22 February 2025
Important Lewis Carroll Collections
I wrote about the sad death of Edward Wakeling here and I thought I'd offer you a little update. When Edward realised how ill he was, he planned with great care what would happen to his amazing research collection after his death. He told me that he planned to leave it to the Surrey History Centre which already has a large collection of Carrolliana. The reason for this is that the family home for the latter part of Lewis Carroll's life was in Guildford, Surrey, where he died in 1898. All of his sisters and one of his brothers outlived him, and the county built up quite a collection of donated items in the early 20th century. The Guildford Museum has a charming collection of personal items relating to Carroll and Alice, and it is well worth visiting.
As it happens, there has been a spate of important Carrollian donations this year. Members of the Dodgson family have decided to release many previously unseen personal items, which are currently being prepared for a special exhibition at the history centre. But I was concerned that it doesn't seem that the county can accept all the objects in Edward's collection. Probate is not complete, but it would not be surprising if small local organisations did not have the resources (or even the mandate) to care for collections of international importance. I can't deny I'm a little concerned, but I have asked Surrey History Centre to keep me informed, and hope to get more information which I'll pass on.
Christ Church college in Oxford has also recently received a hugely valuable and generous bequest from Jon Lindseth, a major American collector of Alice related items. I was invited to this event to commemorate it, but unfortunately I was unable to go. But the exhibition is on until the 17th April and I hope to be able to go and see it, although this coming month is a busy one for me.
Meanwhile, I found this little picture the other day of the large Alice and Cheshire Cat which would indicate to Edward's visitors that they were arriving at his remote country cottage, which was situated on a really tiny little lane in Herefordshire. Just looking at it makes me feel nostalgic!
As it happens, there has been a spate of important Carrollian donations this year. Members of the Dodgson family have decided to release many previously unseen personal items, which are currently being prepared for a special exhibition at the history centre. But I was concerned that it doesn't seem that the county can accept all the objects in Edward's collection. Probate is not complete, but it would not be surprising if small local organisations did not have the resources (or even the mandate) to care for collections of international importance. I can't deny I'm a little concerned, but I have asked Surrey History Centre to keep me informed, and hope to get more information which I'll pass on.
Christ Church college in Oxford has also recently received a hugely valuable and generous bequest from Jon Lindseth, a major American collector of Alice related items. I was invited to this event to commemorate it, but unfortunately I was unable to go. But the exhibition is on until the 17th April and I hope to be able to go and see it, although this coming month is a busy one for me.
Meanwhile, I found this little picture the other day of the large Alice and Cheshire Cat which would indicate to Edward's visitors that they were arriving at his remote country cottage, which was situated on a really tiny little lane in Herefordshire. Just looking at it makes me feel nostalgic!
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