PLAGUE! at Magdalen

16 February 2023

We are delighted to announce that the current exhibition on display in the Old Library has been converted to an online exhibition for the permanent enjoyment of all!

From bubonic plague to Covid-19, Magdalen College has been impacted by dozens of epidemics throughout its 564-year history. Through its rich library and archives, this exhibition explores the college’s experience of—and responses to—epidemic diseases, from its founding in 1458 to the present day.

Epidemics have left a lasting mark on Magdalen and on wider Oxford. This exhibition shares stories of Magdalen’s experience of epidemics, showcasing manuscript and print material on the history of plague, smallpox, cholera, typhoid, STDs, Covid-19, and other diseases.

Curated by Dr Michelle Pfeffer and Dr Richard Allen, with Anne Chesher and Leanne Grainger