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The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection
Alfred Russel Wallace (1823 - 1913) was one of the world's most important scientists. His seminal contributions to biology rival those of his friend and colleague Charles Darwin, though he is far less well known. Together Wallace and Darwin proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection in 1858, and their prolific subsequent work laid the foundations of modern evolutionary biology, and much more besides.
Wallace made enduring scholarly contributions to subjects as diverse as glaciology, land reform, anthropology, ethnography, epidemiology, and astrobiology. His pioneering work on evolutionary biogeography (the science that seeks to explain the geographical distribution of organisms) led to him becoming recognised as that subject’s ‘father’. Beyond this Wallace is regarded as the pre-eminent collector and field biologist of tropical regions of the 19th century, and his book The Malay Archipelago (which was Joseph Conrad’s favourite bedside reading) is one of the most celebrated travel writings of that century and has never been out of print. Wallace was a man with an extraordinary breadth of interests who was actively engaged with many of the big questions and important issues of his day. He was anti-slavery, anti-eugenics, anti-vivisection, anti-militarism, anti-Imperialism, a conservationist and an advocate of woman's rights. He strongly believed in the rights of the ordinary person, was a socialist, an anti-vaccinationist (for rational reasons), and a believer in naturalistic, evolutionary spiritualism. He did not come from a privileged background and was largely self-taught. For a brief biography see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/mini-biography
The Wallace Correspondence Project (WCP) was founded by George Beccaloni in 2010. Its aims are to locate, digitise, catalogue, transcribe, interpret and publish Wallace's surviving correspondence and other manuscripts. About 5,700 letters to and from Wallace are currently known to survive, and they are held by c. 240 institutions and individuals worldwide. Wallace's letters are a biographical treasure trove, which provides a far better picture of the 'real' Wallace than his heavily edited and censored published writings (e.g. his autobiography My Life (1905) and his letters in Marchant's Letters and Reminiscences (1916)). For example, Wallace never even mentions his wife's name (Annie) in any of his published writings, including his autobiography. The letters are also key to gaining a deeper understanding of his scientific and other work: how and why his ideas arose, and how they evolved over time.
The WCP is unlocking this valuable resource by gathering all the letters together for the first time, and transcribing them so that they can be more easily read and information within them discovered using electronic searches for words and phrases. The vast amount of unpublished information which is coming to light will surely form the basis for numerous articles, scholarly papers, PhD theses and perhaps the first definitive biography.
Epsilon is being used by the WCP's as its online archive of Wallace's correspondence. It replaces our previous archive, Wallace Letters Online, which was last updated in 2015. The process of editing the transcripts and associated metadata is a work in progress which will take many years to complete. Our project’s policy is, however, to make the information we have available to users at the earliest possible opportunity, even if it is incomplete and/or imperfect. For a guide to our data, including the protocols we use for metadata and transcriptions, please see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
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Responding to ARW for Royal Institution of South Wales, notes that “we have not a single member who knows anything about insects.” Will add ARW’s notes about local insects and glad his “valuable collection will remain at Neath.”
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Chatty shipboard observations for her mother in England while en route to New York City; behavior of passengers; illnesses; favorable first impressions of America, on way to Canada, then settles in Southern U.S. Finds comfortable teaching situation in Georgia girl’s school. Wishes mother could join her, but distance is prohibitive.
Life aboard ship; chattering Americans and silent Englishmen. Saw whales, dolphins (sailors harpooned three and ate them) and “sea Monsters.”“Passengers think of nothing else but eating, drinking, & smoking.” Englishman says “land in America is cheap and yields abundantly.” Droll gentleman from Georgia tells “such absurd stories about the niggers and sings their songs.”
Boat to Savannah, Georgia from New York City. Enjoys Southern-style pancakes and cornbread. Nearly wrecked in English Channel; captain leaped out of bed, grabbed the wheel, and averted collision with much larger ship. Took train to Macon, settled in healthy, pleasant farm. Teaches music, arithmetic, and English grammar. Pupils are 55 girls, ages 10-17. Wooded estate contains several farms, worked by 40 slaves. Food and service excellent: everything “better than expected.” In nearby town “coffins for sale” in many of the shops.
Repeats, for mother, the near-disasters during sea voyage already written to brothers (WCP1259). “Dark and stormy” night in Channel, almost ran into much larger vessel in fog, was rescued by Captain’s quick move from bed to taking the wheel or “we should have all been at the bottom of the sea in our berths.” Later a fire on board was extinguished. Nearly ran aground on French coast, stalled off Cape Hatteras. Now situated in Georgia school for girls teaching arithmetic, music, grammar, French to 24 pupils; very agreeable life, but “quite long to have Alfred here with me”; want him to teach me botany. Five teachers here, more schools planned. Wants mother and brothers to join her in making new life here.
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Coming summer vacation will join ladies visiting northern Georgia; hope to have ARW with us. Ship’s captain, a Frenchman, accidentally set a lady passenger’s dress afire with his cigar. Slaves are “a happy people altogether...do not feel their own misery, as we do for them” but most never get “a kind look or smile” from their “employers” [masters]. They have great love of dress, great gentility, many become preachers. Her American “expedition has succeeded very well.” ARW could make good life here as Engineer/Land surveyor. Good marriages among gentry; “they all have either money or land...Talents are a fortune here.”
Locals invite us over, desire to socialize with English people. Elegant styles, fashions, homes, but tell us “20 years ago this place was thick forest inhabited only by native Indians.” Visitors don’t walk much here; travel in the area via horseback or carriages, though roads very bad.
First day back teaching school after summer. Praises Southern hospitality towards strangers. In answer to ARW’s query, describes farm animals: cows, sheep, pigs, poultry, oxen. Good gardens. Mocking birds and squirrels common. Indians have been driven west beyond Rocky Mountains — “We are situated where the Cherokee used to live.”
Adding pupils a few girls at a time, will be making £100 in six months. “Tell Herbert I have seen no Indians and no wild beasts.” We shall see friendly Indians in Alabama. Wildflowers delightful; in nearby woods azaleas, cloves, and jasmine are common.
Living with delightful family, leave each morning to teach school. Comfortable and healthy. Wishes she could invite mother (with caregiver) to come and stay, but cannot house them.
After bumpy, rough 200-mile carriage ride to Montgomery, Alabama, was graciously received by hosts. Later visited the Jackson’s plantation in countryside. First Episcopal Bishop of Georgia wrote letters of introduction. Good Library at house. “Servants” [slaves] live well here and are “well regulated” without using “harsh words to the poor things. I never do,” and they respond readily to kindness.
Life with the Jacksons and their ten children pleasant in country home in the woods. Unlike at other plantations, “servants” [slaves] “live well here...not a harsh word said to the poor things.” Servants are permitted to socialize with each other when day’s work is done. Likes country social life among Alabama gentry. Thinks ARW would do well as Engineer and Surveyor in Montgomery.
Now established as teacher, has almost 30 girl pupils; accepted in local society. People try to match me with local gentlemen; don’t want a beau, focused on career. Established a school without capital, “could not be done in England”; works 10-hour days. Desires to reunite and re-locate family in Georgia, urges ARW (“I long for him every day”) and brother Jim to join her. They could set up successful Engineering and Surveying Company, then buy land, marry well, and become gentlemen farmers; in their letters they show no interest. English people don’t understand that each state has own customs, manners, and laws “as separate as the different countries of Europe.” Climate healthy, abundant watermelons, peaches, apples, pears, corn. Includes note to ARW and Jim that promising possibilities exist also in Texas.
Discusses life choices and circumstances. Ponders going to Texas, but is pleased with current situation. Detailed descriptions of the countryside, fresh produce, social life. In separate note to ARW and Jim (Repeat of WCP 170) begs them to consider emigrating to Georgia, where they would surely prosper. Describes light-skinned “yellow” Negro couple who had a very light-skinned infant with “blue eyes and flaxen hair.” Both blacks and whites grieved when the “beautiful child” sickened and died; but “it would have been sad to see a white boy [be raised as] a slave.”
Gentlemen owners of the school property offer her headmistress post and a house, but she declines since “neither [brother] will come over and join me in my plans.” Robinson House will have nine rooms, with schoolrooms detached from the abode. Was teaching some entomology and “constantly thinking of you dear Alfred.” Asks if he knows about the mysterious “blood rain,” which was scientifically explained by crimson fluid left on trees at night by thousands of butterflies. Amused at credulity of black girls to whom she teaches reading Sundays on her own time. They think England must be a poor Country, as the Brits have no black people to raise their cotton, corn, and watermelons, and so have none. “Indoor Slaves are happy creatures when their Mistresses are kind, and wish for nothing better.” Includes separate note to Mama about her distress at being pressured to marry a local gent; ‘finally declined” his offer of marriage, as she does not love him.
Repeats that she is glad about Mr. Lloyd’s agreement to end his persistent courtship of her, which had caused her some anxiety, as mentioned in WCP1272; glad she finally decided to firmly decline; he graciously offers to remain a devoted friend. Will enter new school 25 Jan 1846; intends to send for their younger brother Herbert soon. Satisfied to be teacher, does not want responsibilities of becoming Headmistress. “Wish I possessed a fairy wand which could emancipate all slavery” but fears that might also unleash “all rising against their masters (the whites in general) without reserve….even the kind-hearted masters.”