Fact Check: Photograph Misattributed to Catherine Leigh Salt
Claim: A photograph dated circa 1895, titled “GREAT BRITAIN. The British woman CATHERINE Leigh JOYNES (Eton, 1857 – Lyme Regis, 1919) in nurse uniform, married in 1879 with HENRY Stephens SALT (1851 – 1939), the celebrated writer, pacifist, friend of Mahatma GANDHI, Edward Carpenter, George Bernard Shaw and founder of British Vegetarian Society. Catherine was the daughter of Reverend James Leigh Joynes (1824 – 1908), Eton professor.”
Verdict: Unsubstantiated. There is insufficient evidence to verify that the photograph is of Catherine Leigh Salt (née Joynes). Additionally, the description contains several inaccuracies.
Examination of the Claim
- Identity of the Woman in the Photograph:
- Archivio GBB, the source of the photograph, does not provide any supporting evidence to confirm that the woman depicted is Catherine Leigh Salt.
- Existing photographs of Catherine (also known as Kate to her friends), though limited in number and quality, do not closely resemble the woman in the photograph. The exception is a detailed side-profile image, which also does not align with the individual in question.
- Contextual Inconsistencies:
- By 1895, Catherine Leigh Joynes would have been known as Catherine Leigh Salt, having married Henry Stephens Salt in 1879. The photograph’s caption curiously reverts to her maiden name, an unusual choice for that period.
- There is no evidence to suggest that Catherine ever worked as a nurse or participated in activities (e.g., theatrical performances) that would explain the uniform worn by the woman in the photograph.
- Errors in the Description:
- The claim states that Henry Stephens Salt was the founder of the British Vegetarian Society, which is incorrect. The Vegetarian Society was established in 1847, long before Salt’s contributions to the vegetarian movement. Salt was, however, the founder of the Humanitarian League in 1891.
- Catherine’s father, Reverend James Leigh Joynes, was not an “Eton professor” but rather an Eton Master, a distinction of importance when referring to his role at Eton College.
Lack of Supporting Evidence
The absence of concrete evidence and the notable errors in the description undermine the credibility of the claim. While it is possible that the photograph could depict Catherine Leigh Salt, the inconsistencies and lack of substantiation prevent verification.
Conclusion
The photograph attributed to Catherine Leigh Salt (née Joynes) by Archivio GBB remains unverified. The errors in the accompanying description—both biographical and contextual—further diminish the claim’s reliability. Without stronger evidence, the identity of the woman in the photograph cannot be confirmed as Catherine Leigh Salt.
This instance underscores the importance of rigorous research and accurate documentation when attributing historical photographs.
