HONORING LEGACY INSPIRING DISCOVERY

Born in London in 1831, Amelia Edwards exhibited remarkable literary and artistic talent from a young age. A prolific writer, she contributed to various magazines and newspapers and authored eight novels. However, her most lasting impact would come outside the realm of literature.

 

In 1873-74, Edwards visited Egypt, where she was captivated by the country's rich archaeological potential. Deeply moved by the opportunities for discovery, she immersed herself in the study of hieroglyphics and began collecting Egyptian antiquities. In 1877, she published A Thousand Miles up the Nile, a groundbreaking work on Egyptian history and hieroglyphics, which became the most comprehensive book on the subject at the time.

 

However, Edwards was alarmed by the careless destruction of Egyptian relics and felt compelled to raise public awareness. This led her to play a key role in the founding of the Egypt Exploration Fund in 1882, alongside Reginald Stuart Poole, where she served as joint honorary secretary. From this point onward, Edwards focused solely on Egyptology, leaving behind her other literary works.

 

In 1889-90, Edwards was invited to America to lecture by 25 college presidents and prominent figures such as James Russell Lowell, John Greenleaf Whittier, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and William Dean Howells. Her lectures were later published in 1891 as Pharaohs, Fellahs, and Explorers.

 

Just before her death in 1892, Edwards was awarded a civil list pension by the British government. She left behind a remarkable legacy, including her extensive collection of Egyptian antiquities, which she bequeathed to University College London, along with a generous sum to establish a chair of Egyptology.