Frabjous Day

Surrey History Centre receives records from the Edward Wakeling Lewis Carroll collection

Lewis Carroll expert and collector extraordinaire Edward Wakeling (1946-2023) was renowned for his meticulous and very extensive published contribution to Lewis Carroll research, and his generosity in sharing his knowledge. It was Wakeling's intention that his collections remain in the public domain and continue to be available to researchers in perpetuity. Although it will take us some time to publish a definitive catalogue of this remarkable bequest, Surrey History Centre will honour Edward’s wish and welcome those seeking access to the materials received from his collection in March 2026 and which has been assigned the reference 10829. We will look to issue a temporary finding aid as soon as possible, and in the meantime, researchers may contact us for advice and information about the treasures we have received.

Edward Wakeling, himself a mathematician, musician and teacher, was inspired by Lewis Carroll throughout his life. He became a collector in the early 1970s, and published on Carroll over more than 40 years, including as the editor and transcriber of Carroll's diaries (1993-2007), and the author of the catalogue raisonné of Carroll's photographs (2015).

The Wakeling Collection has important 19^th century editions of the works published by C. L. Dodgson, both as Lewis Carroll and in his own name, embracing poetry and prose, mathematics and logic, games and puzzles. Letters from Carroll and original photographs taken by him during the 1850s, 1860s and 1870s illustrate the range of his social and artistic circles. There are also records of early theatrical productions of Alice, in which Carroll took great interest during the 1880s and 1890s.  Illustrative of the lasting impact and enduring fascination of Carroll's work are some superb 20^th century editions, including Salvador Dali's exciting 1969 version of 'Alice in Wonderland'.

We look forward to promoting the Wakeling Collection later this year as part of our Lewis Carroll exhibition reappearing in October.

Images:

Photograph of Robert Foster by Lewis Carroll, 1857

Detail from Salvador Dali, 'Alice in Wonderland' image of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, 1969

Programme for 'Matinées of 'Alice in Wonderland' at the Prince of Wales Theatre, 1886