The subject of this photograph is most likely Eda L. Nichols, who from at least 1909, was the Assistant teacher of Elocution at Curtis High School on Staten Island. (1.) Nichols would have been a professional teaching colleague of amatuer photographer Charles Rollins Tucker, who taught physics at Curtis.

Elocution, defined as the study of formal speaking in pronunciation, grammar, style, and tone, was a subject sometimes taught at American High Schools in the early 20th Century.

print notes verso: in graphite in presumed hand of artist:

Curtis HS
Elocution teacher

This photograph from known archive of vintage work by C.R. Tucker owned by PhotoSeed.

1. teacher listing for Eda L. Nichols: Journal of the Board of education of the city of New York, Vol. I: 1909: ‪Wm. C. Bryant & Company‬, p. 311