Helen Kirk

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Helen Kirk

by William Ralston & Sons
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
3 5/8 in. x 2 3/8 in. (93 mm x 61 mm) image size
Given by an anonymous donor, 1939
Photographs Collection
NPG Ax39853

Sitterback to top

  • Helen Kirk (active 1860s), Singer. Sitter in 1 portrait.

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Events of 1860back to top

Current affairs

An early feminist movement, The Society for Promoting the Employment of Women is founded by Adelaide Anne Proctor, Emily Faithfull, Helen Blackburn, Bessie Parks, Emily Davies, Barbara Bodichon, and Jessie Boucherett.
The Florence Nightingale Training School for Nurses opens at St Thomas's Hospital, in London, funded from the testimonial fund collected for Nightingale following her war services, and helping to establish nursing as a profession.

Art and science

William Morris and new wife Jane Burden move into the Red House, near Bexleyheath, Kent. The house, designed by Philip Webb, represents Morris's principle in interior design, that no object should be in a house that is not beautiful.
Ford Madox Brown paints The Last of England, showing a boat of emigrants leaving England under desperate circumstances, inspired by the emigration of the Pre-Raphaelite Thomas Woolner to Australia in 1852.

International

Italian unification continues as the Treaty of Turin brings much of Northern Italy under nationalist leader Cavour's control, who cedes Savoy and Nice to France. Garibaldi siezes the opportunity to invade Marsala in Sicily with his army of 1,000 redshirts, proclaiming himself dictator in the name of Victor Emmanuel II.
Republican Abraham Lincoln becomes President of the US, with only 39% of the popular vote.

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david allen

15 August 2019, 14:25

As a singer she gave free concerts for certified persons at Gartnavel asylum in the 1850s and early 60s, the asylum prided itself in giving high quality entertainment to psychotic people, James Frame was involved in organizing certain concerts and took part in hospital life after returning to his home & family. He thought very highly of Helen Kirk and all musicians that gave their service "gratuitously". Frame wrote Ms Kirk survived her fame as if it had been a shock or disturbing experience for her.
D. F. ALLEN

D F Allen

11 August 2019, 18:16

She was a singer according to James Frame

David F. Allen DESS, DEA, Ph D

11 August 2019, 18:07

Dear Ms or Sir,
The name appears in a book by James Frame- A voice from Gartnavel asylum : 200 copies printed in 1865 by JF who suffered from manic-depression and wrote two books about madness, asylums and so on.
I am working a a new edition of this work - in French and English - it will be published by Beauchesne Paris,
Regards,
D F ALLEN Ph D.