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Latest College News
Stay up to date with the latest from Magdalene, including College announcements, academic achievements, alumni updates, feature articles, and highlights from recent events.
Dorothea Richards
Dorothy Pilley, pioneering climber and sharp observer, defied convention with courage and wit. Her legacy is vividly explored by Dan Richards in Climbing Days.
Land’s End to John o’Groats Astride a Charging Bullet
Fred Spaven (2006) built an electric motorbike from a 1961 Royal Enfield and rode it from Land’s End to John o’Groats, filming a documentary about sustainable transport along the way.
Samuel Pepys and Hans Sloane
Hans Sloane lent rare books and scientific instruments to Samuel Pepys, visited him regularly, and later performed the autopsy after Pepys’s death in 1703.
Magdalene wins Gold Green Impact Award
Magdalene has received a Gold Cambridge Green Impact Award, recognising the College’s strong commitment to sustainability through energy, waste, and biodiversity initiatives.
Charles Kingsley
The 12th June 2019 is the 200th anniversary of Charles Kingsley’s birth. To mark the occasion, Dr. Gareth Atkins, Fellow of Queens’ College Cambridge, has written an article for Magdalene College Libraries’ blog.
John Herbert Butler Hollings (1887—1914)
Lieutenant J.H.B. Hollings, admitted to Magdalene in 1906, was killed in action at Messines in 1914. His grave was formally identified in 1992, nearly 80 years later.
Magdalene Matters: Issue 49
Issue 49 of Magdalene Matters features alumni stories, College updates, research highlights, the 500th Anniversary of Hall, and upcoming events, with articles from Kuang, Spaven, Dobke and more.
Up close with the only surviving wonder of the ancient world
Professor Michael Scott writes about getting up close with the Great Pyramid of Giza, the only surviving wonder of the ancient world.
Map of Rome Part 2
The Pepys Library's 1625 Map of Rome by Maggi and Maupin is now digitised and available via CASVA’s Accademia di San Luca project.
Mary Astell
Magdalene holds books by Mary Astell and from her own library, shedding light on her literary circle, feminist legacy, and connection to the College.
Courtship with the Ferrars
Reverend Thomas Ferrar’s 1690s courtship notes reveal his efforts to win Martha Goddard’s heart, blending poetry, prayer, and planning in pursuit of marriage.
Archaeological Research in India
From Magdalene to the Indus Civilisation, PhD researcher Alessandro Ceccarelli studies the crafts and technologies of the Indus Civilisation, focusing on ancient pottery production and materials.