Emily Spencer Hayden
Encyclopedia
Emily Spencer Hayden was a photographer who lived in and around Baltimore, Maryland.
Emily was born near Randallstown
at her family’s farm, called The Martin’s Nest. Edward Spencer Mott, her father, was a writer and dramatist who wrote at times for the Baltimore Bulletin and The Baltimore Sun
, and whose best known play was Kit, the Arkansas Traveler.
With the death of her parents in the early 1880s, care of the Spencer family was left to a woman named Eliza Benson. Benson, an African American
woman, a freed slave, had worked for Spencer family for many years before Emily's parents died, and would live with Emily Spencer Hayden after Emily married and had children. Mr. John McCoy, a friend of the Spencer family supported the children financially.
Emily Spencer graduated from Baltimore’s Western High School as valedictorian
in 1878. After graduation, she worked as a first grade teacher in the Baltimore Public Schools for a while. While in her spare time, she was a painter, reader, skater, and singer in the Ascension Episcopal Church choir. At some point, she met Charles S. Hayden her future husband, possibly at the Shakespeare Club which both attended. After Charles’ graduation from law school and acceptance to the bar, the two married in 1893. Their first child, Ruth, was born in 1895, followed by Catherine Spencer Hayden in 1902, and Anna Bradford Hayden in 1905. A friend of Emily’s at this time was the writer Lizette Woodworth Reese
.
When Emily began making photographs in the 1890s or early 1900s, she was already an accomplished artist who especially enjoyed making watercolors of Maryland
scenes. In 1906, the family moved to a home called "Nancy’s Fancy" in Catonsville
near the Mt. de Sales Academy. This land and house, along with family and friends, were the focus of Emily’s photographic work for the next 40 years. Emily Hayden did all of her own developing and printing, working with a large format camera.
In the December 1921 issue of Photo-Era Magazine (Volume 47, Number 6, pp. 291-293), she published an article entitled, "My First Photograph," which discusses the first image she made of an infant. During the early twentieth century, she participated in numerous photographic competitions held by photography journals, as well as having many of her prints included in regional exhibitions.
Emily Spencer Hayden died in 1949.
Emily was born near Randallstown
Randallstown, Maryland
Randallstown is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is named after Christopher and Thomas Randall, two 18th-century tavern-keepers. At that time, Randallstown was a tollgate crossroads on the Liberty Turnpike, a major east-west...
at her family’s farm, called The Martin’s Nest. Edward Spencer Mott, her father, was a writer and dramatist who wrote at times for the Baltimore Bulletin and The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
, and whose best known play was Kit, the Arkansas Traveler.
With the death of her parents in the early 1880s, care of the Spencer family was left to a woman named Eliza Benson. Benson, an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
woman, a freed slave, had worked for Spencer family for many years before Emily's parents died, and would live with Emily Spencer Hayden after Emily married and had children. Mr. John McCoy, a friend of the Spencer family supported the children financially.
Emily Spencer graduated from Baltimore’s Western High School as valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
in 1878. After graduation, she worked as a first grade teacher in the Baltimore Public Schools for a while. While in her spare time, she was a painter, reader, skater, and singer in the Ascension Episcopal Church choir. At some point, she met Charles S. Hayden her future husband, possibly at the Shakespeare Club which both attended. After Charles’ graduation from law school and acceptance to the bar, the two married in 1893. Their first child, Ruth, was born in 1895, followed by Catherine Spencer Hayden in 1902, and Anna Bradford Hayden in 1905. A friend of Emily’s at this time was the writer Lizette Woodworth Reese
Lizette Woodworth Reese
Lizette Woodworth Reese was an American poet.Born in the Waverly section of Baltimore, Maryland, she was a school teacher from 1873 to 1918. During the 1920s, she became a prominent literary figure, receiving critical praise and recognition, in particular from H. L. Mencken, himself from Baltimore...
.
When Emily began making photographs in the 1890s or early 1900s, she was already an accomplished artist who especially enjoyed making watercolors of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
scenes. In 1906, the family moved to a home called "Nancy’s Fancy" in Catonsville
Catonsville, Maryland
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:In 2010 Catonsville had a population of 41,567...
near the Mt. de Sales Academy. This land and house, along with family and friends, were the focus of Emily’s photographic work for the next 40 years. Emily Hayden did all of her own developing and printing, working with a large format camera.
In the December 1921 issue of Photo-Era Magazine (Volume 47, Number 6, pp. 291-293), she published an article entitled, "My First Photograph," which discusses the first image she made of an infant. During the early twentieth century, she participated in numerous photographic competitions held by photography journals, as well as having many of her prints included in regional exhibitions.
Emily Spencer Hayden died in 1949.