| Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision |
| ruth_s_autograph_book [2025/01/18 21:37] – judith | ruth_s_autograph_book [2025/02/04 09:34] (current) – judith |
|---|
| Emma and Fiona Cullen-Ward have a battered album that we would call an autograph book. {{:cover_c_14.4_x_11cmscan_20241206.jpg?200|}}It is 11 x 14.5cm and contains signatures and sketches both on its pages and as loose additions. There are also loose photos tucked into the album. I have put the names of those who signed in bold for easier identification.\\ | Emma and Fiona Cullen-Ward have a battered album that we would call an autograph book. {{:cover_c_14.4_x_11cmscan_20241206.jpg?200|}}It is 11 x 14.5cm and contains signatures and sketches both on its pages and as loose additions. There are also loose photos tucked into the album. I have put the names of those who signed in bold for easier identification.\\ |
| \\ | \\ |
| The best indication of its owner is the following page: {{:to_ruth_scan_20241206_3_.jpg?200|}} It reads: 'To Ruth. I love you. Not because your face is fair/And sweet & gentle too. But because you are yourself/So good & kind and true. **Jo Collingridge**. "St Cloud" Ryde 11th Feb. 1901." This declaration narrows the ownership to Ruth and almost certainly to Ruth Murray-Prior. It is also a reminder that we can be more inhibited than our forebears because our society is more sexualised. So this open and quite public declaration of love could be lesbian (at a time when homosexuality was illegal and largely considered deviant), but more likely referred to an openly loving friendship. \\ | The best indication of its owner is the following page: {{:to_ruth_scan_20241206_3_.jpg?200|}} It reads: 'To Ruth. I love you. Not because your face is fair/And sweet & gentle too. But because you are yourself/So good & kind and true. **Jo [or Lo?] Collingridge**. "St Cloud" Ryde 11th Feb. 1901." This declaration narrows the ownership to Ruth and almost certainly to Ruth Murray-Prior. It is also a reminder that we can be more inhibited than our forebears because our society is more sexualised. So this open and quite public declaration of love could be lesbian (at a time when homosexuality was illegal and considered deviant), but more likely referred an openly loving friendship. The little book has another contribution by **Jo [Lo?] Collingridge** - this drawing of a Japanese musician: {{:japanese_drawing_scan_20241206_2_.jpg?400|}} The Collingridge family who lived at St Cloud were Arthur and his wife Margaret and their 12 surviving children. The identity of the person is unclear. My assumption is that a young man would not write such a declaration unless they were family or engaged/married. That leaves 4 possibilities as Arthur and Margaret only had 4 daughters: Maud b.1874; Louisa b.1875 (known in the family as Googs); Mary b. 1877 (known in the family as Bobbie); and Anne b. 1880 (known in the family as Darkie.((Winsome Collingridge, email to J. Godden,3/2/2025)) The most likely of these is Louisa signing herself as 'Lo' - her nickname Googs was perhaps just for her family to use.\\ |
| \\ | \\ |
| The little book has another contribution by **Jo Collingridge** - this drawing of a Japanese musician: {{:japanese_drawing_scan_20241206_2_.jpg?400|}} The (probably unrelated) autograph on the facing page is by **Lilian Graham** but it is not dated. Throughout the book, four other members of the Graham family have signed.\\ | That there are so many sketches in this small album indicates how art was valued by Ruth, her family and friends including the Collingridge family- see [[http://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/Library/Local-and-Family-History/Historic-Ryde/Historic-Figures/Arthur-Collingridge|Ryde Library]]. It is not known if Ruth herself drew or whether she concentrated her talents on writing. This album are not about masterpieces nor professional artists; rather it indicates the enjoyment amateur artists and others gained from creating and treasuring art.\\ |
| \\ | |
| That there are so many sketches in this small album indicates how art was valued by Ruth, her family and friends including Jo Collingridge's family- see [[http://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/Library/Local-and-Family-History/Historic-Ryde/Historic-Figures/Arthur-Collingridge|Ryde Library]]. It is not known if Ruth herself drew or whether she concentrated her talents on writing. This album are not about masterpieces nor professional artists; rather it indicates the enjoyment amateur artists and others gained from creating and treasuring art.\\ | |
| \\ | \\ |
| {{:emily_s_paterson_again_scan_20241206_3_.jpg?300|}} {{:emily_s_paterson_scan_20241206_3_.jpg?450|}}These charming paintings are by **Emily Susan Paterson**, Ruth's first cousin who was a talented amateur artist.((Judith Godden, 'The Matriarch of //Rockend//: Emily Mary Barton, more than Banjo Paterson's grandmother', Ryde History Series No 13, Ryde District Historical Society, 2020, pp.20-21. Emily Susan was Emily Mary Barton's daughter.)) \\ | {{:emily_s_paterson_again_scan_20241206_3_.jpg?300|}} {{:emily_s_paterson_scan_20241206_3_.jpg?450|}}These charming paintings are by **Emily Susan Paterson**, Ruth's first cousin who was a talented amateur artist.((Judith Godden, 'The Matriarch of //Rockend//: Emily Mary Barton, more than Banjo Paterson's grandmother', Ryde History Series No 13, Ryde District Historical Society, 2020, pp.20-21. Emily Susan was Emily Mary Barton's daughter.)) \\ |
| \\ | |
| {{:kitty_barton_painting_scan_20241206_2_.jpg?300|}} {{:scan_20241206_2_.jpg?300|}} These paintings are by **Sarah Kate (Kitty) Barton**, another of Ruth's first cousins, and the daughter of Henry Francis (Frank) Barton and Sarah Kate nee Macansh. They lived at //Nyrangie//, Linsley Street, Gladesville. The painting of a boat is done on roughly cut, uneven paper.\\ | {{:kitty_barton_painting_scan_20241206_2_.jpg?300|}} {{:scan_20241206_2_.jpg?300|}} These paintings are by **Sarah Kate (Kitty) Barton**, another of Ruth's first cousins, and the daughter of Henry Francis (Frank) Barton and Sarah Kate nee Macansh. They lived at //Nyrangie//, Linsley Street, Gladesville. The painting of a boat is done on roughly cut, uneven paper.\\ |
| \\ | \\ |
| * **Constance H. Wilson**; and (in now-faint pencil) **Dorothy Vine Hall** 28 August 1907. Dorothy Vine Hall was the daughter of marine surveyor Captain J. Vine-Hall. She was educated at SGCEGS (Sydney Church of England Grammar School) and graduated with a BA from the University of Sydney in 1907, the same year as Ruth.In 1906 she was appointed teacher at the (Anglican) Bishopthorpe High School in Goulburn.(([[http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/historictabledpapers/files/184169/1907_1_004.pdfexample.com]] and //Goulburn Evening Penny Post//, 21 July 1906, p.4.))\\ | * **Constance H. Wilson**; and (in now-faint pencil) **Dorothy Vine Hall** 28 August 1907. Dorothy Vine Hall was the daughter of marine surveyor Captain J. Vine-Hall. She was educated at SGCEGS (Sydney Church of England Grammar School) and graduated with a BA from the University of Sydney in 1907, the same year as Ruth.In 1906 she was appointed teacher at the (Anglican) Bishopthorpe High School in Goulburn.(([[http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/historictabledpapers/files/184169/1907_1_004.pdfexample.com]] and //Goulburn Evening Penny Post//, 21 July 1906, p.4.))\\ |
| * **Mollie[?] G. Graham**, 31 January 1902; **T.B. M-Prior** (see relatives list);\\ | * **Mollie[?] G. Graham**, 31 January 1902; **T.B. M-Prior** (see relatives list);\\ |
| | * **Lilian Graham**, no date. A total of five members of the Graham family have signed.\\ |
| * **Peri Macphail**, **Spider Storrock**, **Ruth Amos**, and **Lucy A. Peele** (who also did one of the above drawings) all signed on 2 November 1900. Others choose this page to sign, which suggests a connection: **Amy F. A. Paine**, 31 January 1903; **Mabel G. Green** and **Cara May** (both on 20 November 1900); **Margery M. Marr** and **Ettie Wallach** (both on 24 April 1901).\\ | * **Peri Macphail**, **Spider Storrock**, **Ruth Amos**, and **Lucy A. Peele** (who also did one of the above drawings) all signed on 2 November 1900. Others choose this page to sign, which suggests a connection: **Amy F. A. Paine**, 31 January 1903; **Mabel G. Green** and **Cara May** (both on 20 November 1900); **Margery M. Marr** and **Ettie Wallach** (both on 24 April 1901).\\ |
| * **T.W.[Sir Tannatt William]** [[wp>Edgeworth_David|**Edgeworth David**]] the famous geologist and Antarctic explorer, his wife **Cara David**, and daughter **Margaret Edgeworth David**, later [[wp>Margaret_McIntyre|McIntyre]] and the first woman elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council); and Ethel Davies;\\ | * **T.W.[Sir Tannatt William]** [[wp>Edgeworth_David|**Edgeworth David**]] the famous geologist and Antarctic explorer, his wife **Cara David**, and daughter **Margaret Edgeworth David**, later [[wp>Margaret_McIntyre|McIntyre]] and the first woman elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council); and Ethel Davies;\\ |