A Man with a Plan: William Waynflete and the Provision of Books for Magdalen College Library

This article examines the meticulous planning and design of Magdalen College Library, established in the fifteenth century by William Waynflete, bishop of Winchester. Using documentary evidence, the study highlights Waynflete’s extensive attention to detail, particularly regarding his substantial donation of at least eight hundred books to the library’s founding. Whilst previous scholarship has documented Waynflete’s architectural ambitions for his library, there has been little focus on the selection of the founding collection, as no inventory from its earliest years has survived. The article challenges assessments suggesting that Waynflete’s collection lacked a cohesive plan or that his gift could not have included as many as eight hundred books. Instead, it advocates for a more optimistic interpretation of Waynflete’s intentions, asserting that contemporary accounts of the eight hundred figure should be taken seriously and that he likely curated the collection to align with his educational objectives and vision for the college. By analysing surviving books, archival documentation, and Waynflete’s potential influence on benefactions, this study reconstructs the typology of books that might have composed Magdalen’s founding collection, shedding light on the intellectual environment he aimed to establish. The findings indicate that Waynflete’s ambitions extended beyond architectural grandeur, reflecting a deliberate effort to ensure the library served as a vital resource for the academic pursuits of Magdalen scholars and as a cornerstone of the college’s educational mission.