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Record of books read and bought by Brian Butler

 Single Item
MS. 24282
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Exercise book (bound in hard cover) containing a list of the books read and bought by Brian Butler between January 1948 and June 1957, with his comments on his reading.

Dates

  • Creation: 1948-1957

Extent

1 box

Language of Materials

  • English

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. 24282].

Please see our help page for further guidance on citing archives and manuscripts.

Shelfmark:

MS. 24282

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 24282

Abstract

Record of books read and bought by Brian Butler, 1948-1957.

Biographical / Historical

Brian Harding Butler was born and grew up in Petersfield, Hampshire, and attended Churcher's College in Liphook. During this time he became interested in reading and literature and it was during these years into his early twenties that he kept a record of his reading habits. At the age of eighteen he was a Librarian at Paddington Library, London, where he met his wife, Maureen.

In 1962 Butler left with his family for Nigeria where they stayed for five years until the breakout of the Biafran Civil War. During this time he helped to establish the theological library at the Pastor's College where he was lecturing.

In 1968 Butler and his family set sail on the Queen Elizabeth for five years in the USA where he was pastor of a Church and took his Master's in Theology. The family returned to the United Kingdom in 1972.

In 1973 Butler took up the post of Vice Principal at Moorlands College on the south coast where he established the College Library and taught New Testament Greek. He rescued a large pile of valuable books which had been left in the college car park and which formed the basis of what became a large and important theological library.

Until his death in 2023 Butler was an avid and voracious reader of fiction, non-fiction and periodicals, devouring everything he could. He had a particular penchant for detective fiction and the Times crossword. He made the decision to go into ministry instead of studying the piano and was a proficient pianist.

Biographical information supplied by Stephen Butler.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated in 2025 by Stephen Butler, son of Brian Butler.

Title
Catalogue of Record of Books Read and Bought by Brian Butler
Status
Published
Author
Lucy McCann
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Edition statement
First edition.

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom