The Times/1919/News/Retirement of Falconer Madan

Bodley's Librarian
Retirement of Mr. Madan

To-day Mr. Falconer Madan, M.A., F.S.A., Honorary Fellow of Brasenose, who has been Chief Librarian of the Bodleian Library since 1912, when he was appointed in succession to the late Mr. E. B. Nicholson, gives up his office on attaining his 68th birthday.

By the Founder's Statutes Bodley's Librarian should retire on reaching the age of 65, and but for the war this rule would doubtless have been followed; but Mr. Madan's tenure has been prolonged under an "emergency" enactment for three years beyond the normal term, greatly to the advantage of the Library and the University. His reign of seven years has been singularly useful, successful, and happy. Not a few would have like to see it further extended. but Mr. Madan has, it is understood not a little literary and bibliographical work of his own, especially his invaluable account of Oxford books and Oxford printing, which he needs time to complete, and is retiring by his own wish. Mr. Madan, too, is a fine classical scholar, and he may have thought, like Quintiliam "Honestissimum finem putabamus desinere dum desideraremur." His devotion to "Bodley" began when he was an undergraduate, and he had been only three years a Master of Arts when he was appointed sub-librarian 39 years ago, in succession to the late Mr. Ingram Bywater. He remained for over 30 years in the second place, but it will always be a satisfaction that he held the first, too, and stands in the illustrious succession and roll.

It is understood that the management of the Library will be carried on ad interim by Dr. A. E. Cowley, Fellow of Magdalen College, the senior sub-librarian.