Two Laundry Girls at Work (George Swain, 1925)
Photographs – Near East Expeditions, Box 3, Francis W. Kelsey Papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan
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This photograph shows Kamla Siddiq and Saiya Abd el Mula, the two local Egyptian girls who were responsible for doing laundry for the Kom Aushim dig crew. A note from Kelsey appended to this photograph gives the following information: "House-keeping at Kom Aushim. The two laundry girls are seen at work. Their nose rings are of gold. The marriageble [sic] market value of both girls has been raised from about 25 Egyptian pounds to 35 Egyptian pounds by the accomplishment of learning to darn socks, which Mrs. Allen has taught them. The Egyptian pound is worth about five dollars." Joy Fletcher-Allen was the wife of Kelsey's colleague Edgar Fletcher-Allen, and while on site she was largely responsible for overseeing the work of the local servants.