Genealogical research on the Valentine family reveals confirmed …
In the 1970s, St Andrews took in the vast collection of the Valentines of Dundee. This internationally renowned firm was started by James Valentine and his sons. The Valentine collection consists of many thousands of prints, negatives, plus albums, educational and popular lantern slides and various other items. Because of its diversity, is it one of the most frequently researched photographic collections in St Andrews. An in-house booklet provides a more comprehensive history of the firm along with tables of registration dates from original View Registers that hold the key to this historic and often complex collection.
James Valentine began his career as lithographer, printer and stationer. He studied photography in the 1840s and added photographic portraiture to his diverse interests in 1851. By 1855 photography formed a major part of the family business. James was a founder member of the Edinburgh Photographic Society and his landscape photography was highly regarded and led to Royal patronage. From their Dundee base the firm steadily grew to become a global operation with branches throughout Britain and abroad. In 1897 the Valentines went into postcard production. It is possibly the postcards, greetings cards, calendars and popular topographical albums for which Valentines are chiefly remembered, although many were based on real photography.
Photographs of some of the Valentine workshops, from A Visit to Valentines: impressions of a pressman by Norval Scrymgeour (c. 1920).
Easton Smith Valentine (1868-1940), younger son of James, was educated at Dundee High School. He gained his M.A. degree at the University of St Andrews, became an English examiner at the Universities of St Andrews and Glasgow, then Head of the English Department at Dundee High School. Whilst pursuing a distinguished career as educator and scholar, he also authored and co-authored books and journals on English grammar, poetry and geographies, including Fifeshire, Forfarshire and his Handbook and Guide to Dundee and district.
Easton S. Valentine and his family. Evangeline Valentine, the oldest daughter of Easton, (who would marry Thomas Blackadder, below) is standing at the centre of this portrait.
Easton Valentine also successfully campaigned for the establishment of The English Association, founded in 1906 by a small group of English teachers and scholars who wished to “further knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of the English language and its literatures and to foster good practice in its teaching and learning at all levels.” A remark made by Arundell Esdaile, recorded in the Association’s centenary publication The English Association one hundred years on, highlights Valentine’s involvement in this group:
“It is no unique paradox that the English Association … traces its first conception to a Scotchman”
Easton served as the Association’s first treasurer. In 1907 a Scottish branch was established representing various regions and with a diverse membership that included educators and scholars, clergymen, civil servants, librarians, and writers such as Andrew Lang of St Andrews. An Australian branch was founded in 1923. Easton’s academic pursuits did not entirely disassociate him from the photographic and publishing activities of the family firm as he also authored educational lectures on British history, illustrated by lantern slides published by Valentines.
A portrait of the Blackadder family, taken December 1907 in Broughty Ferry. From left to right: Thomas Blackadder, Helen Blackadder, Robert Blackadder, Robin Blackadder, David Blackadder, Agnes Savill (née Blackadder), Agnes Blackadder (née Sturrock), Henry Blackadder and Willie Blackadder.
A descendent of Easton Valentine resident in New York contacted us recently regarding genealogical research, attaching some rather exciting images of family photographs featuring her grandmother Evangeline, along with her siblings, mother and father, Easton Smith Valentine (at top of post). What makes these images doubly exciting is that Evangeline married Thomas Blackadder (far left in the portrait above), a chemist from nearby Broughty Ferry, Dundee, whose sister, Agnes Forbes Blackadder (Savill), was the first woman to graduate from the University of St Andrews. Until now, no photographs with a positive identification of Savill were known, so when these images of the Blackadder family group arrived we were very happy indeed! She is seen with her family at their Broughty Ferry home, ‘Edrom’, along with her father, her mother and her siblings, including Thomas, who married Evangeline Valentine.
A close-up of Agnes Savill (née Blackadder).
Coincidentally, a recent student poll as part of the University of St Andrews’ 600th centenary celebrations revealed Agnes Forbes Blackadder to be most popular choice in the renaming of New Hall residence. Agnes Forbes Blackadder Savill (1875-1964), received her MA degree from St Andrews on 29 March 1895 then forged a distinguished career as a surgeon.
We are delighted to feature those photographs here and to be able to finally reveal a confirmed portrait of this important woman. We are also grateful to The English Association for gifting us a 1st edition copy of their centenary publication (as mentioned above) to assist with research, which has now been added to the St Andrews Collection.
–Pam Cranston
Photographic Research and Preservation Officer
