Although Elcock was born into a Quaker family in Pontefract, Yorkshire, he spent the majority of his working life in Belfast, Ireland, settling there shortly after marrying a resident of the area, Harriett Sophia Green, in 1876. Initially employed as a clerk, records from the era suggest that Elcock was a keen naturalist in his spare time, with a particular interest in making his own microscope slides. In 1879 prize judges for the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club wrote of Elcock's work:
"The mounted objects are chiefly of Foraminifera, illustrated by a great variety of species, and several excellent methods of mounting. All are prepared with artistic skill and superior finish. We recommend that the prize be awarded to Mr. Elcock."(1)
Foraminifera are minute single-celled aquatic microorganisms that form protective shells. They date back to at least the early Cambrian period, 540 million years ago, and fossils of their shells are prevalent in a wide variety of geological settings. Elcock collected these tiny fossils, both personally and through the post from friends and colleagues, skillfully mounting them in intricate arrangements according to their various types (Image 1).
By 1880 Elcock's work had attracted enough attention that he began selling his slide preparations through agents in London, Manchester, and Bath. Each large rectangular 'Type Slide' cost twenty shillings and contained fifty different species mounted next to their scientific name, printed in microscopic text next to each specimen.
