Showing 967 items
matching women's work
-
Victoria Police Museum
Photograph (Nell Davidson)
Nell Davidson was a staunch member of the Salvation Army and was born in Warrcowie, South Australia, in 1885. She was one of the first four 'police women' when she joined Victoria Police as an agent on 3 June 1918. She was described as being 5' 6" tall, weighed 8 stone 7lb, with brown hair and eyes and a dark complexion. She retired on 25 December 1940, having achieved the rank of First Constable in 1934. She was renown for her work in the slums of Melbourne.Nell Davidson, with hat and glasses, seated, second from the right, with members of the Salvation Armypolice women, davidson, ellen francis 7709, salvation army, police agents, police woman, policewomen, policewoman -
Victoria Police Museum
Photograph (Katherine Mackay)
Born in India on 10 December 1902, Kath Mackay is described on her Record of Conduct and Service as being 5' 7" tall, weighed 9 stone 4 lb and had hazel eyes, light brown hair and a fair complexion. Before joining Victoria Police in April 1930 she worked in the Chief Commissioner's Office. She worked for many years at Russell Street and in 1943 attained the rank of Senior Constable, the first police woman to attain that rank. In 1956 she was the first woman promoted to Sergeant but only after a separate seniority list for women was created. Kath retired on 10 December 1961 and was later awarded a Chief Commissioner's Certificate.Kath Mackay, dressed in a dark jacket and beret, taken in a parkland setting, circa 1950spolice women, mackay, katherine 8600, police woman, policewomen, policewoman -
Victoria Police Museum
Photograph (police women, street patrol)
Elva Carr was unhappy waiting around at Russell Street for policemen to bring the work to them. In 1947 she asked Kath Mackay for the opportunity for police women to be more involved in police work. Having proved their worth the Street Patrol was established in 1948 and the police women patrolled the streets in their patrol car, dressed in dark blue uniforms and peaked caps with a silver police badge. Joyce Johnston and Elva Carr during Street Patrol, date unknown.police women, johnston, joyce evelyn 9840, carr, gwenyth elva 9835, street patrol, police woman, policewomen, policewoman -
Victoria Police Museum
Oral history, Sergeant Eileen Rainford, April 2017
Eileen Rainford is a retired Sergeant who joined Victoria Police as one of only eight police women in 1952. Born in England, she served with Liverpool police, patrolling the docks, prior to moving to Australia. Speaking numerous languages, including Polish and German, Rainford worked as a translator and radio broadcaster during and after the second world war. On moving to Australia Rainford joined Victoria Police, where as one of only eight policewomen, she noted a major difference in public attitude towards women working in the force. In this interview, Rainford reflects on these different attitudes and her roles at numerous stations.Digital archive of oral history of former police woman Eileen Rainford. Cut for exhibition purposespolice woman, policewoman, policewomen, oral history, rainford, victoria police -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Woman's World, c1960
Vintage Australian book for the homemaker c1958. The book is published prior to granting of equal pay, affirmation of women's rights, acceptance of working mother and career woman as the norm . The book reinforces the socially accepted concept of the married homemaker and mother as perceived at the time, now the idealised concept is questioned. At the time of publication and reprints this book was envisaged to empower women. Whether' a teenager, career woman,a young married or mother' as a 'guide, philosopher, and friend' The editor Alleyne Jukes was born in Warrnambool to Charles and Mary Jukes of the Floral Farm Warrnambool. She attended Braemar Grammar School and Warrnambool High School. She lived and worked in Melbourne as a journalist and secretary living in St Kilda and Elsternwick 1949, Bentleigh 1954, Oakleigh 1963. In 1961 she gathered together a number of writers and consultants to produce Woman's World, a book designed as the woman's Bible to enable her to have access to expert advice and information about home and outside work fields.The book was hailed at the time at the time as the only work of its type produced entirely for Australian conditions and was an immediate success appealing to a wide range of readers. A similar subject book of smaller size and format has been sighted 'The People's Home Library', 1910 reprinted in 1923 by RC Barnum published by The Oceanic Publishing Company. A Library of three practical books, Medical 478 pp, Home Recipe 238 pp and Home Stock 315pp.This book is a guide for everything from how to answer a telephone correctly to sorting out marital problems. A reference guide for how to be a complete and successful young woman. Courses on Beauty, Fashion, Poise and Personality, Cooking,Every Wise Woman, Love and Marriage, The Home, The Family and Interests and Hobbies. This book has significance for Warrnambool as Alleyne Jukes was born in Warrnambool and has strong family connections to the district.A hardback reference book 'Woman's World' with a cream vinyl binding of flecked fabric outside cover and spine. Gold gilt lettering for the title and a gold gilt rose motif on the front; gold gilt lettering and publisher's name on the spine; plain back cover. The endpapers are repeated of black and white pen ink drawings showing the roles of women on varying splashes of a vairety of mono-coloured backgrounds. A general index on page 602 plus cooking index page 606 and dressmaking and sewing index page 607. The 607 pages are printed on thick, gloss white paper for 64 pages and coarser, white matt paper for the remainder. The table of contents lists a pictorial Introduction and nine chapters (courses) 'that is a 'bible' to the woman 'cares' and is vital to her as her femininity'. The editor has a heading "WOMAN" The Unacknowledged Specialist" and signed with her printed signature...Alleyne Jukes.' No dedication included although a text from Proverbs.alleyne m jukes, woman, self improvement, 'bible', warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Alone in West Africa by Mary Gaunt, Printed 1912
“Alone in West Africa” is one of a number of works written by Mary Gaunt. Her other works include, A Woman in China, The End of the Earth, Kirkhams Find, The Moving Finger and Deadman’s. Mary was born at Indigo near Chiltern in 1862 and lived for many years in Ballarat where her father W.H. Gaunt was gold commissioner and later a judge. The original Gaunt family home was converted into St Patrick’s College. She married Dr Lindsay Miller and moved to Warrnambool and after his death in 1899 she embarked on her travels which took her to many parts of the world. She died in Cannes, France in January 1942. Mary Gaunt wrote over 25 novels, numerous travel books and many stories and articles. She had a strong link with Warrnambool and details of the district are included among her writings. She also wrote regularly in the early 1900’s for the Times in London on women issues. She was an independent thinker and worker. Apart from the text of “Alone in West Africa,” the work contains 97 black and white photographs which Mary had taken and developed herself. These photos are a significant view of aspects of life in Africa at that timeDark blue cover with gold text. Title, “Alone in West Africa” with sketch of two children in the centre, with Mary Gaunt underneath. The back cover has an embossed letter “L”. Inside the front cover is a rough sketch of the author’s route of the French Ivory Coast. It contains a number of black and white plates and index. 399 pages.T Werner Laurie on bottom of spine. Black and white photograph of author with autograph underneath. T Werner Laurie Clifford’s Inn London. Acknowledgements included in the dedication , Sir Charles Lucas, Sir George Denton, Elder Dempster and Co. Messrs. Swanzy and Co.,gaunt, mary gaunt, alone in west africa, french ivory coast 1912 -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Warrnambool A Long way to Tipperary The incredible life of John Hyland, 2014
Biography of early Warrnambool settler, John Hyland.Paperback Background is dark green with sepia photo in bronze coloured frame. Precis on back cover is printed in white lettering. 132 pages.non-fictionBiography of early Warrnambool settler, John Hyland.warrnambool, john hyland, james nicholas, warrnambool mayors -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Newspaper cutting, Australian Women's Weekly, "Cherry pickers sing while they work" North Ringwood 1952, 16-Jan-52
Cherry pickers on Arthur Mahon's 23 acre property in North Ringwood. Pictures include Mrs. Reg Grabbe, Mrs. Herbert Walker and Granddaughter Diane Everett, aged 2 1/5. -
Orbost & District Historical Society
cloth, Untitled et al, first half 20th century
Mrs Eaton was daughter of George and Granny Thomas. Respected Aboriginal couple at Newmerella.This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the first half of the 20th century when women's focus was the home and its decoration was important. Embroidery and crochet work was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value, and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homes.A canvas runner, unbleached, with two symmetrical designs in thick white thread on front. Fancy borders sewn on edge.cloth handcraft needlework eaton-julia manchester table-linen -
Orbost & District Historical Society
sampler, early 20th century
... by young women. The completed work was usually framed and hung ...Decorative samplers and needlework were usually made by young women. The completed work was usually framed and hung. Many of them were messages which reflected the values of the family.Hand sewn ornamental sampler on a cardboard canvas and bound in ribbon with small bows at each corner."Lost, somewhere between sunrise & sunset, two golden hours each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered for they are gone forever.' Ribbon and cotton are crimson. needlework handcraft -
Orbost & District Historical Society
doily, Woodward, Ruth (daughter of Alan Richardson), 1910-1930
Doily was hand made by Riuth Woodward who was the daughter of Alan Richardson, a sawmiller at Tabbara. He held ticket for the paddlesteamer Curlip.This item represents an important pastime of Australian women of the late 19th to mid 20th century. Women's focus was the home and its decoration was important. Embroidery and crochet work was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value, and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homes, decorating or protecting furniture, floors and walls, and keeping off flies and insects from food.Small square needlepoint doily with kangaroo pattern and beaded triangular fringe. Centre is white with pink clear beading.doily handcrafts needlework beading richardson-alan -
Orbost & District Historical Society
cushion cover, c. early 20th century
Marjorie McKeown (nee Ford) was an excellent needlewoman and has made this cushion cover.This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the early 20th century when women's focus was the home and its decoration was important. Embroidery and crochet work was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value, and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homes.A cushion cover made of black fabric, embroidered with large roses on stems and hand painted over the roses. cushion-cover womens-needlecraft handcrafts -
Orbost & District Historical Society
pillow sham, c. 1910 - 1940s
Made by Mrs McKeown (nee Ford) and used in her house.This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the early to mid 20th century. Embroidery was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value to domestic linen and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homes,A small pillow sham, square shaped, made from a coarse weave cream fabric front and a backing of bright yellow fabric. Four sprays of pink & yellow flowers with green leaves are embroidered onto the front. Around the edge is a border of drawn thread work which allows the bright yellow backing to show through.table-linen home-manchester hand-embroidery -
Orbost & District Historical Society
hair accessories, mid 20th century
A bobby pin (also known as a kirby grip or hair grip in the United Kingdom) is a type of hairpin, usually of metal or plastic, used in coiffure to hold hair in place. It is a small double-pronged hair pin or clip that slides into hair with the prongs open and then the flexible prongs close over the hair to hold it in place. They are typically plain and unobtrusively colored, but some are elaborately decorated or jeweled. Bobby pins became popular in the 1920s to hold the new bobbed hairstyles. (ref. Wikipedia). These items were owned by Marjorie Burton. Marjorie Burton ( nee Whiteman), born 12 June, in Birmingham, England came to Orbost in 1995. In England she did office work – typing, shorthand and secretarial work - in accountants’ offices and also trained as a comptometrist with Burroughs in London. She came from a middle-class, working, church-going family. Her mother was a milliner who mademost of Marjorie’s clothes, hats and outfits. Marjorie married in 1938 to a salesman who later became a mechanic in the R.A.F. during WW11 These items are examples of women's hair accessories commonly used in the mid 20th century.Two packets of hair clips and one unused packet of henna shampoo. 2483.51 is a a set of 17 bobby pins on paper. On the back of the card are directions for a Steiner hair style. 2483.52 is a pack of 3 Dinkie silver metal clips for hair styling on a card. 2483.53 is an unopened sachet of powdered Henna shampoo. It is white with black text and green pictures.2483.51 - Kirbigrip 6d made in England Kirby Beard & Co 2483.52 - Made in England 2483.53 - Societe Francaise de Henne, Paris "Perfect -a -wave"hair-accessories bobby-pins shampoo kirbigrips burton-marjorie -
Orbost & District Historical Society
face powder, mid 20th century
These items were owned by Marjorie Burton. Marjorie Burton ( nee Whiteman), born 12 June, in Birmingham, England came to Orbost in 1995. In England she did office work – typing, shorthand and secretarial work - in accountants’ offices and also trained as a comptometrist with Burroughs in London. She came from a middle-class, working, church-going family. Her mother was a milliner who mademany of Marjorie’s clothes, hats and outfits. Marjorie married in 1938 to a salesman who later became a mechanic in the R.A.F. during WW11In the 1940’s women’s makeup was a huge industry. Despite war rationing, women began using makeup from the teens onwards. Cosmetics were an important part of most women's personal effects.Three containers of face powder. 2483.54 is a circular container, white with coloured flowers - the "Dreamflower Pattern". It contains some powder. 2483.55 and 2483.56 are pink boxes with gold print. 2483.54 : on base ; green text on white - Pond's Face Powder Suntan Made by Pond's Extract Co Ltd Perrivale Middx 2483.55 : Helena Rubinstein HR Silk Face Powder for Dry Skin Sport Boots 10/6 2483.56 : Helena Rubinstein HR Silk Face Powder for dry skin Beach Tan Inside is Exclusive Boots offer 6d off Your Next Purchase of Chikka pantiescosmetics skincare burton-marjorie -
Orbost & District Historical Society
cuticle cream, mid 20th century
This item belonged to Marjorie Burton. Marjorie Burton ( nee Whiteman), born 12 June, in Birmingham, England came to Orbost in 1995. In England she did office work – typing, shorthand and secretarial work - in accountants’ offices and also trained as a comptometrist with Burroughs in London. She came from a middle-class, working, church-going family. Her mother was a milliner who made many of Marjorie’s clothes, hats and outfits. Marjorie was married in 1938 to a salesman who later became a mechanic in the R.A.F This item is an example of a nail care product commonly used by women in the mid 20th century.A round, white ceramic glass container containing cream. It has a tin screw top lid which is red and black with cream, and black print. Underneath the brand name is a a picture of two hands with long fingers. the base is recessed with instructions and details on a paper label.Longlex Cuticle Cream for brittle nailsburton-marjorie cuticle-cream handcare manicure -
Orbost & District Historical Society
document, Celebration of the Orbost Signatures of the 1891 Women's Suffragette Petition, 2009
... the dedicated work of those women, who went from door to door across ...In 1891, Premier James Munro said he would introduce a bill into parliament for women's suffrage if it were demonstrated that ordinary women wanted this right. The Victorian Woman's Temperance Union and the Victorian Women's Suffrage Society took up the challenge, joining forces to organise a petition. Embarking on a door knocking campaign across Victoria they collected about 30,000 signatures in six weeks. The 'Monster Petition' is housed at the Public Records Office Victoria where a purpose-built perspex case protects the 260 metres of signed pages glued to sewn swathes of calico. (ref. Creative Victoria). In 2008 the petition was a centrepiece of the centenary celebrations of women's suffrage. This document was prepared for that centenary celebration.The Women's Suffrage Petition (1891) reflects the dedicated work of those women, who went from door to door across Victoria to collect the signatures. Its tremendous length earned it the name of the ‘Monster Petition'. This document is a useful research item.A stapled 9 pp document containing names, photographs, signatures of the Orbost women who signed the petition for Women's Suffrage in 1891.women's-suffrage-orbost -
Orbost & District Historical Society
book, first half 20th century
In the early 20th century, smocking appears in women’s magazines and sewing manuals on garments, domestic textiles and children’s wear. The 1930s and 1940s were the heyday of patterns and innovative stitch development. Embroidery has always had a great appeal to women, as it needs few tools. Historically the skills were taught within the family or in primary schools. Articles to make or embroider had been available in kits since the 1850s. Fancy work, the opposite of plain sewing, enjoyed great popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries. Companies which manufactured threads often produced instruction guides and patterns. This instruction book has been well-used. A small 30pp book with no cover. It contains instructions for embroidery stitches, including smocking.book-embroidery smocking handcraft needlework -
Orbost & District Historical Society
cushion cover, first half 20th century
This appears to be unused as it is starched.This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the early 20th century when women's focus was the home and its decoration was important. Embroidery and crochet work was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value, and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homesA hand embroidered cushion cover. It is cream coloured with blue edging. In the centre is an orange diamond shape with an oval in the centre. There is a vase with flowers branching out. They are yellow and pink. The cover closes with 3 press studs.handcraft embroidery cushion-cover -
Orbost & District Historical Society
table linen, Bird, Mrs Jean W, early 20th century
These cloths were embroidered by Mrs J.W. Bird of Orbost for her daughter's trousseau. Hilda Bird, the only daughter of Mr and Mrs J.W. Bird married Mr. John Russell of Caulfield in April 1940. Jane Annie (Jean) Herbert married John Whitney Bird on December 18 1902. she was a long-time member of the St James Church of England choir and a very keen tennis player. she died in 1953. (ref, Mary Gilbert - "Personalities and Stories of The Early Orbost District")This item has aesthetic significance and shows the needlework skill of the women of the early settler families.Two white linen cloths with drawn thread work and embroidery in white. 1582.2 has a fringed edge. 1582.1 has a crocheted edge. -
Orbost & District Historical Society
jug cover, 1953
this item was made to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth !! in 1953. In June 1953 , Elizabeth II was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and Pakistan, and became the Head of the Commonwealth. Many souvenirs were made to mark this occasion. Some were unique and hand-made. The main sources for crochet and other needlework designs available to women were in journals, magazines and pattern books.This milk jug cover reflects an important pastime for Australian women of the late 19th to mid 20th century. Women's focus was the home and its decoration was important. Embroidery and crochet work was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value, and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homes, decorating or protecting furniture, floors and walls, and keeping flies and insects away from food. It is also a tangible souvenir of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11.A rectangular jug cover hand crocheted in white thread. It has blue and red beads sewn into the edges. the design is "JUNE" above a crown with "E 11 R 1953" below the crown. -
Orbost & District Historical Society
book, Shakespeare's Works The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, 1910
John Gillan Mundy owned this book. Miss Margaret Jane Gillan died 22.11.1941, Orbost at the Jarrahmond residence of her niece, Mrs Jack Mundy. She was the daughter of James Gillan and Margaret Munro. Miss Gillan was an active member of the Orbost branch of the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union. She spent three years in the New Hebrides where she engaged in missionary work. (info. John Phillips)This item belonged to a prominent member of the Orbost community. The Mundy family has a long history with the Orbost and Jarrahmond district.A red bound book of 1263 pp.It is titled "Shakespeare's Works" with gold lettering on the spine.. The pages are edged in gold.Handwritten in blue ink on fly : "To Miss Gillan wishing her many happy returns of the day from the school girls 29.2.12" Stamped in red "John G. Mundy"literature shakespeare mundy gillan -
Orbost & District Historical Society
book, Women in Local government, 2015
... . This book celebrates the work of women in local government in East ...This book was produced by East Gippsland Shire Council's Communication Unit - Janek Krause, Emma Langres and David Radford. It was supported by East Gippsland Historical society an Tim Gibson. This book celebrates the work of women in local government in East Gippsland. It is an excellent reference tool.A 42 pp stapled book titled, Women in Local Government. It is a collection of stories of women who have served as councillors in East Gippsland. The cover is white with magenta print,. In the top right corner is the East Gippsland Shire Council logo. In the centre is a stylised map of Victoria divided into shires with the East Gippsland shire highlighted.local-government east-gippsland women-in-government -
Cheese World Museum
Textile, Bed jacket
The Uebergang family lived at Tooram Park, Allansford from 1912 to 1992. The bed jacket is part of a collection of items relating to rural life in the mid 20th century.White cotton bed jacket with scalloped satin stitch edging and cut work with butterfly motif lace insertions. Front closing with press studs and a tie. Cap sleeves with a V-shaped slit and butterfly motifs either side.201 (on tape at the side)costume accessories, female costume, uebergang, allansford, women's bed wear -
Cheese World Museum
DVD, On our selection: the women's story
This is the story of the women of the bush, women who performed more than the traditional duties of wife and mother. They worked alongside their men, through good/times and bad and they were rare to complain. Six former country women of the Portland/Heywood district provide us with a snapshot of life as it was from the 1920's through to the 1960's. They speak about their own and their mother's lives, lives which have experienced the greatest material and personal changes in history. The story of the 'Remarkable Mary Stuchbery' details the struggles of a wife and family whose husband/father contracted polio shortly after returning from WWII service. Garry Kerr has produced a series of local history stories, initially for the Heywood [history group] and more recent items privately.The material contained in these interviews provides a first-hand insight into the experiences of women who were involved in carving farms from virgin bush. Their recollections of work, social activities and opportunities for their children are an invaluable primary source.Full colour DVD cover featuring image of old hip-roof weatherboard house with front verandah and skillion roof to rear with stone chimney attached to outside. Corrugated iron roof is rusty. To the left is an outbuilding. Picket and wire fencing is in the foreground, background has large cypress tree to left and gum to right. At the bottom is a series of three black and white images showing (L-R) three women in working clothes and a woman holding a baby; woman chopping wood; woman milking cow with young boy standing beside her. The back cover is yellow with images of the seven women featured showing coloured images of the interviewees beside black and white images of the interviewees when young. DVD features the same images as the front cover.Garry Kerr's LOCAL HISTORY Series 5/On Our Selection/The/Women's/Story/Produced by Garry Kerr (front) WOMEN WERE THE UNSUNG HEROES OF THE BUSH/This is the story of the women of the bush [see historical information] ... Running time 74 minutes/Plus an additional 30 minutes of/'The Remarkable Mary Stuchbery' -
Cheese World Museum
DVD, Heywood Cheese; an oral history on film
For many years the Heywood Cheese Factory was an important part of life for Heywood and district farming and a vital place of employment for up to 40 men and 10 women. The factory opened in 1939 as a subsidiary of the Portland Butter Factory before becoming a world renowned cheese making enterprise. It was felt important to document its history from the surviving factory workers, including dairy suppliers and milk truck drivers. We hear their stories of the long hours and hard work without penalty rates, travelling unsealed roads and mixed with their humour of the bygone days is an important acknowledgement of that era. [blurb on back cover]This oral history provides significant material relating to the dairy industry in south west Victoria during the mid 20th century. The interviews give first-hand recollections of the interviewees involvement in the industry from a point of view of factory workers, milk pick-up drivers and farmers.Full colour DVD cover has photograph of Heywood Cheese factory and photographs of girls with calves, milk cans on a truck and workers in the cheese room, superimposed on a photograph of dairy cows grazing in a paddock. The DVD has the photograph of the cows grazing in the paddock.Heywood Cheese/An oral history on film (front) For many years Heywood Cheese Factory was ... [see historical information] Edited by Garry Kerr for the Heywood Pioneer Wagon Shed/ Museum History Group who wish to gratefully acknowledge the/ support of the Victorian Government and Public Records Office/ Victoria for making this project possible. Duration: 70 minutesallansford, heywood, cheese factories, cheese manufacturing, dairying, cheese -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Functional object - Darner, 1900 to 1930
Darning is a sewing technique for repairing holes or worn areas in fabric or knitting using needle and thread alone. It is often done by hand, but it is also possible to darn with a sewing machine. Hand darning employs the darning stitch, a simple running stitch in which the thread is "woven" in rows along the grain of the fabric, with the stitcher reversing direction at the end of each row, and then filling in the framework thus created, as if weaving. Darning is a traditional method for repairing fabric damage or holes that do not run along a seam, and where patching is impractical or would create discomfort for the wearer, such as on the heel of a sock. Darning also refers to any of several needlework techniques that are worked using darning stitches:A very common domestic vintage item used in homes, traditionally by women to repair socks or stocking the subject item dates from the first quarter of the 20th century. It along with many items of the period gives us today a snapshot into domestic life at the end of the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries.Mushroom shaped stocking and sock darner, wooden with nickel plated spring for holding stocking or other fabric in place.Nonewarrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Headwear - Lady's boudoir cap, Early 1900s
Simple night caps had been worn by women in the 1800s for practical purposes such as to keep warm at night. In the early 1900s silk boudoir caps became popular to protect hairstyles while sleeping. It was also thought to maintain or even improve the condition of the hair. This boudoir cap was amongst the belongings of the donor's Great Aunts who were both dressmakers at the original Terang & District Co-Op which was established in 1908.Socially this item is significant as an example of women's headwear from the early 1900s. Historically this item holds significance as a possession of the donor’s Great Aunts who worked as dressmakers at the original Terang & District Co-Op established in 1908.The boudoir cap is constructed of cream silk with a pale floral pattern. A cream crocheted border and top insert are attached using hand stitching. The small ruffle is machine stitched. The silk fabric is fragile and has perished in some places.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, boudoir cap, nightcap, female headwear, sleepwear, vintage women's clothing, terang & district co-op -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Clothing - Traveller's Apron, Eliza Towns, Circa 1915
This apron is one of several linen and clothing items that were made and belonged to Mrs. Eliza Towns and donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village. Eliza was born Eliza Gould in 1857 in South Melbourne (Emerald Hill) and in 1879 married Charles Towns. In the early 1880's they moved to Nhill in western Victoria and remained there for the rest of their married life. Charles was a jeweller and later became an accountant and for many years was involved with the Shire Council, the local show committee (A & P Society), the Hospital Committee and the Board of the local newspaper (the Nhill Free Press). They had three children and lived a life that would be regarded as comfortably "middle class". Eliza probably had a treadle sewing machine and would have made many of her own clothes - adding her own handmade embroidered or crocheted decorative trim. In March 1915 Eliza travelled to San Francisco to visit her son, James. She went by train to Melbourne ("a pleasant journey on the up express') and the next day caught the express train to Sydney. She noted in her letters home that a " number of young men were going to Sydney to enlist but they had to stop in the corridors most of the way as there was no room for them to sit down". She spent the night on the train and arrived in Sydney the next morning and on the following day she boarded the R.M.S. "Moana" (a steamer which took about twenty-four days to reach San Francisco). She returned from Vancouver about five months later on board the "Manuka". It is very likely Eliza took this "Travelling Apron" with her on her travels. Eliza was travelling by herself and had no one to help her with her dress or her hair. "Travelling Aprons" (also known as Toilet Aprons or Tourist Aprons) were designed with different sized pockets for holding a lady's toiletries - hairbrush, hair pins, comb and sometimes even soap and a powder puff. This allowed the owner, when travelling and getting dressed in small places such as an overnight train compartment or a ship's cabin, to have all her requirements at hand without needing to search for them or have them roll onto the floor. Some of the pockets are finished with buttoned flaps to keep the items in place and when not in use, the apron could be hung up or rolled up and put away. Articles about the "Traveller's Apron" appeared in numerous Women's columns in Australian newspapers in the early 20th century - often with instructions and sometimes a pattern. In the "Age" on Sat 5th October 1907 in a column titled "Feminine Facts and Fancies" the author wrote "No man can appreciate the difficulties of dressing in a "wobbly" train or trying to do one's hair while a ship is weathering a storm". A year earlier (Saturday 24th March 1906) in the same column, the author wrote "... you have to spend nights in a train... forever struggling to dress yourself in a wretched little lavatory. You know how your hairpins and combs jump all over the place ... a train is always at its liveliest when you're trying to do your hair. My travelling apron saved me many a rage."This item is an example of the needlework skills of women in the early 20th century - combining machine stitching with hand embroidery to personalise and embellish a practical domestic object. It is also an excellent (and rare) example of an early 20th century innovation that helped solve the difficulties of privacy and convenience that many women experienced at a time when travel was becoming more accessible to them. A half apron, made of ivory linen with two waist ties and seven pockets. Along the top are two smaller pockets with triangular, buttoned flaps labelled "Hairpins" and "Nailbrush" and one larger unlabelled pocket. Underneath are two larger pockets labelled "Brush & Comb" and "Work" and two unlabelled narrow pockets. The seams are machine stitched and the pockets are outlined with hand embroidered feather stitch. The labels on the pockets are embroidered in stem stitch."Hairpins" / "Nailbrush" / "Brush and Comb" / "Work"flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, nhill, eliza towns, apron, travelling apron, tourist apron, textiles, toilet apron, sewing, embroidery, travel, warrnambool, great ocean road, trains, ships, moana, manuka, feather stitch, stem stitch, fashion, handmade, clothing, charles towns, needlework -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Headwear - Lady's boudoir cap, Early 1900s
Simple night caps had been worn by women in the 1800s for practical purposes such as to keep warm at night. In the early 1900s silk boudoir caps became popular to protect hairstyles while sleeping. It was also thought to maintain or even improve the condition of the hair. This boudoir cap was amongst the belongings of the donor's Great Aunts who were both dressmakers at the original Terang & District Co-Op which was established in 1908.Socially this item is significant as an example of women's headwear from the early 1900s. Historically this item holds significance as a possession of the donor’s Great Aunts who worked as dressmakers at the original Terang & District Co-Op established in 1908.The boudoir cap is made of a pale yellow silk trimmed with a lace border and lace inserts across the top of the cap. Two apricot flower buds are attached on opposite sides of the cap.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, boudoir cap, nightcap, female headwear, sleepwear, vintage women's clothing, terang & district co-op