Elise was born Elsie Margaret Blackburn Brown in Livesey (Cherry Tree) Lancashire in September 1894 (Or 1895). When Elsie was born, her father was a Reverend. He had married her mother, Frances Margaret Lewis, on the 9th July 1890 at St. Mark the Evangelist, Witton, Lancashire, when he was 33 and she 29. She also had an elder sister, Kathleen Frances Blackburn, who was born in Livesey in 1893.
In a small envelope addressed to the Reverend, there are six photographs, three of Elsie and three of Kathleen. I would like to think he cherished these pictures of his daughters.
In 1914, Elsie left Manchester High School to attend Bedford College For Women. There she studied a Bachelor of Science degree and is listed among 2500 other female Mathematicians who graduated from university before 1940. Bedford College was the first institution of its type in the United Kingdom and is described in general literature as playing a key role in the advancement of women.
After her graduation in 1918, (the year that wealthy women over 30 were awarded the vote) Else took a teaching position at The Park School in Preston. By 1920, she was form mistress to the Upper IV in addition to teaching Mathematics to the Upper VI. It was during 1920 that she got the news that her good friend Atkins would be leaving The Park School to take up a position elsewhere. This fact was reported on in the letter from her friend in Scotland.
Between 1920 and 1926, she holidayed in Yorkshire, having picnics outdoors with friends as well as visiting the falls in Ingleton. She was also bridesmaid to a friend, dabbled in dramatics and enjoyed more than one game of tennis.
Information provided by the curator of The Park School suggests that Elsie was a well liked and respected woman:
Miss Stoneman, Headmistress -
It was at the close of the 1914-18 war, when good mathematical teachers were as hard to get as they are to-day, that I heard that a brilliant student was just coming down from Bedford College, and would like work not too far from her own home in Darwen. When I interviewed Miss E. M. Blackburn-Brown, I realised that if she joined the staff we should secure not only a good mathematician, but a charming personality. The twelve years we worked togther were years when Miss Blackburn-Brown, by her own teaching and by directing the teaching of others, lifted her subject to the place it holds in the curriculum. What a calm and reliable Form Mistress she has proved herself to hundreds of girls, and with what relief again and again I turned over to her any financial matter in connection with School preformances, or School visits, notably the one to the Wembly Exhibition, and had not another care or reminder, until the perfectly draw-up balance sheet was presented to me! I am so sorry that family claims are depriving the Park School of this loved and familiar figure some years before the ordinary time. I am glad to think Miss Blackburn-Brown and I have never lost touch, but correspondence and meeting, when possible, have kept a friendship I deeply value unbroken, it is good to know that Preston will still be her home, and she will still have much to give to friends and neighbours. A.M.S
Now a tribute by Miss K.M. Reynolds our second headmistress from 1931-1954:-
Miss Blackburn-Brown retired in December after 31years' service to tyhe School. She returned for two mornings a week durni ng the Easter Term to help with the Senior work. Miss Blacburn-Brown has found a permanent place in the heart of the School. She has taught generations of girls, and, as leader of her mathematical team, possessed a very thorough knowledge of the Mathematical work of the School. Her integrity of character and her tenacity produced a positive influence upon staff and girls alike. She exercised a real pastoral care as a Form Mistress. Old Girls will remember her as a Form Mistress of Form V Science for many years, then, after a spell in the Middle School, she took over Form V1 General Arts when Miss Bonney retired. Many girls will also remember her patience in her Mathematical teaching. She rejoiced in the discovery of Mathematical skill in a girl, and accepted the adition of Biology as a strong subject in the School, which sometims led girls in the V1 Form to choose Mathematics as a supporting subject only in Form V1. Many will remember Miss Blackburn-Brown's accuracy and thoroughness in dealing with cloakroom pegs, stationary and play tickets, and she was called upon countless unremembered times to check the School accounts. A large number of girls past and present will want to join in giving her our best wishes for a happy retirement, and the School thanks her for the gift of a beautiful armchair for the new library. K.M.R.
Now the pupil - Janet Bellwood, Upper V1 Gen. Arts.
Miss Blackburn-Brown, who has been a Mathematics Mistress at the Park School for thirty-one years, retired at the end of the Autumn Term. Her firm yet quiet and gentle manner was an example to all girls and those of us who got to know her well realise how fortunate the School has beenin having her with us for so many years. Her patience in explaining the difficult problems of Mathematics has helped many pupils to reach high standards in that subject. But perhaps we shall remember her best of all as a Form Mistress. In this capacity she has excelled, and we shall always think of her with admiration and affection; for she not only performed the usual duties, but took a keen interest in the welfare of each individual. Yet Miss Blackburn-Brown has not left us altogether, as, owing to shortage of staff, she has consented to continue teaching for parts of two mornings a week. Although we miss her continual presence in the School very much, may we sincerely wish her many happy years of retirement.
The last picture of this set is Elsie in 1926. Little is known about her after this time, until her death, as a spinster in 1976. The photographs were originally found in a cabinet bought in an auction.
Dramatics.
Elsie and Atkins
Elsie and Kathleen?
Research information:
"England and Wales Census, 1901," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X9JG-K35 : accessed 13 Sep 2012), Elsie Margaret Blackburn Brown, Blackburn, Lancashire, England; citing (http://Findmypast.co.uk : 2011); PRO RG 13, county, Blackburn registration district, Witton subdistrict, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
| BLACKBURN-BROWN | 3 People | 1 Other Surname | In a total of 1 Grave | A total of 15 People |
http://www.cemsearch.co.uk/blackburn/blackburnB.html
See this website:
Ref marriage: CE32/3/155
Her Father, James, was born in Manchester, in 1857.
He died at the grand old age of 83, in 1939. Fulwood, Preston. (Ref fathers death: FUL/4/83 )
Frances M B Brown Died in Blackburn in March 1928, Darwen, Blackburn. REf mothrs death: D/103/63
Detail:
Parents:
Marriage: 9 Jul 1890 St Mark the Evangelist, Witton, Lancs.
James Blackburn Brown - 33 Clerk in Holy Orders Bachelor of Cherry Tree
Frances Margaret Lewis - 29 Spinster of Billinge House Witton
Groom's Father: Joshua Brown, Gentleman (deceased)
Bride's Father: Thomas Lewis, (deceased), Manufacturer
Witness: Henry Lewis; Harry Farrer Baynes
Married by Banns by: F. Cramer Roberts Bishop Vicar of Blackburn
Link
Kathleen:
Baptism: 8 Sep 1892 St Andrew, Blackburn, Lancashire, England
Kathleen Frances Blackburn Brown - [Child] of James Blackburn Brown & Frances Margaret
Born: 12 Aug 1892
Abode: 38 Feilden Ter.
Occupation: Clerk in Holy Orders
Baptised by: J. Blackburn Brown
Register: Baptisms 1877 - 1924, Page 128, Entry 1021
Link.
Reverend James Blackburn Brown:
St. Francis, Feniscliffe, Lancashire, England 1894 - 1898 (Vicar)
St Saviour, Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, England 1897
St. James, Darwen, 1914
Information about RJBB:
BBC Lancashire
Darwen Cemetry
Did the sisters witness this wedding?
Marriage: 17 Aug 1940 St Mary, Knowsley, Lancs.
Henry Ratcliffe - 24 Gunner no 984267 12 Field Training Regiment Royal Artillery Bachelor of Brook Cottage, School Lane, Knowsley
Marjorie Eileen Brown - 25 Spinster of Brook Cottage, School Lane, Knowsley
Groom's Father: Joseph Henry Ratcliffe, Farm Labourer
Bride's Father: Percy Romanus Brown, Watchmaker and Jeweller
Witness: James Ratcliffe; Kathleen Brown; Elsie Brown
Married by Licence by: F. A. H. Score Vicar
Register: Marriages 1929 - 1943, Page 37, Entry 74
Source: LDS Film 1545855
