Archive Record
MAY (MARY) LIVOCK MILEHAM (1874-1939), OF CHISLEHURST, KENT: PHOTOGRAPHS AND PAPERS RELATING TO THE REVD CHARLES DODGSON (LEWIS CARROLL) AND THE MILEHAM FAMILY, 1884-1979
Reference Number: 6968
Descriptive Information about the Record (click to expand) Provenance Presented by Mrs Helen G Bardell of Arlesey, Bedfordshire, and Mrs Mary Williams, in March 2001. The depositors are the surviving grand daughters of May Mileham.
-Introduction May (Mary) Livock Mileham (1874-1939) of Whinside, The Common, Chislehurst, Kent, was the daugher of Charles Henry Money Mileham (1837-1917), an artist and architect, and Mary, ne?Livock (1850-1914).
May first met the Revd Charles L Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) while on holiday with her family in Eastbourne, on 8 August 1884. Dodgson recorded in his diary 'wandered on the beach and had some talk with a nice girl of about 10, "May" Mileham' (Morton Cohen, The Letters of Lewis Carroll, vol I, p546). A companion of May, Harry R Mileham, recorded his version of their meeting with Dodgson in a letter to the The Times in January 1932 (see -/3/2).
On the 12 August Dodgson wrote to Mr CHM Mileham for permission to 'continue the friendship so suddenly begun' with his daughter, and according to his diaries, Dodgson saw May almost daily from 14 August. The Milehams' appear to have been happy with this arrangement, leaving May to stay for a night with friends when they left Eastbourne on 29 August.
The following day Dodgson took May to London to a matinee, and then to his family home, The Chestnuts in Guildford. She returned to her parents on the 2 September (Cohen, p547). It was during this holiday that Dodgson gave May the
photograph of 'Miss Fortescue', included in this collection. He inscribed the photograph 'May Mileham from CL Dodgson a memento of "Our Boys" Aug. 30/84' (see -/1/1). Dodgson's diary entry for this date reads 'Went for May about 9½ - we reached London about 11¼ - dined at Charing X – went to "Our Boys"…' (see LC/5/8). According to the depositor, Miss Fortescue was a sister of Adrian Fortescue (a renowned Roman Catholic priest), and friend of May's future husband, Courtenay Melville Crickmer (1878-1971). They married in 1905.
The second photograph given by Dodgson to May was a memento of their attending The Mikado on 13 June 1885 (see
-/1/3). Dodgson recorded in his diary entry: 'To Mr Mileham's office to pick up May. We went to the Savoy to see the "Mikado".' (see LC/5/8)
The letter from Dodgson to May of 13 September 1886, appears to be the last he wrote to her. Dodgson recorded in his diary entry for 7 January 1887 that he met May Mileham 'whose parents have now broken off our friendship' (Cohen, vol II, p640).
-The records These records are the surviving family papers of May (Mary) Livock Mileham. The collection includes two letters from the Revd Charles Dodgson to May Mileham. Dodgson wrote many letters to May, and to her father and mother, Mr & Mrs Charles Henry Mileham; many of these have been lost or sold. Morton Cohen's Letters of Lewis Carroll include transcripts of some of these letters, a few of which are now held at Brown University, Rhode Island, USA.
-Arrangement The collection has been arranged in three sections: Dodgson letters and photographs sent to May Mileham; documents and photographs relating to May Mileham and her family; and finally Carroll ephemera collected by the descendants of May Mileham.
-Related records For the Dodgson Family Collection, 1795-1982, see DFC/-; for the Manners Family Collection, 1885-1954, see G103/-; for papers of Derek Hudson relating to his biography of Lewis Carroll, 1951-1972, see 1521/2; for photocopies of the diaries of Lewis Carroll, 1855-1897, see LC/5/1-10.
Cohen, Morton N, The Letters of Lewis Carroll, volumes I & II (London, 1979)
-Related records For the Dodgson Family Collection, 1795-1982, see DFC/-; for the Manners Family Collection, 1885-1954, see G103/-; for papers of Derek Hudson relating to his biography of Lewis Carroll, 1951-1972, see 1521/2; for photocopies of the diaries of Lewis Carroll, 1855-1897, see LC/5/1-10.
Cohen, Morton N, The Letters of Lewis Carroll, volumes I & II (London, 1979)
-Access Conditions There are no access restrictions.
-- Series information for this collection
series: 6968/1/ - LETTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHS FROM CL DODGSON TO MAY MILEHAM Date: 1884-1886 Mounted photograph of 'Miss Fortescue' by Elliott & Fry, 55 &... Title Mounted photograph of 'Miss Fortescue' by Elliott & Fry, 55 & 56 Baker Street, London. Annotated by CL Dodgson 'May Mileham from CL Dodgson a memento of "Our Boys" Aug. 30/84' Reference 6968/1/1 Unit Date 1884 Start Date 18840101 End Date 18841231 Letter from CL Dodgson, 7 Lushington Road, Eastbourne, to Mrs Mileham... Title Letter from CL Dodgson, 7 Lushington Road, Eastbourne, to Mrs Mileham [mother of May], thanking her for the four days he spent with 'May in charge'. He mentions the death of his uncle 'the very afternoon I left you' and that he was 'glad it did not cut short the sweet little episode of May's visit'. Reference 6968/1/2 Unit Date 5 Sep 1884 Start Date 18840905 End Date 18840905 sub series: 6968/1/ - Dodgson hopes that 'if her friendship for me…survives the winterfrosts' to have May as a companion for a 'little tour…I need not ask you just now to nerve yourself for another great effort of trustfulness!' Scope: He also asks after Mrs F Holiday and says he does not want her daughter Clim?e to write to him 'in case she gets anything by post: a message of thanks wd [would] be amply sufficient.' Date: Mounted photograph of 'Miss Grey, Miss Braham, Miss Bond in "The Mika... Title Mounted photograph of 'Miss Grey, Miss Braham, Miss Bond in "The Mikado"' by Barraud, 263 Oxford Street, London. Annotated by CL Dodgson 'Given to May Mileham as a memento of the Mikado, on June 13 1885.' Reference 6968/1/3 Unit Date 1885 Start Date 18850101 End Date 18851231 Printed circular letter with an additional note from CL Dodgson, 7 Lu... Title Printed circular letter with an additional note from CL Dodgson, 7 Lushington Road, Eastbourne, to May Mileham. The circular letter requests assistance in selecting colours for Dodgson's forthcoming publication 'The Game of Logic'. He has decided on the counters being pink and grey, but he wishes for 'advice from friends of taste – specially ladies' to select 'a really pretty pink and grey'. In his handwritten note at the end of the printed letter, Dodgson says that it is so long since he has seen May and suggests that 'The best way to remind us of each other would be for you to come to one here for a week. See if your parents can screw enough courage to let you come.' He explains he already has had 'Marie' [Van Der Gucht] to stay, and an old gentleman of over 70 is staying with him now, but when he goes 'it would be very pleasant to have another child. I have asked Clim?e, but I'm afraid her father dare not let her come, though her mother would be willing.' Dodgson offers to fetch May from London and reminds her 'You know it is your turn to come & see me: the last visit was from me to you.' Reference 6968/1/4 Unit Date 13 Sep 1886 Start Date 18860913 End Date 18860913
series: 6968/2/ - MATERIAL RELATING TO MAY MILEHAM, & THE MILEHAM FAMILY Date: 1888-1974 Handbill advertising a performance of HMS Pinafore on 21 & 23 Apr... Title Handbill advertising a performance of HMS Pinafore on 21 & 23 April 1888 at Chislehurst Village Hall. Proceeds to be donated to the Church of England Society for Providing Homes for Waifs and Strays. The cast includes Miss May Mileham as the Right Hon Sir Joseph Porter Reference 6968/2/1 Unit Date Apr 1888 Start Date 18880400 End Date 18880400 Programme for a children's performance of Alice in Wonderland on 19 &... Title Programme for a children's performance of Alice in Wonderland on 19 & 21 April at Chislehurst Village Hall. The cast includes Miss May Mileham as the Cook 'In Wonderland' and the Red Queen in 'Through the Looking Glass' Reference 6968/2/2 Unit Date nd [1890] Start Date 18900101 End Date 18901231 Mounted group photograph of the cast of a production of Alice in Wond... Title Mounted group photograph of the cast of a production of Alice in Wonderland, including May Mileham (marked with arrow 'my mother'). Annotated on reverse 'Group taken after acting 'Alice in Wonderland' at Westwood House, Sydenham for funds for St Phillips Church, 1901' Reference 6968/2/3 Unit Date 1901 Start Date 19010101 End Date 19011231 Correspondence between Professor Morton N Cohen and Mr CHF Mileham, r... Title Correspondence between Professor Morton N Cohen and Mr CHF Mileham, regarding details of the Mileham family history and May Mileham. 2 items Reference 6968/2/4 Unit Date Dec 1974 Start Date 19741200 End Date 19741200
series: 6968/3/ - MATERIAL RELATING TO LEWIS CARROLL COLLECTED BY THE MILEHAM FAMILY Date: 1932-1979 Pamplet entitled The Real Alice: A photograph by Lewis Carroll. Deta... Title Pamplet entitled The Real Alice: A photograph by Lewis Carroll. Detailing the history of a photographic print of Alice Liddell that was given to a young American girl Reference 6968/3/1 Unit Date nd [early 20th cent] Start Date 19000101 End Date 19331231 Microfilm printout (undated) of letters to the editor of The Times. ... Title Microfilm printout (undated) of letters to the editor of The Times. Includes a letter from Harry R Mileham describing May Mileham's and his first meeting with the Revd Charles Dodgson at the seaside in Eastbourne Reference 6968/3/2 Unit Date (2 Jan 1932) Start Date 19320102 End Date 19320102 Photocopy (2001) of newscutting from The Times: 'Lewis Carroll Centen... Title Photocopy (2001) of newscutting from The Times: 'Lewis Carroll Centenary: Pictures from "Alice in Wonderland"'. Includes John Tenniel's illustrations of Father William, and Alice and the White Rabbit from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; and two of Henry Holiday from The Hunting of the Snark Reference 6968/3/3 Unit Date (27 Jan 1932) Start Date 19320127 End Date 19320127 Photocopy (2001) of newscutting from the Daily Express with cartoon '... Title Photocopy (2001) of newscutting from the Daily Express with cartoon 'Alice in Blunderland' by Strure, and article 'This Is LEWIS CARROLL'S DAY' by Howard Spring Reference 6968/3/4 Unit Date (27 Jan 1932) Start Date 19320127 End Date 19320127 Publicity leaflet for The Life of Lewis Carroll by Langford Reed, a T... Title Publicity leaflet for The Life of Lewis Carroll by Langford Reed, a Trefoile Publication. Annotated 'LEWIS CARROLL (DODGSON) re sale of letter etc & one letter from Dodson (sic) to May' Reference 6968/3/5 Unit Date nd [1932] Start Date 19320101 End Date 19321231 Booklet Lewis Carroll & Hatfield House: a companion to the exhibi... Title Booklet Lewis Carroll & Hatfield House: a companion to the exhibition in The Old Riding School, 25 March – 7 October 1975 (printed by the Lewis Carroll Society) Reference 6968/3/6 Unit Date 1975 Start Date 19750101 End Date 19751231
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