Rediscovering the Prefects’ Minute Books

‘Magdalen College School Committee Register. This book is a record of people and events in Magdalen College School, Oxford. It is sacred and inviolable. May he, who defaces it or cuts out or scratches out entries, suffer the damnable curse of the Jackdaw of Rheims.’

And thus begins the six-volume series of prefects’ minute books, a collection of notes and observations on the daily life of MCS that were written between 1881 and 1967. Customarily penned by the Senior Prefect, these entries give an invaluable insight into how pupils of the past experienced MCS.

Alongside a helpful record of the annual school officers for clubs and societies, Lily editors,curators of the Reading Room, and the names of other prefects, the Senior Prefect recorded important events such as notable sporting victories: ‘The football eleven have this season achieved unprecedented successes. The defeat of Bloxham at our hands for the first time in History was accomplished by the team of 1889 whose names are inscribed below. We scored a victory in every school match we played & only 2 goals were kicked against us in school matches.’

Damp had damaged the minute books, but after receiving specialist conservation treatment they have been preserved for generations to come. There is also a plan in place to digitise them in the near future. Although there are only six volumes of these minute books extant, the last entry in the final volume tantalisingly mentions that it is ‘continued in the next book’. If you went to MCS and remember the minute books, or have any insight on this, please do not hesitate to contact the Waynflete Office. We would love to hear your stories.