Researching manuscripts in the Lady Eccles Oscar Wilde Collection

Blog series English and Drama

Author Suzy Corrigan, AHRC funded PhD candidate at Teesside University and PhD Placement student at the British Library

The Lady Eccles Oscar Wilde Collection at the British Library is more than a collection; it is a testament to the enduring legacy of Oscar Wilde and the passionate collectors who safeguarded his memory. At the heart of this archive lies the story of Lady Eccles, born Mary Crapo in Detroit in 1912. A lifelong lover of literature, Mary’s academic journey took her from Vassar College to Columbia University where she earned a PhD in English Literature in 1947. Her marriage to Donald Hyde in 1939 marked the beginning of a remarkable intellectual partnership, rooted in a shared devotion to Samuel Johnson and later, Oscar Wilde.

Together, the Hydes built a world-renowned literary collection at their Four Oaks Farm in New Jersey, transforming their private library into a scholarly haven. Their acquisitions included rare manuscripts, letters and ephemera from Wilde’s circle. After Donald’s death in 1966, Mary continued to expand the collection, sourcing materials from auctions, dealers and private collections. Her second marriage to David Eccles, 1st Viscount Eccles, former chairman at the British Library further cemented her role in literary preservation. 

A pivotal moment came in 1963 when the Hydes acquired the Wilde collection of Harford Montgomery Hyde (no relation), a barrister and biographer whose fascination with Wilde began at Magdalen College, Oxford. H. M. Hyde’s collection, rich with manuscripts and correspondence became the foundation of what would later be known as the Eccles Bequest. Upon Mary’s death in 2003, the collection was divided: Johnson materials went to Harvard’s Houghton Library, while Wilde’s archive was donated to the British Library. Catalogued as Add MS 81619–81884, the manuscript portion of the Eccles Bequest includes his notebooks, and personal documents, many of which offer intimate glimpses into his life and creative process. 

The purpose of the PhD placement at the British Library was to research the provenance of the collection, to assess its preservation needs and enhance public access. My research began with Add MS 81855 A: a set of index cards compiled by Mary Hyde detailing acquisition sources and item-level descriptions. I documented 68 manuscripts, including Wilde’s early sketches, lecture notes and annotated drafts of Poems (1881). The collection also features holographs of his plays, personal effects from his separation from his wife, Constance Lloyd, and materials related to his imprisonment.

Correspondence files Add MS 81846–81847 revealed exchanges between Mary Hyde, H. M. Hyde and Vyvyan Holland (Wilde’s son), shedding light on the collection’s evolution. Auction catalogues and sales records (Add MS 81848–81851) helped trace the provenance of key items, while H. M. Hyde’s personal catalogue (Add MS 81852) offered further content.

The main output of the PhD Placement was a provenance spreadsheet documenting Wilde’s manuscripts and autograph letters in the Lady Eccles Oscar Wilde Collection. This included holograph drafts of plays, annotated menus, correspondence, and personal documents, all traced through acquisition records, catalogue entries and Mary Hyde’s collection index cards. The spreadsheet consolidates item-level descriptions and ownership history, offering a clearer view of the collection’s formation and enhancing its accessibility for future research.

One standout item is the typescript of The Importance of Being Earnest (1894), originally titled ‘Lady Lancing’, with handwritten corrections and revisions (Add MS 81624). Its provenance spans collectors Clarence Bernet and John B. Stetson, with appearances at major auctions from 1920 to 1981. Tracing its journey not only confirms authenticity but enriches our understanding of Wilde’s reception over time.

Exploring these materials has felt like literary archaeology. Wilde’s editorial work for the Woman’s World Magazine (1887–89) revealed his progressive views on gender. The archive charts his life from Oxford optimism to personal tragedy, highlighted by the loyalty of friends like Robert Baldwin Ross, Ada Leverson (his ‘Sphinx’) and Reginald Turner.

The Eccles Bequest elevates the British Library as a premier site for Wilde scholarship. By preserving and contextualising these materials, the collection ensures Wilde’s legacy remains vibrant, accessible and deeply human.

Further reading

Suzy Corrigan, ‘Final Report of the British Library PhD Placement Scheme 2025/2026. Curating the Manuscripts in the Lady Eccles Oscar Wilde Collection: Provenance, Preservation and Access’, 2025