Lord Melvyn Bragg was our honoured guest at Trinity term's Warden Welcomes event
We were pleased to welcome our alumnus and Honorary Fellow back to Wadham.
Visitors made some surprising discoveries on a walking tour of Oxford College libraries.
On 28 September, we displayed some 17th-century broadsides, or public information posters of the time, as part of a free walking tour exhibition with six other Oxford College libraries on the theme of 'hidden strengths'.
The colleges showcased some fascinating items that you might not necessarily expect to find in a library, starting with a brief introduction in Lincoln College Library. The exhibitions were open to the public and visitors collected a custom-designed map and souvenir bookmark and before setting off to visit the seven libraries. The focus of Wadham's display was Broadsides & Accompanying Films and we invited visitors to:
"Step into the world of revolutionary England and examine a selection of political broadsides issued between the years 1640 and 1680 by the King or by Parliament and the Lords. Discover how those governing the country during this tumultuous time communicated with the common man and woman."
The themes of our fellow colleges were:
- William Morris at Exeter
- Unexpected Languages at Jesus
- Plays and Drama at Lincoln
- Modern Book Art at Merton
- Clothing & Textiles at Magdalen
- Unexpected Items at St Edmund Hall
Thank you to our Librarian, Tim Kirtley, Rare Books cataloguer, Alison Felstead, and to the Wadham alum who gifted the displayed items to the College in 2017 and 2024. Thanks also to all the college library teams who took part and to all our visitors. Find out more on the Hidden Strengths website.
