MC:PR20 Papers of Henry Clerke (President 1672-87)
Henry Clerke (1621/2-1687) was President of Magdalen 1672–1687. He matriculated from Magdalen Hall in 1638. Clerke spent the rest of his life in Magdalen College. He obtained demyship in 1639, a BA in 1641, an MA in 1644. Clerke was college bursar in 1653, 1656, and 1662. He held a fellowship from 1642 to 1667. Clerke held the office of vice-president in 1655 and in 1663. Clerke was the first member of the Royal Society from Magdalen College, in October 1667. He was elected president on 5 March 1672 and shortly after took holy orders in order to fully qualify for the office. He was made vice-chancellor in 1676.
The only papers of Clerke’s in the College’s archives are this collection of notebooks and related papers, which were given to Magdalen at an unknown date from an unknown source. Clerke’s notebooks contain, in diary form, numerous memoranda about College disputes and administration and also estate matters, 1684–1686. Macray refers to this collection as ‘President Clerke’ Notebooks’.
Catalogued by Tracy Wilkinson in October 2004.
MC:PR20/MS1 President Clerke’s Notebooks
