Print, Photographic

Enlarged print of a photograph showing the first kindergarten class in Detroit. The photograph shows eighteen children seated and standing. An accompanying label, providing background for the photo and the names of children show, reads as follows:

"The first kindergarten in Detroit was started and taught by the Misses Julia and Sylvia Allen, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Allen. A large room adjacent to their home on the east side of Griswold Street, just south of Grand River Avenue.

The picture is a copy of one taken by Watson, a photographer whose studio was on Woodward Ave, at the corner of John R. Street, later the Tomlinson Gallery. The date is June 1881 or 1882.

The children in the picture are:
Standing, left to right:
Mary E. (Mignonne) Swift (Mrs. Fred T. Murphy); Arthur Martin; Ethel Ridgeley (Mrs. Myron B. Vorce), Alice Ives (Mrs. Henry Lyster Walker), Mabel Leonard (Mrs. Robert L. Schorr), Rufus Clark, Jr., Maurice McMillen.
Seated, left to right:
Gertrude Wolcott, Emma J. Farwell (Mrs. Edward Jewett), Robbi LeSeure, Florence Hammond (Mrs. Edward Skae), in front of her Lester Durand Gardner, Freddie Hubbard King (?) Gertrude James, Grace Stocking, Edna Leonard (Mrs. Harry Simmons), Mignonne Whitten, Fannie E. (Frances) Curtiss.

Presented to the Detroit Historical Society by Lester Durand Gardner, 875 West End Avenue New York City. November 12, 1952."
Enlarged from original photograph."

A label affixed to the back of the photograph also identifies the children shown and provides variations on several of the names as follows:
"Majorie Swift Earl Ridgley Alice Ives Mabel Leonard Maurice McMillan
Arthur Martin Flossie Hammond Rufus Clark Fannie Curtiss
Walcott, Emma Farrell Lasier Addie James Edna Leonard
Fred Hubbard Mignomie Whitton
Lester Gardner Stockling"