Amelia Edwards Collection

Amelia Edwards (1831-1892) was a writer, traveller and Egyptologist whose passion for Egypt (reflected in her best-selling book A Thousand Miles Up the Nile) sparked an interest in all things Egyptian in England in the late nineteenth Century. Thanks largely to her efforts, the Egypt Exploration Society was set up in 1882 to promote and regularise the excavations of tombs in Egypt.

A supporter of education for women, she left her books, papers and watercolours to Somerville along with a small collection of Greek and Roman pots. The books are not catalogued on the University union catalogue SOLO but a finding aid of her papers is available: ABE Catalogue. Her watercolours are not on permanent display but may be viewed for research purposes by appointment with the librarian.