MovieChat Forums > Roundhay Garden Scene (1888) Discussion > Harriet Hartley?

Harriet Hartley?

posted 16 years ago by Tim_Thomason
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I can't find anything online regarding this "mystery woman." Does anyone have any details on her, her connection with the Le Prince/Whitley families, or anything?

She's not in the 1871 Roundhay Census, but "Mary J. Hartley" is. She would about 19 by 1888. Interestingly, Louis Le Prince (as "Augustin") is living with the Whitley's at "Roundhay Cottage" with his wife and newborn daughter in 1871. Given that a servant (Phoebe M. Eadson) lives with them in that time period, it's possible that Ms. Hartley was another servant of the Whitley's 17 years later.

Information can be found here ( http://homepage.ntlworld.com/nev.hurworth/1871CensusRhay.htm ).

[–] johnny-m 16 years ago

Christopher Rawlence in his biography of Le Prince (The Missing Reel), identifies her as Anne Hartley. (See my FAQ on this film).

The trouble is that the census does not give us a reasonably young Anne Hartley either. In the book, Anne Hartley is roughly Adolphe's age (i.e. 16). She is definitely not a servant, but a friend of the family, at least that is what it says in the book.

I am looking for traces about her as well, but nothing yet... Any help would do.

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