1865 HAIR WEAVE BROOCH INSCRIBED JULIA A. TEVIS FOUNDER OF KENTUCKY SCHOOL

Description

An amazing hair weave pin or brooch… The back inscription reads: “Julia A. Tevis Senior Class 1865”…. Constructed of a variety of materials ….in the middle appears to be silver with a light gold wash….The interior is a handmade decoration consisting of what appears to be tiny pieces of thin wood layers to make the flower petals and foliage ….all mounted upon a mother of pearl background which has tiny bits of hand painted embellishments….
Julia A. Tevis (December 5, 1799 – April 21, 1880) was a pioneer educator of women from Kentucky. After teaching for several years in Virginia, she founded the Science Hill Female Academy in Shelbyville and led the institution to gain a national reputation for excellence. Teaching her students math and science, rather than how to be accomplished seamstresses, Tevis prepared young women for colleges.
There is much more information about Julia’s life on the Internet to be found…
The brooch measures approximately 1 1/4“ x 1 1/8“….. please note the pin back is missing as shown… With a hole remaining in that spot as you can see in the photos…There are also whitish remnants of probably silver polish residue in the hair on the back of the pin…. Perhaps this can be carefully cleaned but I am uncertain… What an amazing piece of Kentucky history this is… Please email any questions before bidding