The evolution and workings of an innovatory college ‘taxation’ system: the finances of the University, and colleges, of Oxford 1883–1926

During the period 1883–1926, the University, and colleges, of Oxford used an innovatory, graduated, college ‘taxation’ system which resulted in funds being redirected from the colleges to the university. This paper, which is based on original, and in some cases previously unstudied, archival evidence, examines the evolution and workings of this new system, using a particular example, the case of Magdalen College in 1913. More generally, the paper argues that the colleges made a significant contribution to university purposes, that the colleges attempted to keep control of the allocation of their own funds, that the colleges strove to minimize their cash contributions to the university and that the system enabled Oxford to retain its independence from government. Financial pressures resulting from the First World War rather than a failure of the self-financing system caused Oxford to seek governmental financial assistance.