Falconer Madan
Encyclopedia
Falconer Madan was Librarian
of the Bodleian Library
of Oxford University.
Falconer was the fifth son of George and Harriet Madan. He was educated at Marlborough College
and Brasenose College, Oxford
, where he took part in Oxford and Cambridge Chess matches in 1873 and 1874, and won the University Singles Fives
prize in 1874. He was Fellow of Brasenose from 1875 until 1880, when he was appointed sub-librarian of the Bodleian Library
. In 1890 he was given the task of the creating a Summary Catalogue of the manuscripts of the Bodleian beginning with those not included in the catalogue of 1697. The completion of the Summary Catalogue is the chief monument of his work. In 1889 Madan became a Fellow again and lecturer in Palaeography
until 1913.
In 1912 Madan became Librarian of the Bodleian. During this time, a new underground book-store under Radcliffe Square was opened, the Library records were put into systematic arrangement, and the Bodleian Quarterly Record, a periodical of more than local interest, was started. He resigned the Librarianship in 1919.
He was president of the Library Association in 1914 and 1915, President of the Bibliographical Society
from 1919 to 1921, and President of the Oxford Bibliographic Society in 1924 and 1925. He published many library related works. In 1932 received the Gold Medal of the Bibliographical Society
.
Madan helped Sidney Herbert Williams revise his A Bibliography of Lewis Carroll
(London: The Bookman's Journal, 1924), the first such, into A Handbook of the Literature of the Rev. C. L. Dodgson (Lewis Carroll
) (London: Oxford University Press, 1931), receiving co-author credit, and published a supplement thereto in 1935. He also edited The Lewis Carroll
Centenary in London (London: J. & E. Bumpus, 1932), a catalog of the exhibition.
Falconer Madan married Frances Jane Hayter (1862–1938) second daughter of Harrison Hayter
the engineer. His son, Geoffrey
, was a celebrated anthologist. His daughter Ethel married Charles Fox Burney
and his granddaughter Venetia Burney
is credited with proposing the name Pluto
for the erstwhile planet.
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
of the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
of Oxford University.
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
and Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
, where he took part in Oxford and Cambridge Chess matches in 1873 and 1874, and won the University Singles Fives
Fives
Fives is a British sport believed to derive from the same origins as many racquet sports. In fives, a ball is propelled against the walls of a special court using gloved or bare hands as though they were a racquet.-Background:...
prize in 1874. He was Fellow of Brasenose from 1875 until 1880, when he was appointed sub-librarian of the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
. In 1890 he was given the task of the creating a Summary Catalogue of the manuscripts of the Bodleian beginning with those not included in the catalogue of 1697. The completion of the Summary Catalogue is the chief monument of his work. In 1889 Madan became a Fellow again and lecturer in Palaeography
Palaeography
Palaeography, also spelt paleography is the study of ancient writing. Included in the discipline is the practice of deciphering, reading, and dating historical manuscripts, and the cultural context of writing, including the methods with which writing and books were produced, and the history of...
until 1913.
In 1912 Madan became Librarian of the Bodleian. During this time, a new underground book-store under Radcliffe Square was opened, the Library records were put into systematic arrangement, and the Bodleian Quarterly Record, a periodical of more than local interest, was started. He resigned the Librarianship in 1919.
He was president of the Library Association in 1914 and 1915, President of the Bibliographical Society
Bibliographical Society
Founded in 1892, the Bibliographical Society is the senior learned society dealing with the study of the book and its history, based in London, England....
from 1919 to 1921, and President of the Oxford Bibliographic Society in 1924 and 1925. He published many library related works. In 1932 received the Gold Medal of the Bibliographical Society
Bibliographical Society
Founded in 1892, the Bibliographical Society is the senior learned society dealing with the study of the book and its history, based in London, England....
.
Madan helped Sidney Herbert Williams revise his A Bibliography of Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson , better known by the pseudonym Lewis Carroll , was an English author, mathematician, logician, Anglican deacon and photographer. His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass, as well as the poems "The Hunting of the...
(London: The Bookman's Journal, 1924), the first such, into A Handbook of the Literature of the Rev. C. L. Dodgson (Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson , better known by the pseudonym Lewis Carroll , was an English author, mathematician, logician, Anglican deacon and photographer. His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass, as well as the poems "The Hunting of the...
) (London: Oxford University Press, 1931), receiving co-author credit, and published a supplement thereto in 1935. He also edited The Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson , better known by the pseudonym Lewis Carroll , was an English author, mathematician, logician, Anglican deacon and photographer. His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass, as well as the poems "The Hunting of the...
Centenary in London (London: J. & E. Bumpus, 1932), a catalog of the exhibition.
Falconer Madan married Frances Jane Hayter (1862–1938) second daughter of Harrison Hayter
Harrison Hayter
Harrison Hayter was a British engineer, participating in many significant railway construction projects in Britain and many harbour and dock constructions worldwide....
the engineer. His son, Geoffrey
Geoffrey Madan
Geoffrey Spencer Madan was an English belletrist and both a collector and a creator of aphorisms, many of which are recorded in his Notebooks.-Biography:...
, was a celebrated anthologist. His daughter Ethel married Charles Fox Burney
Charles Fox Burney
Rev. Charles Fox Burney was Biblical scholar at Oxford University, England.-Early life:Charles was the son of Charles Burney, Paymaster Chief Royal Navy, and his wife Eleanor Norton, daughter of the Rev. W. A. Norton, rector of Alderton and Eye, Suffolk. He was educated at Merchant Taylors'...
and his granddaughter Venetia Burney
Venetia Phair
Venetia Phair, née Burney was the first person to suggest the name Pluto for the object discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. At the time, she was 11 years old and lived in Oxford, England.-Biography:...
is credited with proposing the name Pluto
Pluto
Pluto, formal designation 134340 Pluto, is the second-most-massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the tenth-most-massive body observed directly orbiting the Sun...
for the erstwhile planet.
Publications
- Books in Manuscript (1899)
- The Gresleys of DrakeloweGresley BaronetsThe Baronetcy of Gresley of Drakelow was created in the Baronetage of England on 29 June 1611 for George Gresley of Drakelow Hall, Derbyshire who was later High Sheriff of Derbyshire and Member of Parliament for Newcastle under Lyme .The Gresleys were an ancient Norman family, descended from Nigel...
(1899) - History of the Madan Family
- The Daniel Press
- Oxford Outside the Guide-Books
- A Handbook of the Literature of the Rev. C. L. Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) (1931)
- The Lewis Carroll Centenary in London (1932)