Joint Publications

Joint Publications from the women's colleges

A selection of publications produced by the women's colleges in collaboration

 

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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

1894 Mar     1894 Jun     1894 Dec

1895 Mar     1895 Jun     1895 Dec

1896 Mar     1896 Jun     1896 Dec

1897 Mar     1897 Jun     1897 Dec

1898 Mar     1898 Jun     1898 Dec

1899 Mar     1899 Jun     1899 Dec

1900 Mar     1900 Jun     1900 Dec

1901 Mar     1901 Jun     1901 Dec

1902 Mar     1902 Jun     1902 Dec

1903 Mar     1903 Jun     1903 Dec

1904 Mar     1904 Jun     1904 Dec

1905 Mar     1905 Jun     1905 Dec

1906 Mar     1906 Jun     1906 Dec

1907 Mar     1907 Jun     1907 Dec

1908 Mar     1908 Jun     1908 Dec

1909 Mar     1909 Jun     1909 Dec

1910 Mar     1910 Jun     1910 Dec

1911 Mar     1911 Jun     1911 Dec

1912 Mar     1912 Jun     1912 Dec

1913 Mar     1913 Jun     1913 Nov

1914 Mar     1914 Jun     1914 Dec

1915 Mar     1915 Jun     1915 Dec

1916 Mar     1916 Jun     1916 Dec

1917 Mar     1917 Jun     1917 Dec

1918 Mar     1918 Jun     1918 Dec

1919 Mar     1919 Jun

1921 Jun     1921 Dec

1922 Mar     1922 Jun     1922 Dec

1923 Mar     1923 Jun     1923 Dec

1924 Mar     1924 Jun     1924 Nov

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