Abstract
The Visitors’ Book kept by Sir Richard and Lady Wallace at Hertford House encompasses 245 pages within its black leather covers and includes a treasure trove of nineteenth-century signatures, most of which have now been transcribed during a year-long project. Many of the signatories have been identified, and this research, which has unearthed intriguing stories about some of the female visitors to the collection, forms the basis for this article. Several of these women visitors to Hertford House turn out to have had fascinating lives, being active in fields such as medicine, archaeology, and women’s rights. The achievements of twenty-four of them, grouped into nine loose, and sometimes surprising, categories are examined in this article. Their connections to the world of art and the ways in which they were able to take part in public life have also been charted. Most of the women defied general expectations of a woman’s life in the nineteenth century. They were able to attain an excellent education, were supported in their unusual ambitions by their families, and, if married, lived reasonably independent lives. However, their struggles to attain their goals were real and should not be underestimated. The women described here were more fortunate than others of their time but nevertheless had to make the most of every opportunity within their grasp in order to succeed. This research has, moreover, confirmed the value of studying visitors’ books as a route to examining lives in the past.<br>
Highlights
Ten months after Lady Wallace’s death in February 1897, the Hertford House Visitors’ Book was closed for the final time
Hertford House was a private collection that could be visited by prior appointment or on occasional open days
After 1897 the Visitors’ Book became part of Lady Wallace’s legacy to Sir John Murray Scott, who had been private secretary to both Lady Wallace and Sir Richard. It remained in his family’s possession until the death of his sister Mary in 1943, at which point it returned to its original home at Hertford House.[1]
Summary
Many of the women who came to visit Sir Richard’s collection were society ladies whose wealth allowed them more independence than was enjoyed by their poorer female contemporaries. Acting was still considered a barely respectable profession for women in Victorian times This was slowly changing, and several famous actresses who had made a career on the stage later married into upper-class society. American artist Dora Wheeler (1856–1940), later known as Dora Wheeler Keith, came to the collection in June 1884 She was a New York artist celebrated for her portraits, she worked as an illustrator and designer of tapestries. Her company Associated Artists).[39] The donation and resulting preservation of these textiles demonstrate a love of this particular medium, which for much of its history was dominated by female workers She visited the collection with a group of other American visitors who included John Taylor Johnston and his son-in-law Robert Weeks De Forest. Her companions on her visit show that she was part of a wider social circle that was much involved with philanthropy and collecting art
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
