To those who celebrate Christmas – and to those who don’t – we hope you have a wonderful day. Quoted in 'Aspects of Wilde' by Vincent O’Sullivan, published by Constable and Company. #WeeklyWildeWitticism

We’re rounding off our #Magdvent calendar with another snowy scene #FromTheArchives. So, while we don’t have reindeer, we can give you snowdeer! This photo of the deer park covered in snow was taken in 1966.

For today’s #Magdvent, we have: the Library team! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!🎄🎁🎇

Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly. This illustration of a Holly tree, drawn by Alexander Hunter, comes from Silva: or, a discourse of forest-trees by John Evelyn published in 1776 housed in our Old Library (ref. R.12.9). At Magdalen, we have some holly growing in the Fellows’ Garden. #Magdvent

Did you attend this year’s Carols by Candlelight? First organised by John Bloxam in the 1840s, Magdalen’s choir has a long tradition of singing carols and giving readings at Christmastime services.

We’re sure that lots of children will be getting teddy bears for Christmas. Let’s hope they’re as well-loved as this teddy bear, Archie, who belonged to Magdalen alumnus John Betjeman. Archie returned to Magdalen for a visit. Find out more in our new exhibition: archieandthepoet.magd.ox.ac.uk

Basil has a Christmas-cracker-worthy joke for you (i.e. a terrible one)! #Magdvent

This Christmas card was sent to JCR Steward, Joseph W. Gynes, by a former student Samuel Whitnall in 1927. What it lacks in design, it makes up for in sentiment. Whitnall asks recipients to think of him, and other distant friends, fondly in their prayers and reflections – which he will do in return.

Yesterday’s post was all about Austen. Today’s is about another hugely influential British artist: the painter J. M. W. Turner. Turner and Austen were both born in 1775 – 250 years ago. Magdalen is fortunate to own these Turner drawings which are on display in the library, to mark the anniversary.

Only out of context could the words of Caroline Bingley make so much sense! Here at Magdalen Library, we have been enjoying the explosion of Austen-related books published this year to mark the great author’s 250th birthday. Austen was born #OnThisDay in 1775. Take a look at our book display.

Here’s a list of what Basil will be watching over the Christmas vacation. While we don’t have any of these classic badger tails on DVD, we do have plenty of festive favourites available for you to borrow in our film collection. #Magdvent

We certainly wouldn’t mind getting these books for Christmas. These rare editions of works by Oscar Wilde were all previously given as gifts. They feature in our new exhibition: Wild About Printing. #WeeklyWildeWitticism wildaboutprinting.magd.ox.ac.uk

This photograph of a snowy High Street was likely taken in the 1870s. It’s from an album which belonged to Jules Guggenheim, a Hungarian émigré, who had a photography studio at 56 High Street between the 1860s and 1880s.

For today’s #Magdvent, we have a Christmas Eve concert programme from 1952. This copy is from the papers of Harold Boult, who was a Lay Clerk at Magdalen between 1932-1958. During his time at the College, he sang bass decani in the College Choir – and would have performed in this very concert.

For today’s #Magdvent we have our Archives Team: Richard, Emily, and Claudia. Together, they manage one of the largest and richest archives of any Oxbridge college, with records stretching over more than a kilometre of shelving and dating from the 1120s to the present day.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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]

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

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! 😋😋😋

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.

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! 🎄🎅🏻🎁

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.

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).

🐦🐥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!🐦🐥

🎬🍿🎥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

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.

📣📣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!

Dreams vs Reality

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

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. 🧩

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.

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. 📚🍂

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-...

Happy 5th Week! It's Wellbeing Week here in the Longwall Library. We've got a range of mindful activities to have a go at, throughout the week. Take a break from your studies and try out some cross stitch. We hope you like the designs we chose, which features foxes and bookshelves 🦊📚

Today is the annual #AutumnFours. 🚣♀️🚣The Autumn Fours Rowing Race is a side-by-side coxed rowing regatta that takes place in Oxford during (you guessed it) the autumn. This photo, from 1878, (archival accession ref. 2025/63) shows the winning team from Magdalen

🚨⚠️ New blog post ⚠️🚨 Unlocking the mysteries of a Magdalen College treasure. Read our latest blog post, written by our lovely volunteer Yanjing, all about our 1665 volume "An Embassy from the East-India Company to the Emperor of China." www.magd.ox.ac.uk/blog/from-tw...

Would be much more fun to be a Traitor, though, right? A quote from The Picture of Dorian Gray. #WeeklyWildeWitticism Enjoy the final! #TheTraitorsUK

Thank you to those who came to our Meet A Rare Book, where George was talking about Jane Barker's manuscript of poetry. This manuscript is very special as it was handwritten by the author and is truly a working document.

Magdalen has won University Challenge four times to date: in 1996-7, 1997-8, 2003-4, and 2010-2011. After the third victory, we were allowed to keep this trophy. It's displayed in the Longwall Library. Let's hope for similar success in this evening's match, where Magdalen take on Darwin College.

Stuck for something to do this Halloween? We’ve got a few favourites from our popular 'Witches in History' collection, plus new books on magic and the moon. 💫🌙 If you’re in the mood for a movie, we’ve round up our best films from our DVD collection. On display in the Longwall Library foyer. 🎥🍿

Happy Halloween! Here we have a German edition of Oscar Wilde's short story, The Canterville Ghost (ref. Magd.Wilde-O. (GES)) illustrated by Rüdiger Stoye.

Basil has a Halloween joke for you 🎃👹👻

The actor Robert Hardy was born #OnThisDay 100 years ago. Hardy was a Demy student at Magdalen in 1944 and 1947-8. Here we have a programme for a Magdalen Players production of "The Flies", by Jean-Paul Sartre, performed at Magdalen from 28 May to 2 June 1948 in which Hardy took a leading role.

This week is #GreenLibrariesWeek2025. We've put together a book display showcasing titles which explore the relationships between humans and the natural world. 💚🌿🌱🍀