A Special Day in the History of the Egypt Centre

The 15th February is a date that will forever be etched into the history of the Egypt Centre. On this day in 1971, a portion of the Egyptian material in the Wellcome Collection was formally offered to the University College of Swansea (now Swansea University). This agreement was issued by the University College of London (UCL), who were acting on behalf of the Wellcome Trustees. It was signed by Harry S. Smith (now Professor Emeritus of Egyptology by UCL) and David M. Dixon (fig. 1), the latter being a Research Fellow at the Wellcome Institute between 1959–1964, and tasked with sorting the Egyptian material.

Fig. 1: David Dixon

David Dixon was instrumental in bringing the collection to Swansea. Some eight months prior (22nd June 1970) to the agreement being sent, Dixon had a phone conversation with John Gwyn Griffiths (fig. 2) in Welsh in which the idea of sending Wellcome material to Swansea was first proposed. Gwyn Griffiths was a Reader in Classics at Swansea, who is well known for his studies on Egyptian religion. Later that evening, Dixon wrote to Griffiths, also in Welsh;  the letter and its English translation are retained in the Egypt Centre archives. Part of it contains the following passage: “The purpose of this letter (sorry for being so long-winded) is to give you an opportunity to consider what we think. If it is of interest to you, it would be of help if you could send a word to me as soon as possible. Meanwhile may I ask you to keep the contents of this letter as a secret”.

Fig. 2: Gwyn Griffiths

1971 marks fifty years since the collection arrived in Swansea in September 1971. Over the coming months I’ll be posting some historical documents, including archival photos, to mark this event. We aim to celebrate this anniversary digitally, and hopefully physically once it is safe for us to do so. Therefore, to kick things off, here is the agreement between the two parties, which was sent to the then Principal of the University College of Swansea fifty years ago today!

 

Principal F. Llewellyn-Jones,

The University College of Swansea,

Singleton Park,

Swansea University,

Wales.

15th February, 1971

 

Dear Principal Llewellyn-Jones,

You will recall that during the latter part of last year Dr. D. N. Dixon discussed informally with Dr. John Gwyn Griffiths the possibility that a portion of the collection of Egyptian antiquities formed by the late Sir Henry S. Wellcome might eventually be offered to the University College of Swansea. It was understood that a tentative proposal to this effect which Dr. Griffiths submitted to you met with a favourable response, and that arrangements were in hand to deal with any material that might be received.

Under the terms of the will of the late Sir Henry Wellcome, his Trustees were charged with a permanent responsibility for the maintenance and scientific use of his collections. They are therefore required to continue to exercise control over their future. The Wellcome Institute of the History of Medicine, however, is concerned only with the history of medicine, and Egyptological material does not fall within its province. The Trustees’ wish therefore is that their material should be permanently maintained by the recipient institution while it has staff and facilities to make proper provisions for it. The Trustees would exercise their right of control only in circumstances where the recipient, for whatever reason, felt unable to maintain the collection.

The Wellcome Trustees have now given their consent to the proposals submitted to them by University College London for the future disposition of the Wellcome Collection in the interests of science. They have therefore authorized the College to offer you a portion of the said collection subject to the conditions set out in the accompanying document.

We trust that this offer will be acceptable to your Governing Body.

Yours sincerely,

H. S. Smith

Edwards Professor of Egyptology

 

D. M. Dixon

Curator, Petrie Museum

 

Wellcome Collection of Egyptian Antiquities: Agreement between the University College of Swansea and University College London, acting on behalf of the Wellcome Trustees

1. The Wellcome Collection of Egyptian Antiquities will remain under the control of the Wellcome Trustees.

2. The transport of the material from London to Swansea, and any other measures deemed necessary (e.g. insurance), shall be arranged by the University College of Swansea (hereinafter called ‘the recipient’) and approved by the officers of the Petrie Museum. All expenses shall be borne by the recipient.

3. The material shall be unpacked, sorted, documented (as far as possible), and made available for study within a reasonable period from the date of its arrival in Swansea. The exact period shall be determined after consolation, but two years is suggested.

4. The recipient shall not be permitted to dispose of any items whatever, whether for gain or otherwise, by any means (sale, gift, temporary or permanent loan, or destruction).

5. At their discretion and subject to the requirements of their duties at University College, members of the Petrie Museum staff may be prepared to assist, by correspondence, or possibly in person, with the documentation of the material and other queries arising therefrom. All expenses arising from such assistance (e.g. hotel bills, travelling) shall be borne by the recipient.

6. At the expiry of the period agreed upon for the unpacking etc. of the material, a representative of the Petrie Museum, acting on behalf of the Museum and the Wellcome Trustees, shall inspect all the objects and reclaim any items which he may deem to fall within the following two categories:

i)                Items of medical interest, which will be returned to the Wellcome Institute of the History of Medicine, London.

ii)              Contexted material which complements material already in the Petrie Collection or which it is felt ought logically to be incorporated therein.

The decision of the Petrie Museum representative regarding such matters shall be final. Packing and transport to University College London of material reclaimed (including that ultimately destined for return to the Wellcome Institute of the History of Medicine) shall be arranged and paid for by the recipient.

Upon satisfactory compliance with all the above conditions, the recipient shall be free, in the interests of science, to make such arrangements with the City of Liverpool Museum as both parties see fit regarding their respective portions of the Wellcome Collection. For example, it is envisaged that they may wish to exchange certain objects with a view to the more rational division of the material.

Such exchanges, however, shall not be undertaken without prior reference to the Wellcome Trustees or their authorized representatives.

University College London

15th February, 1971