In my last post (read it here) I looked at the way foundlings or abandoned babies were named, and many of these little ones ended up at the Berry Street Babies' Home. Miss Margaret Roth was the secretary of this organization from 1928 until 1936, I thought it was an interesting role and I'd find out more about her and her family.
Her father, Louis Roth was born in Blankenese, in Germany, around 1860. He migrated to South Australia, and was naturalized there in September 1884; his occupation was on his naturalization papers was listed as a bookbinder. (1) By March 1886, Louis had moved to Sale in Victoria and established himself as a Hairdresser and Perfumer in Raymond Street and advertised his services in the local paper Haircutting in English, French, and German styles most carefully done. Shaving easily executed with agreeable refreshment. Shampooing, especially in hot weather, much recommended. (2)
Two years later, the entrepreneurial Louis had branched out into selling stationery, tobacco, soaps and gifts and in the 1890s he had renamed his shop - Louis Roth’s Fancy Goods Emporium. In December 1896, in an advertorial the local paper reported that - Mr Louis Roth, who has landed his importations of novelties from Germany and England, announces that he will keep his premises open until 10 o'clock every night up till Christmas. The display of Christmas goods at Mr Roth's is certainly a beautiful one. (3)
Louis and Margaret (as she was also called) had five children - Margaret born in February 1893 in Fitzroy; Louis less than a year later in December 1893, in Sale; Ida, in 1896 in Sale; Nestor, 1898 in Sale and Freida Elsa, born in 1900 in St Kilda. (6) During the family’s time in Sale, Louis was the bandmaster of the local German band; donated prizes to the pupils at the Wesleyan Methodist Sunday School; stood unsuccessfully for the local Council in 1895; and in 1897 proved his patriotism by presenting all his juvenile patrons in the hairdressing salon with a handsome gift to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. In 1900, Louis sold the business and the family moved to Melbourne. (7)
In 1903, the Electoral Rolls show that he was a bookseller in Carlton; in 1906, still in Carton, a stationer; in 1909 the Roths were living in Elsternwick and he was a commercial traveller and later an agent; by 1917 they had moved to Surrey Hills and Louis’ occupation was a Manufacturer’s Agent. (8) Louis died on September 27, 1922 at the age of 62 at his home Maison Louie, 2 Grenville Street, Hampton. His probate papers list yet another occupation, that of leather manufacturer. (9)
His wife Margaret died on August 18, 1946, also at Maison Louis, and her death notice said she was the loving gran of five. Her grandchildren were Margaret, Pamela and Nestor Roth, the children of her son Nestor; Lionel Glenn, the son of Ida and her husband, James Glenn and Gelda Watson, the daughter of Elsa and her husband, Francis John Watson. (10)
Now to their eldest daughter, Margaret, who was born on February 23, 1893 in Fitzroy. (11) As noted in the Electoral Rolls, Margaret had a few administrative jobs such as a book-keeper and a clerk, and in 1915 had a short stint as a junior teacher; however in 1928 she became the Secretary of the Berry Street Babies’ Home also known as the Foundling Home. (12) Established in 1877 as the Victorian Infant Asylum, in 1881 it moved to a building in Berry Street in East Melbourne. In 1913, they purchased a property in Beaconsfield, and operated a second facility there. Berry Street looked after abandoned babies and babies whose mother had died or could no longer care for them as well as helping single mothers and training mother craft nurses. It was a charity entirely financed through fundraising and donations. (13)
The role of the Secretary was interesting and varied and Margaret often appeared in newspaper reports connected to the activities of the Babies' Home, for instance promoting their annual appeal for eggs or talking about children available for adoption. (14) One of her duties was to interview prospective parents who wanted to adopt the babies and The Herald reported in 1929 that Never a day passes without the honorary secretary, Miss Margaret Roth, interviewing someone who is keen on adopting a baby. (15)
In an interview in The Herald in 1933, Margaret explained further the adoption process -
"The adoption is really the simplest section of our work," continued Miss Roth, "I think there is an affinity between prospective foster parents and the children. Frequently, I have watched a woman walk into our nursery, and without a moment's hesitation say, "There is the baby I have been waiting for!" "Often that particular child is one of the most unattractive in our eyes!"
"When our babies visit the Royal Show each year, they sometimes find foster parents among the crowds that file past our stand. Then sometimes a woman will walk up to the nurse, saying, "Here is Arthur. Do you remember, I adopted him three years ago at the Show?"
"But our system of adoption is not as haphazard as it sounds. Foster parents are compelled to produce two testimonials - one from a clergyman or a doctor, the other from some prominent citizen. Then we visit their homes, after which there is no interference from hospital authorities." (16)
There was another interesting interview with Margaret published in 1934, which highlights the sad circumstances some little children found themselves in, but also shows how resilient children can be.Two Little Orphan Twins In Need of a Home.
Who has a home for two little orphan twins, Margaret and Kathleen, aged 5? Margaret and Kathleen were taken to Berry Street Foundling Home when they were babies. Foster parents were found for them, and in their care they were kept until December, when the adopting mother died. Now they are back at the Foundling Hospital and Infants’ Home at Beaconsfield. Although they are perfectly happy, the secretary (Miss Margaret Roth) feels that, as they have been used to home life, it is advisable for them to be placed in a private home.
Both children are auburn haired, bright eyed and interested in every thing. Slightly bigger than Margaret, Kathleen is a sturdy youngster with a roundish face and soft hair with a slight wave. Margaret’s hair is darker with a decided wave. She has a smaller oval face which looks up wistfully and keenly.
"Both children are extremely attached to each other. They are loyal, affectionate, and most intelligent,” said Miss Roth. “They are both going to school and are in the kindergarten. The reports we have received from the school are that they are doing well and are very popular. We are most anxious to find homes for them, but would prefer the two to be taken into the one home, as I am afraid they would fret for each other’s company,” continued Miss Roth.
Persons interested should apply to Miss Roth at the Berry Street Found ling Home, East Melbourne, for particulars. (17)
Margaret retired from the role in March 1936, due to ill health and died at the age of only 43 on September 8, 1936. (18) She is buried with her parents in a double grave in the Baptist section at the Brighton General Cemetery. Interesting that they are buried in that section as Margaret (the mother) was baptized as a Catholic; she and Louis were married in a Lutheran Church and Margaret, (the daughter) was baptized Lutheran, but was received into the Anglican Church at St Peters Eastern Hill in Melbourne at the age of 33. (19) Clearly a very ecumenical family.
Before we finish we will look at the four other children of Louis and Margaret Roth. Louis Carl, the second child, was born on December 4, 1893, in Sale, and is commemorated on the family headstone, having died during World War One. Captain Louis Carl Roth, M.C., served with the 2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion and Died of Wounds on October 6, 1918. This was his short obituary -
Nestor was born on February 9, 1898 in Sale. He married Doris Margaret Werrett in 1924 and they had three children, Margaret, Pamela and Nesta. Nestor, who was an accountant, died on April 2, 1956 and is buried at Box Hill Cemetery, with his wife Doris, who died in 1977. (22)
The last child of Louis and Margaret Roth was Frieda Elsa, born July 29, 1900 in St Kilda. Elsa, as she was called, attended University High School, and began a teaching career with the Education Department in March 1919. (23) She was an actress involved with the Green and Tan Dramatic Club, an amateur organisation consisting entirely of old pupils or members of the staff of the University High School, the colors of which are green and tan, hence the name. (24) One review of their performances noted that Miss Elsa Roth, as Lady Tonbridge, exhibited fine dramatic feeling. (25)
Elsa resigned in August 1923 to marry Francis John Watson, M.A., M.Sc., who became the head of the Chemistry Department at Melbourne Technical College. They had the one daughter, Gelda Frieda. Francis died in October 1945, and Elsa (who had remarried to Lowe Martin Hanstein) died on July 2, 1987, and was cremated at Springvale. Their daughter, Gelda, who died in 2021, is buried in the Roth family grave with her grandparents and her two aunts - Margaret and Ida. (26)
Footnotes
(1) Naturalization papers at the National Archives of Australia https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3182794
(2) Gippsland Times, March 10, 1886, see here.
(22) Nestor - death notice - The Argus, April 3, 1956, see here; Index to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Find a Grave - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123938728/nestor-roth
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