The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), often dubbed the “Wikipedia of the 19th century,” is celebrated for its monumental linguistic endeavor, but its true heroes, until recently, remained shrouded in anonymity. Sarah Ogilvie, a former OED editor and linguistics researcher at Oxford University, embarked on an exhaustive quest to unveil the identities of the 3,000 enigmatic contributors who shaped the dictionary.
Over a century ago, former schoolteacher James Murray, the OED’s first substantial editor, launched a global appeal for assistance in compiling the lexicon. Volunteers worldwide sent in “slips” with word usage examples. Dr. Ogilvie stumbled upon Murray’s address book in the OED archive, meticulously cataloging the contributors’ contact details and contributions. This discovery became the catalyst for her years-long research, culminating in her latest book, “The Dictionary People.”
Rescuing Hidden Female Pioneers
Dr. Ogilvie’s quest also sought to uncover the contributions of women, whose involvement had been previously underreported. Out of the 3,000 contributors, only 234 women had received acknowledgment. However, her findings revealed nearly 500 women who played crucial roles. Among them were the pioneering lesbian poets Katherine Bradley and Edith Cooper, known by their male pseudonym, Michael Field. Their contributions included 500 slips from poet Robert Browning’s work and 750 slips from Homer’s Iliad.
These women, often denied access to universities, seized the opportunity to use their brilliant minds and contribute to a project that would shape the English language. Dr. Ogilvie’s research shines a light on their invaluable contributions, recognizing them as unsung heroes of the OED.
Recognition and Exclusion
In 1928, a celebratory dinner marked the “completion” of the OED, attended by 150 men in black tie, including then-UK Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin. Astonishingly, only three women, among the “dictionary people” invited, were present, and they were relegated to a balcony, silenced during proceedings. This exclusion serves as a poignant motivation for Dr. Ogilvie’s mission, as she seeks to finally give credit to these forgotten female luminaries.
Continuing the Tradition
While the OED now employs 75 individuals daily, the tradition of crowdsourcing remains alive. Chris Collier, an enthusiastic contributor from Brisbane, sent in an astonishing 100,000 words over three decades, sourced solely from The Courier-Mail, a Queensland newspaper. His dedication, as eccentric as it was, became a unique legacy in the OED, with more quotations from The Courier-Mail than from literary giants like Virginia Woolf or T.S. Eliot.
Collier’s remarkable commitment stands as a testament to the enduring allure of the OED, a lexicon that continues to be shaped by individuals passionate about the English language, from its hidden pioneers of the 19th century to dedicated contributors of today.