 2-4:30pm.

Stipulated in this document is provision for a cook, manciple, and porters, all of whom must be men. 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!

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.

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).

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

🐦🐥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!🐦🐥

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

🎬🍿🎥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

Basil (The Library mascot- a soft toy badger) on a bookshelf. He is wearing a knitted wool hat

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.

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.

Poster advertising an archival exhibition, on staff at Magdalen College, Oxford.

📣📣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!

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

Dreams vs Reality

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

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

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'

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. 🧩

Squares of origami paper with different bird designs, fanned out. One top, a plain blue origami crane.

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.

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

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. 📚🍂

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

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-...