As a boarding school, Eton is home from home for many boys. For many residential staff and their families, Eton is their only home.
The founder of Eton College, Henry VI, envisioned Eton as a religious and educational foundation and meticulously laid out both aspects in the college statues in 1447. Those who held senior offices needed to be ordained and live onsite. No women were to be employed by the college or permitted to pass through the gates without a reasonable honest cause approved by the fellows.
This was the case until Sir Thomas Smith (1513 – 1577) was appointed as Provost in 1547. Smith was a close associate of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector of England during Edward VI’s minority.
In direct contravention of the college statutes, Seymour selected Smith, a layman, for the provostship and granted him full permission to marry under the great seal. Smith was elected as Provost and took full advantage of this royal licence by marrying Elizabeth Carkeke a few months later. Several members of the college followed this example and married, resulting in the gradual reception of women and children. Even though records about this domestic side of Eton are rare, the College Archives and photographic collection offer a tantalising glimpse into the lives of the families that called Eton home.
Margaretta Brown (1774 – 1855)
Margaretta was the sister-in-law of Head Master John Keate (1773 – 1852), and spent a great deal of her adult life with her sister, Fanny, and her nieces and nephew at Eton. The library and archives at Eton hold a number of Margaretta’s letters and diaries, which provide a great personal insight into the lives of the families and women at the college.
Ann Maria (Annie) Evans (1824 – 1871) The Evans family have a long connection with Eton, holding the post of drawing master from 1808 to 1922, through four generations. Annie was the daughter of drawing master William Evans (1798 – 1877) and the sister of the last Eton Dame Jane Evans (1826 – 1906) and drawing master Samuel T.G. Evans (1829 – 1904). William Evans also managed the boarding house, Evans’, and raised his children alongside the boys in his house.
Annie Evans compiled a photograph album in the 1860s. It depicts individual and family portraits taken in photography studios. It is a rare and early example of an Eton family album in the collection.
William Evans, Drawing Master 1823-1853
PA-A.33_64-2012
Jane Evans, Dame 1878-1906
PA-A.33_12-2012
Samuel T.G. Evans, Drawing Master 1849-1903
PA-A.33_10-2012
Mrs Susan Evans and Arthur Evans
Wife and son of Samuel T.G. Evans
PA-A.33_47-2012
Charlotte Goodford (1848 – 1924)
Charlotte was the daughter of Provost Charles Old Goodford (1812 – 1884) and Katharine Lucia Law. In her diaries, Charlotte writes detailed accounts of her daily life at Eton and the activities of her family and friends, including skating on Fellows’ Pond.
Arthur Coleridge James (1842 – 1921)
Arthur was a King’s Scholar in 1851 and returned to Eton in 1864 to teach. He was a housemaster from 1870 until he retired in 1899. James’ first wife Florence Mary Brunel (1848 – 1876) was the daughter of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. They had two daughters, Celia and Lilian. In 1881, James married Maria Elisabeth Beels (1852 – 1937) and had four daughters, who lived with him at Eton. They kept a family album, which shows life at Eton for a housemaster and his family.
Georgina Robinson, Archivist