The philosopher Gilbert Ryle was involved in the setting up of the original Linacre House, Oxford's first graduate society for both sexes and all subjects, in 1962, and was one of its first senior members. An early problem for the new institution was the lack of a library: Gilbert Ryle assisted here by donating many of his own books on his retirement in 1968, and by a further bequest after his death in 1976. The books formed a major part of the early library, and were later stored under lock and key in the massive Linacre Bookcase where they remain to this day. Ryle also donated some of his papers - including letters, drafts of papers, and miscellaneous notes extracted from the volumes in his library - to Linacre. All of these materials may be consulted in the Linacre Library by application to the Librarian.
Linacre College