Joint Publications
Joint Publications from the women's colleges
A selection of publications produced by the women's colleges in collaboration
The Fritillary
The Fritillary was a magazine published jointly by the Oxford women’s colleges between 1894 and 1931, in addition to the various magazines produced by the individual colleges. The first issue appeared in March of 1894 with a decorative cover design by Mary Whelton of Lady Margaret Hall, featuring a drawing of Magdalen Bridge and College with an additional sketch of the spires of St Mary’s University church and Christ Church Cathedral. In the forefront is a group of the eponymous fritillaries, with another entwined about the title. In addition to literary offerings, the magazine also carried reports from each of the colleges concerning news and events together with reports of the college and inter-collegiate sport and leisure societies.
In June 1910, the original design was replaced, in stark contrast, with a plain cover, featuring only the magazine’s name and date. According to the editorial, “suggestions for reform emanated primarily, not only from the judgment of the editorial body but also from the prevailing opinions among the subscribers to the paper” but the change to the cover was the only definite outcome of the suggestions. The Fritillary was strongly suffragist and the issue of women’s suffrage became more apparent in the years leading up to the opening of degrees to women in 1920.
In December 1923, it changed again – “Here, with new scenery and effects, is Fritillary”. It now incorporated a design of three contemporary women in an uncertain activity – possibly dancing or walking on a windy day. It also featured a small seated figure, writing with a quill pen, on the back cover and ceased to carry an issue number. Apart from a few exceptions and the dropping of the prefix ‘The’ in March 1924, this design continued until 1927. At this point, the number of adverts sharply increases and, by 1930, Fritillary employed an advertising agent.
The magazine was produced termly until 1926, when two issues per term were published and, from Summer 1927, the magazine finally reverted once again to a plain cover with issue numbers being reinstated from Oct 1929. The last issue published appears to be that of 16th June 1931 though there is nothing in that issue to suggest that it would be the last.
An article on The Fritillary by Kristin Ewins can be found in Notes and Queries, March 2008.
We are pleased to make available below all the extant copies held in Oxford by the ex-women’s colleges – most of the remaining issues (apart from a number from 1919-1921) can be found at the Bodleian Library (shown in italics).
Issues
1909 Mar 1909 Jun 1909 Dec
1925 Mar 1925 Jun 1925 Nov 1925 Nov 28
1926 Feb 13 1926 Mar 6 1926 May 22 1926 Jun 12 1926 Nov 1926 Dec 4
1927 Feb 12 1927 Mar 5 1927 May 21 1927 Summer 1927 Nov 5 1927 Dec 7
1928 Feb 18 1928 Mar 10 1928 Jun 2 1928 Nov 10 1928 Dec 1
1929 Feb 9 1929 Mar 9 1929 May 18 1929 Jun 8 1929 Oct 26 1929 Nov 9 1929 Nov 23 1929 Dec 3
1930 Feb 1 1930 Feb 11 1930 Feb 25 1930 Mar 11 1930 May 10 1930 May 24 1930 Jun 7
1930 Jun 20 1930 Oct 24 1930 Nov 7 1930 Nov 21 1930 Dec 5
1931 Jan 31 1931 Feb 14 1931 Feb 28 1931 Mar 10 1931 May 5 1931 May 19 1931 Jun 2
1931 Jun 16