Author Description

No historical census for the University of Oxford and all its constituent societies was carried out until Joseph Foster produced "Alumni Oxonienses" covering the period 1500 to 1886. In this work, first published in 1957, A.B.Emden aimed to make his biographical notices more detailed than those of Foster, and took the opportunity to include facts concerning the lives of a large number of men who represented an influential section of medieval society. The work includes more than 12,000 entries arranged alphabetically as well as a great deal of manuscript material. The author consulted the computus rolls and other appropriate records of University, Merton, Oriel, Queen's, New College, Winchester College and All Souls, relevant material in the University archives, and 100 Episcopal registers. All the variant spellings of each surname are included, and where possible particulars of date of birth, place of origin and parentage. The volume also contains records of licences to study, particulars of membership of colleges and halls, details of any college offices held, courses of study and degrees, University offices held, particulars of ordinations and licences to preach, all benefices obtained, particulars of ecclesiastical and secular offices held and other information concerning careers after leaving the University.