On a crisp January day, with the first signs of winter aconites and snowdrops appearing and the mist hanging low in the air, I took a stroll around Addison’s Walk with Dr Richard Allen, Archivist and Records Manager at Magdalen. We discussed his work with our vast medieval archive, his new book, and what it’s like to work in one of the most picturesque Colleges at Oxford.
This conversation was originally part of the Addison’s Talks podcast – listen to more episodes here
So, Richard, what’s one of the best things about working in a place like Magdalen?
The historical richness here is just mind-blowing. Although Magdalen College was founded in the mid-15th century, we inherit records that go back to the early 12th century. Our founder’s endowment means we’re sitting on one of the richest archives in Oxford. The oldest records relate to the college’s vast estate portfolio, which stretches across 20 English counties. We hold over 13,000 medieval charters – the largest collection of its type in the city and among the largest in the country. It’s extraordinary to be able to work with that, especially as both an archivist and a historian.
And it must be nice to work somewhere as beautiful as Magdalen, too, right?
That too, yes. I mean, you get inured to it in that you see the Kingfisher flying along here, and you’re like, that’s the Kingfisher again. I got accosted by the Badger the other day coming out of my office. I was a bit too slow with my mobile phone to get a Bluesky picture for it, but I’ve seen all the wildlife along here. The only thing I haven’t seen is the otters, and I even saw a cormorant yesterday for the first time.
That’s amazing. It must be great to walk through Addison’s Walk every day as part of your commute, too.
Yes, I pass through here two or three times a day. The archives are spread across three sites, with the majority located on the main college site and the more modern records from the 18th century onwards housed at Holywell. Our archives stretch over about a kilometre of shelving, so every time I walk past Addison’s on my way to lunch or elsewhere, I’m reminded of the history and the wealth of material we have here.
Although, I’ve only done this walk complete three times in my entire time here. So, if we do it today it’ll be the fourth!
Well, I’m so happy to bring you on the walk! Your research intersects with the archives quite a lot, doesn’t it?
Yes, my PhD was in medieval history, particularly the period from the early 10th to the early 13th century. I came to Oxford in 2009 as a Junior Research Fellow at St John’s College, but the intersection of my work and the archives here is in the medieval charters we hold. Though the charters are specific to Oxford and the surrounding areas, the format and questions I ask of them are the same as those in my research on Normandy. It’s incredible to be able to work with such a large and varied collection.
Speaking of your work, I hear you have a new book out. Tell us about it!
Yes! The book is about a 13th-century document called The Aynho Cartulary. This is a medieval transcription of original documents related to a small hospital in Northamptonshire. It’s a very unusual record because it’s a roll rather than a book – like a scroll. No one had studied it before, and as I worked on it, I realized it was far more interesting than I had initially thought. The book is titled The Aynho Cartulary and its Documentary Culture, Study, Text and Translation and is available now from Boydell Press.
That sounds fascinating! What do you think we can learn from archives, especially when it comes to understanding past societies?
The Magdalen Archive is particularly good for shedding light on everyday people in the medieval period. Because we’ve inherited records from a medieval hospital, we have a lot of documents related to the townspeople of Oxford. We also hold many records from ordinary folk, not just kings and queens. One of my favourite examples is a 13th-century agreement where a newly married couple decides to live with the husband’s family, with the stipulation that if the father-in-law finds his son-in-law unbearable, he can throw him out. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of family life, which would still be familiar to us today.
That’s incredible. Have you ever had an emotional connection to something you’ve found in the archives?
I wouldn’t say it’s about specific objects, but there’s definitely a sense of intimacy with the people from history you encounter through their papers. I worked on a collection at another college related to a former master and his widow, and although I never met him, I got to know him through his correspondence, research notes, and diaries. One of the most powerful moments for me was when I encountered the Jewish identity card of Guenter Treitel, a fellow who had fled Nazi Germany. The card, stamped by the Third Reich, really brought home the personal, historical impact.
What are some common misconceptions people have about archives and archivists?
A big one is that we’re just like librarians – which we’re not. While we often share the same space, archivists and librarians have very different roles. Think of it like the fire brigade and the police – both might be at the scene, but only the fire brigade is going to put the fire out. Another misconception is that archives are dusty. In reality, if an archive is dusty, it means the archivist isn’t doing their job properly! Of course, there will always be some dust, but we work hard to keep it to a minimum.
So, what advice would you give to someone who wants to get into working with archives?
If you’re an undergraduate and think you might enjoy working with archives, my advice is to get involved early. In order to do a postgraduate course in archives and records management you need to show that you have archival experience. Volunteering at local archives is a great way to start. Here at Magdalen, we regularly take on volunteers, like Caitlin, who helps with small but important tasks. It’s a great way to gain practical experience, and it will look excellent on your CV when applying for a postgraduate course in archives.
Finally, If you could take anyone on an Addison’s Walk, who would it be?
That’s a tough one! I think I’d like to take one of the bishops I’ve studied – John of Ivry, the Archbishop of Rouen in the mid-11th century. According to the sources, he was a pugnacious character, so it would be fascinating to meet him. Or, if we’re talking someone more famous, I’d take William the Conqueror. He left such a legacy on the city, especially with the castle mound, which was built after the conquest. It would be amazing to show him around and talk about how his actions reshaped Oxford.
Thanks so much to Richard for coming on a walk around Addison’s with us. It was great to hear about his new book, the Magdalen archive, and how this was his first time all the way around the loop. If you’d like to hear more from our academics, you can find all the Addison’s Talks podcasts on Spotify and Youtube.