WCP6363

[1]¹

Karlsruhe,

den 15. Oktober 1933.

Eugen Hornung²

Karlsruhe i.B.

(Germany)

Kriegsstr[asse].133.

W. G. Wallace³

Doveshill Cottage

Ensbury P[ar]k.

B’[ourne]m’[ou]th.

To the

Entomological Society of London⁴,

London S. W. 7.

41. Queen’s Gate.

On writing a biography of Alfred Russel Wallace I do not find anything about his life from 1905 to 1913, or broadly speaking, about the period from finishing his autobiographical work "My Life" ⁵, published in 1905 to his death in November 1913. Besides that I want to know the cause of his death and details as first name, birthday, year of birth, year of death and so on of his wife, maiden name Mitten⁶. Further on I have no informations [sic] about his children, the number of them, their birthdays, professions, their dwelling place and address, their days of death, if so, and so on. Do live [sic] grandchildren of Alfred Russel Wallace and where? What are their professions? Where Alfred Russel Wallace is buried? (town and churchyard). These and similar questions I can not [sic] obtain in Germany, neither from German libraries nor out [sic] the scientific literature. Can you quote literature to my instruction and to send across [to] me a newspaper cutting about his funeral from a great newspaper or periodical, perhaps the announcement of his death, which his family had printed in a great newspaper ("[The] Times")? at that time and chiefly a list of essays, books and scientific memoirs by Alfred Russel Wallace from 1868 to his death (the year and spot [sic] of the announcement of them or informations [sic] where a list is to find [sic]). I beg your pardon, if I apply to the Entomological Society for assistance, but I have no other advice.

Through the close connection between the Entomological Society and Alfred Russel Wallace I think to can obtain [sic] the necessary informations [sic] that I can write a good and detailed biography. Taking into consideration that a German biography about Alfred Russel Wallace is not published, I have made me [sic] as a biologist (savant without official appointment) the task to write such a work, to put the overwhelming importance of Alfred Russel Wallace to good account in biology and natural science.

May I hope that you have the kindness to write [to] me at your earliest convenience?

I remain, with best compliments and allow me to thank you!

Yours faithfully | Eugen Hornung [signature]