Biography

Find out Wallace’s thoughts on the medals and degrees awarded to him, his work as a lecturer and his experiences while touring North America.

Illustration of Hertford Grammar School

Print from an engraving of Hertford Grammar School, which Wallace attended as a boy, undated, originally published 1830.
Portrait of Wallace, aged 25

Portrait of Wallace as a young man, dated 1848.
A trip up the Hudson River

Letter from Wallace to his daughter Violet describing an excursion up the Hudson River in America, his lecture plans, and the hotel food, dated November 1886.
Wallace's final Darwinism lecture at the Lowell Institute

Press cutting reporting on Wallace's final Darwinism lecture at the Lowell Institute, dated November 1886.
Attending seances and Wallace's fame in America

Letter from Wallace to his daughter Violet describing séances in Boston, and his bashfulness at being complimented, dated January 1887.
Wallace's trip to Niagara Falls

Letter from Wallace to his daughter Violet describing an excursion to Niagara Falls, dated March 1887.
Sketch map of Niagara Falls

Sketch map of Niagara Falls sent by Wallace to his daughter Violet, dated March 1887.
List of Wallace's lectures in the USA

Manuscript list by Wallace detailing his lectures on Natural History and how they were illustrated, undated, probably 1887.
List of medals in Wallace's The Malay Archipelago book

The Malay Archipelago book with a handwritten list of medals awarded to Wallace, dated 1890.
Wallace's modesty at receiving a medal

Letter from Wallace to his daughter Violet with his reaction to being offered another medal, dated April 1892.
Wallace sends Violet tickets for London Zoo

Letter from Wallace to his daughter Violet sending her tickets to the zoo, describing the socialist novels he has just read and his plans for numerous trips to London, dated May 1892.
Wallace shares amusing answers to a geography exam

Letter from Wallace to his daughter Violet describing amusing answers to exam papers he has marked and his proposed lecture for a Land Nationalisation Society meeting, dated June 1892.
Information on astronomy and the death of Bates

Letter from Wallace to his daughter Violet describing how planets line up together and the death of his old friend Bates, dated February 1892.
Sketch of planet conjunctions

Diagram by Wallace of the relative positions of Earth, Venus and Jupiter during March 1892, sent with a letter dated February 1892.
A local lecture and Wallace's radical social views

Letter from Wallace to his daughter Violet describing a lecture on the colours of animals, his impending article in the Nineteenth Century journal, and asking about her teaching job, dated October 1893 .
List of payments for lectures

Manuscript list of payments made to Wallace for lectures across the UK, undated, circa 1894.
Cover of The Wonderful Century

Cover design of Wallace's book The Wonderful Century , dated 1898
The Wonderful Century chapter headings

List of draft chapter headings for Wallace's book The Wonderful Century, probably February 1898.
Plans for the cover of The Wonderful Century book

Letter from Wallace to his daughter Violet about finishing his book The Wonderful Century and sending books through the post, dated February 1898.
Photographic proof print of a redwood tree

Photographic proof print of a redwood tree for Wallace's book Studies Scientific and Social, undated, circa 1900.
List of Wallace's publications before 1862

Manuscript list of Wallace's publications before 1862, undated, circa 1904.
Photograph of Neath Free Library

Photographic print of Neath Free Library, undated, circa 1904.
Portrait of Wallace in old age

Photograph of Wallace in his eighties, undated, after 1905.
Views on science in 1907

Letter from J.M. Tushy, editor of New York World, asking Wallace for his views on science in 1907, dated December 1907.
Science in 1907 manuscript

Manuscript by Wallace entitled Science in 1907, dated December 1907.
Science in 1907 newspaper article

Press cutting of an article by Wallace entitled Science in 1907, dated January 1908.
Wallace is awarded the Order of Merit medal

Letter from Wallace to his son William describing his Order of Merit medal, dated December 1908.
Magazine interview with Wallace

Magazine interview with Wallace commenting on natural selection and Darwinism, and a description of Wallace's likable personality, dated March 1909.
Wallace's funeral

Press cutting reporting on Wallace's funeral, dated November 1913.
Wallace's obituary in the journal Nature

Obituary in the journal Nature, commemorating Wallace's life and achievements, dated November 1913.
Birthday congratulations and disagreement on socialism

Letter from H A Bulley, a member of the public, to Wallace sending 90th birthday congratulations and disagreeing at length with Wallace on socialism, dated January 1913.
Birthday congratulations and general admiration

Letter from Arthur Button, a member of the public, to Wallace sending 90th birthday congratulations and praise for his work on a variety of subjects, dated January 1913.
Birthday congratulations and admiration for socialism

Letter from anthropologist Albert Gilbertson to Wallace sending 90th birthday congratulations and praise for his work as a scientist and a socialist, dated January 1913.
Wallace's death

Note signed by William Greenell Wallace, announcing the death of his father (Alfred Russel Wallace), dated November 1913.