Historical information
This memorial card follows a style that was commonly used in the 1890s. The size of the card make it useful for presentation and handing out.
There was a remarkably large production of memorial and funeral cards in Australia during the latter 19th and early 20th centuries and the style did not change (and many of the styles are still in effect today).
Many of the card companies, in this case ‘The Memorial Card Co.,’ located at 143 King St, Sydney, published standardised plates which had areas for customisation. The card has the area for name, photograph, date of death and age. Poetry was often standardised, but could be requested at the behest of the person who commissioned the card
Isabella Battley (nee Goad) was born in 1867, in Smythesdale, Victoria, Australia. She was married to James E. Battley when she died aged 45. James E. Battley was a director of the butter Factory in Orbost in 1915. Their son Ernest Albert Battley enlisted in the AIF from Orbost in 1916. His father is listed as Next of Kin and his mother as deceased.
James was remarried to Eda May Battley (born Sargent) in 1914. He passed away in 1925, at age 57
Significance
Memorial cards are often treasured for a long time, and often become part of family history. The Battley family was an earlyn Orbost family.
Physical description
A black memorial card printed in memory of Isabella Battley. It has gold printed writing, a gold etched border and wreath. There is a photo of Isabella Battley and a memorial poem.