Dodgson met the young daughters of physician James Samuel Drury and his wife Sophia whilst travelling on a train bound for Sandhurst, where he entertained them with stories, puzzles and crafts.
Before they said goodbye he wrote down their names and address and stated “One of these days I will send
you a children’s book I have written, it is called Alice in Wonderland”.
After the encounter on the railway journey, Dodgson and the Drury girls forged a friendship that lasted the next twenty-five years, with the author attending the youngest daughter Emily’s wedding to James Wyper in in 1883.
‘Emmie, Ella and Minnie Drury on grassy bank’
Numbered 1752 in Dodgson’s catalogue of photographs
(at least one other copy known, as per Edward Wakeling, 2014)
Taken between 4th September and 17th September 1869, at Dodgson’s home, the Chestnuts, Guildford
‘Emma (Emmie) Drury’
Numbered 1922 in Dodgson’s catalogue of photographs
(No other copies known, as per Edward Wakeling, 2014)
Taken between 8th September and 11th July 1870, at the London home of Henry Holiday
With inscription below the photograph in Dodgson’s hand
‘Emmie, Ella and Minnie Drury on steps’
Numbered 1923 in Dodgson’s catalogue of photographs
(No other copies known, as per Edward Wakeling, 2014)
Taken between 8th September and 11th July 1870, at the London home of Henry Holiday
Together with later photographs of Emily and James Wyper
