Certificate of Merit for Catharine Elizabeth Miller

Date1850

OriginAmerica, District of Columbia, Washington

MediumWatercolor and ink on wove paper

DimensionsPrimary Support: 7 3/4 x 6 3/4in. (19.7 x 17.1cm) and Framed: 9 5/8 x 8 5/8 x 7/8in.

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Stuart E. Brown, Sr.

Object number1974.305.1

DescriptionThe central composition of this piece is a written inscription surrounded by a circle of leaves. The leaves in this circle are in neat pairs all joined together to form the circle. Surrounding this circle on three sides is a graceful swirling spray of flowers.

Artist unidentified.
Label TextCatharine Elizabeth Miller's certificate was awarded for her compliance with "early rising" regulations at the Female Seminary in Georgetown (now part of Washington, D. C.). The design and style of flower painting probably derived from copybook instructions and illustrated exercises popular in girls' schools throughout America during the mid-nineteenth century.
Lydia Scudder English (1802-1865/1866) founded the Female Seminary in Georgetown in 1826 and served as its principal for many years. She continued to live at the school after relinguishing her post as principal a few years before the school closed in 1861.

InscribedWithin the circle of leaves is the ink inscription: "Female Seminary Georgetown, D.C./This certifies that/Miss Catharine Elizabeth Miller,/during the Term ending this day, has/strictly complied with regulation for/Early Rising, thereby meriting Approba/tion in the highest degree, and rank-/ing in the First Grade for Punctuality/July 31 1850/L. S, English Principal".
On the verso is a later pencil inscription, ostensibly written by a daughter of Catherine Elizabeth Miller, that reads: "This was given as an award of merit to my mother when she was a pupil at Miss English's School, Georgetown. Give to Virginia Henkel. Her grandmother was also a pupil at the same school. Signed Catharine E. Miller."
A paper dust cover removed from the back of the framed work bears an ink inscription in a modern hand; it repeats the obverse inscription (but mis-interprets "this day" for "Thursday"). It has not been transcribed here.
MarkingsThe upper left corners of six printed broadsides announcing a sale of the estate of Catharine E. Miller of Berryville, Va., are in the file, these remnants apparently having served as filler material in the picture frame. No complete copy of the broadside has been located. The sale of the estate of the Catharine E. Miller named on the broadside occurred on July 25, 1944, so the deceased is presumed to have been the daughter of the woman of the same name who attended the Female Seminary in Georgetown.
ProvenanceFrom the honoree, Catharine Elizabeth Miller; to her daughter, Catherine E. Miller, Berryville, Va.; to Mrs. Stuart E. Brown, Sr., Berryville, Va., who was AARFAM's donor.