Honouring Cayman'sWomen
Eleanore Adela Latter
Miss Ella Latter
The art of photography is a complex, yetcompelling one. Place two photographers on the same plot of SevenMile Beach and the photographs of each artisan will project theirunique personalities. Such is the photographic journey of Mrs.Eleanore Adela Latter (nee Hurlston), a self-made photographer,businesswoman and avid community worker.
Born on November 22, 1906 in a small villagein Nicaragua called Ninnayerrie, Mrs. Latter's childhood was aseries of adventures that provided much inspiration for her passionfor photography. Fondly known as Ms. Ella, she spent the firsttwo years of her life in Nicaragua where her father, James EdwardHurlston worked for the Moravian Missionary.
As a young boy, Mr. Hurlston yearned formore than the traditional seafaring occupation, and traveled toBluefields to find work. Mr. Hurlston was hired initially to findmen to work in the gold mines. However, he went on to work forthe Moravian Mission and was instrumental in establishing a missionin Bluefields. When he married Ms. Ella's mother, Lilian AliceHurlston (nee Jackson), he took his new bride to Nicaragua andestablished a home there. The Hurlstons traveled between Caymanand Nicaragua so often that the family maintained homes in bothcountries.
School for Ms. Ella took place in a littlebuilding across from the Elmslie Memorial Church, where she waseducated up to the age of ten. Later that same year, Mr. Hurlstontook the family back to Nicaragua, a voyage that proved to bequite an adventure for Ms. Ella. "Oh that stands out in mymemory as the most exciting trip I ever made in my lifeand I'vebeen to many countries," Ms. Ella recalled. While in Ninnayerrie,Ms. Ella learned enough of the Indian language to say the Lord'sPrayer in their native tongue. Her education continued with theinstruction of a series of Missionary teachers, which includedpersons who fled Europe to escape the ravages of World War One.
Six years later, she returned to Caymanby way of another exciting voyage, this time on a schooner withlive turtles in the hold. The return 'home' was not without mixedfeelings, as she had developed a fondness for her home in Nicaragua.Ms. Ella remarked "I miss the big savannahs they had there,and the sort of jungles and the river, that we could get a boatand go up and down on the river when we wantedthere was more interestingplaces to walk. Apart from thatI was quite happy."
And with time that statement took on moremeaning for her as she began what would be a rewarding and illustriouscareer. Her schooling had finished the day she left Nicaragua,but Ms. Ella found many activities in the community to keep herbusy. With a huge debt on its heels, the congregation of the recentlyconstructed Elmslie Church fundraised heavily to defray this cost.Ms. Ella was put in charge of the candy stall for "28 yearsstraight," where she sold her popular candy and fudge. Thechurch also had the benefit of Ms. Ella's service as a SundaySchool teacher for more than 30 years, right up to the day beforeshe got married. When Commissioner Hutchings established a librarywhere the National Museum now stands, Ms. Ella was a regular patron.
Her initial foray into photography cameas a result of her father's purchase of a camera and printingmaterials from the Missionaries from Germany who taught Ms. Ellain Nicaragua. With no training in how to use the equipment, Ms.Ella joined forces with Mr. Booker, a member of the Latter DaySaints Church, who was taking pictures of people in the community.Mr. Booker taught Ms. Ella and her brother Otto Hurlston how todevelop film and print the pictures.
There were no other printing or developingservices on the island at the time so Ms. Ella built a good businessin providing this service. When people began to ask for her totake their pictures as well as develop them, the transition wasa natural one. Her client list included the government, whereshe took pictures of visits by dignitaries, pictures of soldiersfrom the US Naval Base that was established during WWII, and picturesrequested by residents in all three islands. Her practice flourishedeven more when Mr. Booker left the island and Mr. Ashford Panton,the only other photographer, retired his camera.
It was clear that Ms. Ella loved her country,from her involvement with Girl Guides, teaching Sunday School,and through her photographs. Ms. Ella's estate includes an impressivearray of photographic journals and of the Cayman Islands thatspans more than five decades: photo credits in newspapers, andeven photos published in the Time magazine. But the most memorableare her pictures taken for the very first Tourism Brochure (1935)developed for the Cayman Islands. Relive that important crossroadsin Cayman's history by visiting the National Archives and viewthe unspoiled beauty of our country through the loving lens ofthe late Mrs. Eleanore Adela Latter.
Sources for this work were drawn fromthe holdings of the Cayman Islands National Archive.