As well as collecting the College’s official records, the Archives are also home to the papers of individuals connected with Magdalen, as well as to items which illustrate a cross-section of College life that might not normally survive as part of the official record.
The Archivist and Assistant Archivist are therefore always very happy to hear from those who think they may have items (both printed and digital) that they would like to donate to the Archives (archives@magd.ox.ac.uk). This might include, but is by no means limited to, the following: photographs (matriculation groups, individuals, sporting and college events, etc.); records of Magdalen clubs and societies; ephemera (menu cards, programmes, newsletters, Freshers’ guides, etc.); correspondence; reminiscences; notebooks and diaries; lecture notes and essays.
Examples of recent deposits include:
- Simon Haslam (C 1975-1978): student letters home, letters from family, JCR newsletters
- John Mansfield Weatherby (C 1928-31): photographs, maps, diary, and ephemera associated with Oxford University expedition to Lapland (Long Vac 1930)
- David Marquand (D 1954-57): lecture and tutorial notes, notebooks, correspondence, photographs, and ephemera (posters, issues of ‘The Oxford Clarion’, ‘The Isis’)
- Alison Carter (C 1984-87): photographs, programmes and menu cards, student yearbook, extended essay
- Kenneth Everard (C 1944-45; E 1945-48): student memorabilia, including photographs (mainly Boat Club), correspondence, pocket diaries, and printed ephemera (menu cards, boat race cards)
- Richard Edward Knight Thesiger (C 1930-33): dramatic society play programmes
- Jeremy Leigh-Pemberton (C 1954-57): 33rpm/78rpm recordings, including performances by Magdalen College Music Society, and Dudley Moore’s (OS 1954-57) first ever jazz recording (1956)
- Stuart Hamilton (RS 1971-74): student correspondence home to family in Australia
- Richard Wilson Pfaff (RS 1957-59, 1962-63): student letters to family at home in USA, including college map traced and drawn on toilet paper
- Thomas Mills (C 1979-82): essays as a student of History
Further information about what the Archives collects, and the conditions under which material will be kept and accessed, can be found in our Collection Development and Acquisition Policy.
We aim to assist donors in finding the most appropriate home for their records and may redirect donors towards another archive repository if their records would be better suited there.
The Archives will not normally purchase any material, except in exceptional circumstances.
