Mystery Woman - E Levett

[garyatkinson]

I recently came across this photograph which is alleged to be of my great grandmother, Esther Livett (Levitt/ Levett). I have reason to believe that it may not be her but her sister Ellen. Esther was born in 1886 and Ellen in 1888. Both were born in Hull, East Yorkshire, England.
I have tried to contact the owner of the photograph but have had no reply.
I have not been told of anyone in this part of the family having gone to university but there sits “E. Levett” (titled by the owner of the photograph) having graduated at university. Her scroll consists of several pages…
If this is Ellen and she left university at around 22 years old, then this would place the photograph, taken in Hull, at Barry’s studio just off Anlaby Road, at about 1910. If it is a 20 year old Esther then it would be 1908.
I have a photograph of Esther, taken in 1931 and there is a resemblance but not enough for me to be sure. I have no photograph of Ellen to make a comparison.
So, what I am looking for are ideas; I don’t expect anyone to recognise her, but it would be wonderful if anyone does. I’m looking for ideas of how I could pick up clues from the photograph which I could follow up. Does the gown and hat tell anything? Are gown designs specific to particular universities? Is it a BA gown or an MA gown? Which university?  It wasn’t Hull because that university did not open until around 1927. Do universities have records of their past graduates? Would I be right in dating the picture at about 1910. Is there anything else that the picture could tell or suggest?
Any thoughts would be welcome. Thanks.

[Treetotal]

Hi Gary...There is a matching family tree that has this photo attached as Esther Levitt...she married Joseph Howard in 1904


Carol

[garyatkinson]

Hi Carol,
Yes and this is probably where the photograph came from. The problem is, that Esther was married by 1904 by which time she would have been 19. In the same year she gave birth to her first child; my grandmother. Looking at the young woman in the photograph, who has evidently just been through university, she must be in her early twenties. Also, I am sure that my mother, who is Esther's granddaughter would have told me about her grandmother having been to university, had this been the case. On the other hand, I know nothing about Ellen...

[Treetotal]

Hi Gary...Ellen is proving to be a bit elusive on the censuses...She may have graduated outside of Hull and had her photo taken in her home town and moved away through her job...I was wondering if she emigrated.
Esther was a Domestic Servant in 1901 so not likely to be her given that she married 3 years later.
Carol

[Treetotal]

There are two directory entries for Ellen Levett in 1925 and 1929 in Chelmsford, Essex....But it may not be her 

Carol

[arthurk]

This is a fascinating photo, but it might help in identifying the person if we could put a reasonably precise date to it. From what can be seen at present it looks like a carte de visite which I would guess might date from about the 1890s, but as styles of photos and mounts changed over the years, it would be helpful to see the whole of the front and the back of it.

Clearly the woman has just reached some academic milestone, but the lack of a hood suggests that she may not be a graduate - though since there were hardly any opportunities for women to attend university in those days, that's not surprising. There were, however, a few associated colleges where women could study, including some for teacher training, and this may relate to one of those. All universities and colleges, or their successor institutions, will keep records of their former students, and they may also be published in annual calendars - I found records of some of my family members from Leeds University in a copy of a calendar in the Society of Genealogists' library.

Each university has its own regulations for academic dress, and it often varies according to the faculty where someone is studying. In this case, the colour of the tassel and the stitching where the sleeve is gathered may well be significant.

I haven't been able to find any similar pictures, but I'm sure that with a bit of time and effort it should be possible to identify it. One possible source of help might be the Burgon Society (http://www.burgon.org.uk), which is concerned with the history of academic dress - they may well have someone who can identify it, or at least give a few pointers as to where it might be from.

Arthur

[garyatkinson]

Hi Carol. Any scrap of possibility is of interest. Thanks. I have just trawled swiftly through a.com, looking for her again. After 1901 all of the brothers and sisters are still there, in Hull but no Ellen. I agree that, this being the case, she may have moved out of town (to go to university?), took a liking to where she went and stayed there. Is there any recommendation as to how I could follow up the small cutting that you posted up? I suppose I would need to find a census for the area, this would give the place of birth... If it turned out to be Hull, then it would be likely to our Ellen.

[mazi]

I think that if you became qualified at either of the colleges of music you were entitled to wear "cap and Gown".

Royal college of music  London
Victoria college of music manchester


mike

[snowyw]

Have you looked to see when Barry photographers were at Anlaby Road?
That might give a clue.