Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Oakeshott, Walter, 1903-1987
- Abstract:
- Scholar of Medieval art, distinguished by his work on the 12th-century Winchester Bibles and on Elizabethan England. The papers document much of his work and reflect his lifelong passion for studying and collecting early books and maps. The archive primarily consists of drafts for books, articles, and lectures, along with numerous photographs used for research and the illustration of these publications.
- Extent:
- 5.25 linear feet (9 boxes, 1 oversize folder)
- Language:
- Collection material is in English
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Sir Walter Fraser Oakeshott was a scholar of Medieval art, distinguished by his work on the 12th century Winchester Bibles, and Elizabethan England. His career as professor and school administrator included positions as the Headmaster at Winchester College, Rector of Lincoln College, and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. While Assistant Master and librarian at Winchester College, Oakeshott identified the Winchester Malory ms. and went on to study the great Winchester Bible in the cathedral library, which led to a long-term inquiry of the 12th century Winchester school of painting, its sources, and its oeuvre. Oakeshott's interest in book and map collecting led to several other bibliographic discoveries and identifications, some of them relating to Sir Walter Raleigh and his peers. Out of such investigations came many articles and books of both a scholarly and popular nature. The bulk of the material in this archive dates from 1949 to 1986.
The largest portion of the collection contains writings and research files on various subjects, but consists mainly of work on Medieval art historical topics, such as the Winchester Bibles and related material. A second notable group of documents represents Oakeshott's studies on Elizabethan England, largely connected with Sir Walter Raleigh, Essex, and Elizabeth I, and their portrayal in Elizabethan poetry, especially that by Raleigh himself, Edmund Spenser, and Shakespeare. The collection reflects Oakeshott's interests in maps, cosmography, and the history of trade. Oakeshott's involvement in the Oxford stone campaign is represented here by several folders of correspondence, drafts for articles, and photographs documenting the process of restoration of stone buildings at Oxford. The archival material consists mainly of typescripts and ms. drafts for articles, books, and lectures, with many photographs used for research and/or to illustrate publications.
Additionally, the collection contains correspondence Oakeshott received, with copies of many of his replies. The letters are of a professional and personal nature. The archive also contains sermons, addresses, obituaries, and eulogies written by Oakeshott; miscellaneous photos of art from various periods; notebooks, clippings and ephemera; some personal photos; and offprints of articles by other scholars.
Arrangement noteThe archive is organized in five series: Series I: Personal and professional papers, 1949-1986; Series II: Medieval art, ca. 1936-1972; Series III: Renaissance and Elizabethan studies, ca. 1960-1986; Series IV: Various studies, undated; Series V: Assorted printed material, 1953-1984
- Biographical / historical:
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Date Event 1903 Born Nov. 11 to Walter Field Oakeshott, MD, and Kathleen (Fraser) Oakeshott 1924 Received diploma in Classical Moderations from Balliol College, Oxford 1926 Received diploma in Literae Humaniores (Classics) from Balliol College 1928 Married Nöel Rose 1931-1938 Assistant Master at Winchester College 1934 Identified a 15th-century manuscript in Winchester College Library as Malory's Morte d'Arthur 1936-1937 Released for membership in Pilgrim Trust Unemployment Enquiry 1939-1946 High Master of St. Paul's School 1946-1954 Headmaster of Winchester College 1949-1976 Trustee of the Pilgrim Trust 1953-1972 Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford 1956 Rhind Lecturer at Edinburgh University 1960-1961 Master, Skinners' Company 1962-1964 Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University 1964-1966 Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University 1966-1968 President, Bibliographical Society 1971 Fellow, British Academy 1972 Honorary Fellow of Lincoln College 1980 Knighted 1987 Died Oct. 13 - Acquisition information:
- Acquired in 1990.
- Physical location:
- Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the catalog record for this collection. Click here for the access policy.
- Rules or conventions:
- Archives, Personal Papers, and Manuscripts
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
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1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100Los Angeles, CA 90049-1688, US
- Contact:
- (310) 440-7390