'By Herself': rediscovering the history of women at St John's

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To coincide with the Women's Festival held in 2018, the Library created a new exhibition on the role of women at St John's through the centuries since its foundation in 1555.

Library Women exhibition Feb 18 poster Sarah Holmes‘By herself’: rediscovering the history of women at St John’s College, Oxford used books and documents from the Library and the Archive, and paintings from around College, to offer a window into the real, active ways in which women participated in university life in the centuries leading up to their acceptance as official members. 

Despite social barriers, women influenced the growth of the College and of higher education for women through their roles as benefactors, creators, educators, and more, before they were finally admitted as students and fellows towards the end of the 20th century. 

Read about the inspiring women featured in the exhibition in fascinating detail on the Library blog.