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Drawing of the exterior of the Wren Library, Trinity College, as seen across Neville's Court. Drawn by Thomas Kerrich.

Drawing of Martha Peckard by Thomas Kerrich. Undated.

Drawing of William Gretton, Master of Magdalene College (1797-1813) by Thomas Kerrich. Undated.

Photocopy of a draft typed letter from Sir Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.

Informs Lewis that a second Professorship of English at Cambridge was to be established under the title 'Professorship of Medieval and Renaissance English'. As Vice-Chancellor he had presided over the Electors [Prof. J.R.R. Tolkien, Prof. F.P. Wilson, Prof. P. Alexander, the Masters of Jesus College and Pembroke College, Prof. Willey, Prof. M.C. Knowles, and Mr H.S. Bennett] and they were unanimous in the decision to offer Lewis the first tenure.

Hoped the moved to Cambridge would not be a deterrent and offered to meet with him if he would like to discuss the offer.

Letter from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink about the offer to take the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Writes to Sir Henry in his capacity as Vice-Chancellor of the University [he was also Master of Magdalene College].

He was more pleased and honoured than he could express at the invitation. The prospect (socially and academically) of migrating from Oxford to Cambridge was an incentive rather than a deterrent. He regretfully had to refuse the invitation due to domestic considerations. He also came of stock that aged early and he was feeling a lack of energy and the first holder of the chair certainly needed energy and vigour. Although he had refused he could be pressed but he didn't want to waste Sir Henry's time.

Letter from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink about the offer to take the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Writes to Sir Henry in his capacity as Vice-Chancellor of the University [he was also Master of Magdalene College].

Was moved by Sir Henry's extremely kind letter and his persuasion. He was knocking at his door but he couldn't unlock it because he didn't have the key. His domestic arrangements held him back especially care for his brother who wasn't always in perfect psychological health as he assumed the chair would necessitate living in Cambridge at least during term time.

Looks forward to meeting him when he was next in Cambridge.

Handwritten letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to Sir Henry Willink marked 'confidential' about the offer to C.S. Lewis of the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Thanks him for his hospitality and kindness. He should have written before but wanted to have a chance to talk to C.S. Lewis first.

Although it would be Oxford's loss he wanted to urge the case for Cambridge as Lewis was the precise man for the job and he would probably be happy there and be reinvigorated by a change of air. Oxford had not treated him very well, and although he was incapable of dudgeon or showing resentment he had been a little dispirited.

After their talk Lewis said he would accept. The chief obstacle had been domestic. As long as he could be assured he could have rooms to live in during term time that could house a lot of his books he would accept. Unlike in Oxford 'chairs' were not attached to Colleges but he hoped there would be no difficulty in an offer being made. Magdalene held enormous attraction for him.

He would be relieved if this came off as the more he reflected the more he felt certain in his one obdurate vote.

Letter from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink about the offer to take the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Writes to Sir Henry in his capacity as Vice-Chancellor of the University [he was also Master of Magdalene College].

Apologises for writing again and in a way that may make him seem rather ridiculous. Since his last letter he had spoken to Tolkien who had considerably changed his view. Firstly he has told him that the electors would not elect a philologist. This was very important as it set him free. Secondly full residency in Cambridge was not necessary and four days a week in term time would be fine. Tolkien's lively mind leads him (with perfectly innocent intentions) to overstate things but was his view correct? It would remove his difficulty as he could leave his household intact and have rooms in Cambridge. He wouldn't mind working and sleeping on the train but he had no right to assume these conditions as they seemed too good to be true but if they were real he would like nothing better.

He felt a fool for saying all this. His thoughts were already thinking about what he would do if he accepted and had already started composing imaginary lectures.

Typed letter from Sir Henry Willink to J.R.R. Tolkien about the offer to C.S. Lewis of the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Before getting his letter he had received two from Lewis refusing the offer of the chair. After consultation with Prof. Willey he had invited their second choice to accept the position and they could do nothing until they had heard back from Miss Gardner. In the meantime he had been writing to Lewis to keep the case open in case he was in a position to offer it again.

Typed copy letter from Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.

Writing in his capacity as Master of Magdalene College he offers Lewis a Fellowship and rooms at Magdalene and hopes that he won't be accused by other Colleges of using his prior news of the appointment to the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English as he was also the Vice-Chancellor. Explains the rules about quotas of Professorships at the Colleges and thinks that there will be two or three other Colleges in a position to offer him rooms but hopes he will accept Magdalene.

Typed letter (signed) from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink about the offer to take the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Writes to Sir Henry in his capacity as Master of Magdalene College [he was also Vice-Chancellor of the University].

Thanks him and the College and says inches of bookshelf space was the important factor. In light of the confidential nature of their arrangements he asks how he should respond to any other College offering him a Fellowship. He was a child in such matters.

Typed copy letter from Sir Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.

Was delighted that Lewis accepted their offer of a Fellowship and rooms at Magdalene.

Understands about the difficulty of him coming to Cambridge in the near future, he would just like to start their acquaintance and make sure his rooms were as he liked them.

[handwritten note by Willink at the bottom of the page]:
"C.S. Lewis came into residence in October 1954 and was elected to a Professorial Fellowship on 18 January 1955".

Letter to Mr Searles explaining word choices and passages in Mere Christianity.

Typed transcript of a letter from C.S. Lewis to Dick Ladborough expressing his opinion of D. Pepys Whitely who he refers to as 'a very great bore'.

Black and white photograph of C.S. Lewis writing at his desk in his rooms in First Court at Magdalene College [undated].