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University College London

Edwards Papers


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0103 MS ADD 182

Held at: University College London

Title: Edwards Papers

Date(s): 1871-1874

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 6 letters, 1 drawing

Name of creator(s): Edwards | Amelia Ann Blanford | 1831-1892 | novelist and Egyptologist

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Amelia Edwards was born in London on 7 June 1831 and educated at home, chiefly by her mother. As a child she was good at art, writing and music, and some of her poems and stories were published. As an adult she earned her living by writing. She wrote eight novels and many articles. She became interested in Egyptology and after a visit she paid to Egypt in 1873-1874 she abandoned all her literary interests. She formally founded the Egypt Exploration Fund in 1882, to carry out scientific excavation, and devoted herself to its work. She contributed many articles to journals on Egyptology. In 1889-1890 she went to the United States of America on a lecturing tour which was a great success. Edwards died in Weston-Super-Mare on 15 April 1892. She bequeathed her Egyptology library and collection of Egyptian antiquities to University College London. She also founded a Chair of Egyptology there and destined the first occupant to be Professor W M Flinders Petrie.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Six letters to Miss Cave and one drawing. Some are undated.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Open.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Normal copyright restrictions apply.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Collection level description.

Detailed catalogue

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Purchased from C & I K Fletcher of London in March 1966.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

University College London Special Collections also holds seven letters to Miss Worrall, 1879-1883 and undated (Ref: MS ADD 181); four letters to D C Thomson, 1882-1884 and undated (Ref: MS ADD 183); three letters to Lady Petrie, 1884, 1888-1889 (Ref: MS ADD 184); eight miscellaneous letters to various correspondents, 1864-1889 and undated (Ref: MS MISC 3E); and a letter to Moses Gaster, 1891 (Ref: GASTER).

Oxford University, Griffith Institute, holds a notebook with various notes and extracts and albums containing watercolours and sketches, 1881-1888 and undated (Ref: MS.Collections); 15 letters to Aquila Dodgson (Ref: Dodgson MSS 1-6); and an album of biographical material. Oxford University, Somerville College Library, holds correspondence and literary papers, sketches and photographs, 1838-1892. The Egypt Exploration Society holds correspondence, notes, memoranda and papers, c1883-1891.

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Source: National Register of Archives.

Date(s) of descriptions: 1999, revised Aug 2001


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Drawings | Visual materials
Egyptology | Ancient civilizations | Ancient history | Historical periods
History
Illustrations

Personal names
Cave | fl 1871-1874 | Miss
Edwards | Amelia Ann Blanford | 1831-1892 | novelist and Egyptologist

Corporate names

Places