Corpus Christi College was founded in 1517 by Richard Fox, Bishop of Winchester. It was established for twenty fellows and twenty scholars, principally from the counties and dioceses with which Fox had associations, namely where he owned land or had been bishop (Bath and Wells, Exeter, Durham, and Winchester). The number of places was increased following university reform in the 1850s. Women were first admitted in 1974.
The archives comprise administrative records of the college, its estates, and papers created by a few members. Records of the college proper begin with deeds of the site of the college, dating from 1513, accounts, which start in 1521, and decisions of the governing body, which start in 1748. Records of college estates include deeds, surveys, court rolls and maps, and date from the thirteenth century onwards. The admissions of fellows and scholars are recorded from 1517 but there was no official record of commoners until c.1850.
Archivist: Mr. Julian Reid (Mondays and Tuesdays only)
Assistant Archivist: Mrs. Harriet Patrick (Tuesdays and Wednesdays only)
Opening hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9.30-1.00 and 2.15-4.45 (by appointment only).
Address: Corpus Christi College, Merton Street, Oxford OX1 4JF
Phone: 01865 276717
E-mail: archives@ccc.ox.ac.uk
Web: http://www.ccc.ox.ac.uk/Special-collections/
Further reading:
Thomas Charles-Edwards and Julian Reid, Corpus Christi College, Oxford: A History (2017)
Thomas Fowler, The History of Corpus Christi College (Oxford, 1893);
JG Milne, The Early History of Corpus Christi College (Oxford, 1946);
GRM Ward, The Foundation Statutes of Bishop Fox for Corpus Christi College in the University of Oxford, A.D. 1517 (London, 1843).
College Founder, Benefactors and Presidents
Ed. PS and HM Allen, Letters of Richard Fox (Oxford, 1929);
Alfred Mumford, Hugh Oldham 1452(?)-1519: Bishop of Exeter, Principal Benefactor of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and Founder of the Manchester Grammar School (London, 19--);
H.M. Allen, Letters of P.S. Allen (London, 1939);
Richard Symonds, The Fox, the Bees and the Pelican: Worthies and Noteworthies of Corpus Christi College, Oxford (Oxford, 2002);
Richard Symonds, Daring to be Wise: More Worthies and Noteworthies of Corpus Christi College, Oxford (Oxford, 2004);
Richard Symonds, Raising the Ladder: Further Worthies and Noteworthies of Corpus Christi College, Oxford (Oxford, 2008).
College Students
The Pelican Register, 1864-1880;
C.C.C. War Service 1914-18 and 1939-45 (Oxford, 19--);
PA Hunt and NA Flanagan, Corpus Christi College Oxford Biographical Register, 1880-1974 (1988);
A Nockels, Corpus Christi College Oxford: supplement to the Biographical Register 1974-1991 (1992).
