1870 City of London College: Henry Clark, MP Sir John Lubbock

#AD1108: Henry Clark, MP Sir John Lubbock, Thomas Dakin

Text on this Antique Victorian Handwritten Calligraphy Document reads:
City of London College
Leadenhall Street
Elocutionary Competition
1st Prize Awarded to.
Henry Clark, June 28th 1870 
(his name is handwritten there by a different hand in black dip pen ink)

Vindicators:
Reverend D. Orsey
T.J. Ohlson, Esq. (Lawyer)
J. Knight, Esq. (Lawyer)

Presented by:
Sir John Lubbock Bart (Baronet) M.P. FRRS
Nov 24, 1870 
(this date is handwritten by same hand as above,
also in black dip pen ink)
Chairman:
The Right Honourable. The Lord Mayor.
T. Dakin (Sir Thomas Dakin)

This is a beautiful 1870 Victorian Calligraphy Elocution Award for City of London College. Elocution means to learn to pronounce, or the skill of clear and expressive speech, distinct pronunciation and distinct articulation.

The City of London College was created in 1861 from the Metropolitan Evening Classes For Young Men, opened in 1848. It was located at Sussex Hall on Leadenhall Street, until 1881 when it moved to White Street, Moorgate as per help from HRH Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales. In December 1940 the College's building were completely devastated during WWII air raids. Classes were then moved to the City Literary Institute and the Sir John Cass Technical Institute. It then reopened at Electra House, 84 Moorgate, which is now the London Metropolitan University's Guildhall. In 1970 the college merged with Sir John Cass College to form the City of London Polytechnic.

This piece was presented by Sir Thomas Dakin, seen in records his occupation as a "Spectacle Maker", who was Lord Mayor of London from 1870 to 1871. Also Kent MP Sir John Lubbock, well loved as MP (Member of Parliament) who introduced the Bank Holiday Bill, giving workers eight holiday days a year. Sir John was MP for Maidstone, England between 1870 and 1880, and the most popular politician in the country. He is known to have given money to the City of London College, thus was connected there at the exact time of this piece.

Condition: beautiful early Calligraphy piece hand lettered in dark sepia pen on soft 19th paper with a high linen content. See scans. The size is 6.5 x 8.75 inches. Upper rirght corner tip missing. yellowing and edge tears, but a beautiful piece ready for framing. Most likely the only copy in existence.

This would have been quite a prestigious award for young Henry Clark to receive. This beautiful old hand lettered, hand written antique paper piece was found in Totnes, Devon, England.

Size: 6.5 x 8.75 inches
       Note: The original is sold, but you may still purchase large, detailed and intimate 300 dpi high resolution scans of front and back, sent immediately via email. Please check our site carefully, as many may be related to each other that we are unaware of. Click scan to place in your cart. Thank you, enjoy! ~debra (please also join me at Ancestorville Genealogy on facebook. contact info on top bar)