Oakeshott (Walter Fraser) Papers, 1926-1986

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Summary

Title:

Walter Fraser Oakeshott papers

Dates:

1926-1986

Creators:

Oakeshott, Walter, 1903-1987

Abstract:

Scholar of Medieval art, distinguished by his work on the 12th-century Winchester Bibles and on Elizabethan England. The papers document much of his work and reflect his lifelong passion for studying and collecting early books and maps. The archive primarily consists of drafts for books, articles, and lectures, along with numerous photographs used for research and the illustration of these publications.

Extent:

5.25 Linear Feet (9 boxes, 1 oversize folder)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Walter Fraser Oakeshott papers, 1926-1986, Getty Research Institute, Research Library, Accession no. 900204.

http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa900204

Background

Scope and content:

Sir Walter Fraser Oakeshott was a scholar of Medieval art, distinguished by his work on the 12th century Winchester Bibles, and Elizabethan England. His career as professor and school administrator included positions as the Headmaster at Winchester College, Rector of Lincoln College, and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. While Assistant Master and librarian at Winchester College, Oakeshott identified the Winchester Malory ms. and went on to study the great Winchester Bible in the cathedral library, which led to a long-term inquiry of the 12th century Winchester school of painting, its sources, and its oeuvre. Oakeshott's interest in book and map collecting led to several other bibliographic discoveries and identifications, some of them relating to Sir Walter Raleigh and his peers. Out of such investigations came many articles and books of both a scholarly and popular nature. The bulk of the material in this archive dates from 1949 to 1986.

The largest portion of the collection contains writings and research files on various subjects, but consists mainly of work on Medieval art historical topics, such as the Winchester Bibles and related material. A second notable group of documents represents Oakeshott's studies on Elizabethan England, largely connected with Sir Walter Raleigh, Essex, and Elizabeth I, and their portrayal in Elizabethan poetry, especially that by Raleigh himself, Edmund Spenser, and Shakespeare. The collection reflects Oakeshott's interests in maps, cosmography, and the history of trade. Oakeshott's involvement in the Oxford stone campaign is represented here by several folders of correspondence, drafts for articles, and photographs documenting the process of restoration of stone buildings at Oxford. The archival material consists mainly of typescripts and ms. drafts for articles, books, and lectures, with many photographs used for research and/or to illustrate publications.

Additionally, the collection contains correspondence Oakeshott received, with copies of many of his replies. The letters are of a professional and personal nature. The archive also contains sermons, addresses, obituaries, and eulogies written by Oakeshott; miscellaneous photos of art from various periods; notebooks, clippings and ephemera; some personal photos; and offprints of articles by other scholars.

Biographical / historical:

Missing Title
Date	Event
1903	Born Nov. 11 to Walter Field Oakeshott, MD, and Kathleen (Fraser) Oakeshott
1924	Received diploma in Classical Moderations from Balliol College, Oxford
1926	Received diploma in Literae Humaniores (Classics) from Balliol College
1928	Married Nöel Rose
1931-1938	Assistant Master at Winchester College
1934	Identified a 15th-century manuscript in Winchester College Library as Malory's Morte d'Arthur
1936-1937	Released for membership in Pilgrim Trust Unemployment Enquiry
1939-1946	High Master of St. Paul's School
1946-1954	Headmaster of Winchester College
1949-1976	Trustee of the Pilgrim Trust
1953-1972	Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford
1956	Rhind Lecturer at Edinburgh University
1960-1961	Master, Skinners' Company
1962-1964	Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University
1964-1966	Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University
1966-1968	President, Bibliographical Society
1971	Fellow, British Academy
1972	Honorary Fellow of Lincoln College
1980	Knighted
1987	Died Oct. 13

Acquisition information:

Acquired in 1990.

Processing information:

The collection was first processed and described in 1990. Laurie Pesheck began re-processing this archive in May 1994 and completed this finding aid and a new catalog description in July 1994.

Arrangement:

The archive is organized in five series: Series I: Personal and professional papers, 1949-1986; Series II: Medieval art, ca. 1936-1972; Series III: Renaissance and Elizabethan studies, ca. 1960-1986; Series IV: Various studies, undated; Series V: Assorted printed material, 1953-1984.

Physical location:

Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the catalog record for this collection. Click here for the access policy.

Rules or conventions:

archives, personal papers, and manuscripts

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: Laurie Pesheck.
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-10-21 08:38:12 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:: Open for use by qualified researchers.
Terms of access:: Contact Library Rights and Reproductions.