Certificate of Appreciation issued to Miss Geneviève Ward
Date
05 May 1892
Description
The American actress Dame (Lucy) Genevieve Teresa Ward (1837-1922) visited Melbourne in 1885 and gave the proceeds of a performance of Antigone to the Women's Hospital for the construction of a new Midwifery Department. The new Midwifery Block in Cardigan Street was named after her in gratitude for her contribution. This certificate was presented to her in Johannesburg South Africa, May 5 1892, in thanks for the entertainment she had provided during her visit. It is not known how this certificate came to be in the collection especially as the date was after her visit in 1885.The certificate commences: "Miss Genevieve Ward / Dear Madam / as you are about to leave this town / we feel it incumbent on ourselves as representing the playgoing public to offer / you our sincere thanks for the enjoyment you have afforded us in witnessing / the various parts you have so ably sustained on the stage since your arrival / amongst us. The histrionic talents with which you have been so richly / endowed, your perfect knowledge of the Dramatic Art and your refined and faithful delineations of the carious characters you have been called / upon to impersonate"
The certificate is signed and dated Johannesburg SARO, May 5th 1892. The certificate design is hand drawn and coloured in red, blue, green and gold watercolour, the text is in black ink. It was designed and illuminated by C.G Serrurier. Around the certificate are the names of the plays Miss Ward appeared in: Rob Roy, Macbeth and Forget me Not by Melville which she had the rights for.
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