James Alfred Ball, 1873 - 1945

by Brian Stevenson
last updated June, 2024

James Ball produced high quality slides of arranged diatoms (Figures 1 and 2). He joined the Quekett Microscopical Club in 1937, upon retiring from teaching school. He does not appear to have left any records of how he became interested in microscopy as a hobby. It is reasonable to assume that he learned how to select and mount diatoms from other Quekett members.

Figure 1. Microscope slide by James A. Ball, dated 1939. Image generously provided by Jonathan Crowther.

Figure 2. Arrangement of 15 diatoms from Oamaru, New Zealand, mounted in Styrax by J.A. Ball. Image generously provided by Jonathan Crowther.

James Ball was born on April 29, 1873, in the Kentish Town area of London. He was the second child, and first son, of Charles and Sarah Ball. Father Charles worked as a “railway clerk”.

The 1891 national census recorded that 17 year-old James was a “pupil teacher”.

He married Edith Kate Raworth during the summer of 1899, in her home town of Nottingham. They settled in East Ham, Essex. The 1901 census listed James’ occupation as “head master”. Other records indicate that he worked for the county schools.

James Ball joined the Quekett Microscopical Club on February 9, 1937. A national registration was taken in late 1939, in which James was listed as “Certified Teacher, retired”. It is reasonable to assume that he joined the QMC as a hobby during retirement. He did not write any articles for the Quekett Journal, unfortunately.

He died at home on May 13, 1945.

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Jonathan Crowther for generously sharing images of his J.A. Ball microscope slide from diatomimaging.com, and to Jonathan and Howard Lynk for inspiring this research.

Resources

Baptism record of James A. Ball (1873) Parish records of Holy Trinity, Haverstock Hill, accessed through ancestry.com

England census and other records, accessed through ancestry.com

Handbook of the National Federation of Class Teachers (1920) “Mr . J.A. Ball, 68, Haldane Road, Hatherley Gardens, East Ham, E.6”

The Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club (1939) Membership list, “Feb. 9, 1937. Ball J.A., 68, Haldane Road, East Ham, E.6”

The Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club (1943) Membership list, “Feb. 9, 1937. Ball J.A., 68, Haldane Road, East Ham, E.6”

Probate of the will of James A. Ball (1945) “Ball James Alfred of 68 Haldane-road East Ham Essex died 13 May 1945 Probate Llandudno 4 August to Edith Kate Ball widow, Effects £1133 3s. 10d.”, accessed through ancestry.com