The Library has a substantial collection of the literary and research outputs of Somervillians (current and past) fondly (if unofficially) referred to as the Old Somervillians Collection. To maintain a current and thriving collection of monographs, we welcome donations from Somervillian authors. Volumes cited in undergraduate reading lists, or which support the studies of our students, we will also purchase.… Read More »Old Somervillians Collection
Ethel A Jones Peter Greenham, (1909–1992) Date: Unknown Medium: Oil on Canvas Donor: Unknown About the sitter Ethel Jones originally studied at Somerville from 1900 to 1903. She later held the Mary Somerville Research Fellowship. (Somerville for Women p94: Re WWI: ‘College raised a subscription to enable the Mary Somerville research fellow, Ethel Jones, to undertake a short training at… Read More »Ethel A Jones
Daphne Park Henry Mee, (1955-) Date: 2009 Medium: Oil on canvas Donor: The artist in 2009 About the sitter Daphne Park (1921–2010); Principal 1980–89. Came to Somerville in 1940 to read French. Worked for the SOE in WWII; eventually became a senior MI6 controller in Hanoi, Moscow, the Congo and Zambia. She achieved the rank of Controller Western Hemisphere in… Read More »Daphne Park
[Need image] Vera Farnell Hubert Andrew Freeth, (1912–1986) Date: 1951 Medium: Chalk Donor: By subscription in 1952 About the sitter Vera Farnell originally studied French at Somerville (1911–14). She later became Tutor in English and French. She held many College offices during her long association with Somerville, including that of Principal’s Secretary under Emily Penrose, later becoming Librarian, and Somerville’s… Read More »Vera Farnell
[Need image] Hilda Lockhart Lorimer James Arden Grant, (1887–1973) Date: 1958 Medium: Chalk Donor: Vera Brittain About the sitter Vera Brittain described Miss Lorimer as ‘one of the most brilliantly eccentric of women dons.’ A Scot who came to Somerville from Girton, Cambridge in 1896, she was a classicist and keen ornithologist. Principal’s Secretary Hilda Bryant recollected: ‘Miss Lorimer often… Read More »Hilda Lockhart Lorimer
Mary Somerville in classical attire Lawrence MacDonald (1799–1878) Date: 1844 Medium: Marble Donor: Major Fairfax-Lucy, 1961 Made in Rome in 1844, this work follows the classicising trend of sculpture at the time: the treatment was very smooth and subjects were depicted wearing classical garments including togas or laurel wreaths. Jacob Epstein’s 1932 First Portrait of Louise near the dining hall… Read More »Mary Somerville, 1844
Self-portrait, seated in an armchair writing Mary Somerville, ‘with the help of the engraver, Mr Dick.’ Date: Unknown Medium: Oil on panel Donor: Lt Col J Ramsay Fairfax, 1958 Mary Somerville attended the Edinburgh academy of painter Alexander Nasmyth, which he had opened to ladies. With interests in architecture and engineering as well as portrait and landscape painting, Nasmyth placed… Read More »Self-portrait
Standing at the noticeboard in the main quad, look towards the Radcliffe Observatory (Grade I listed). To the left is the Stephen A Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, opened at the end of 2025. The development of the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter puts College in a newly strategic position in relation to the University – quite the opposite of how Somerville… Read More »The ‘heart’ of Somerville College: future and past
Provenance The collection was given to the college by his daughters Audrey Kennett (Somerville 1924-27) and Monica Withers in 1976. Using the collection The finding aid for the Percy Withers Collection can be found here. Please contact the archives to make an appointment to consult the collection or complete the application to consult the archives form which can be found here. … Read More »Percy Withers Collection
Violet Paget (1856-1935) was an author and critic. Under the pseudonym Vernon Lee, she published over 40 volumes on aesthetics, the Italian Renaissance, music, critical theory and supernatural fiction. Born in France to English parents, Paget was the half-sister of poet Eugene Jacob Lee-Hamilton; he was a great influence on her and she adopted one of his names in her… Read More »Vernon Lee Collection