This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1942 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. The Pattison Collection, along with other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, was originally part of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance Woolen and Worsted Finishing Author: John F Timmerman Publisher: American School of Correspondence Date: 1908Label on spine with typed text PAT 677.3 TIM Inside front cover has a sticker that reads Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, john f timmerman, woolen and worsted finishing

Most likely donated by Dr Frank Forster, possibly collected by him from colleagues initially.Uterine dilator, Palmer's. Broken handle lever. illustrated in Tiemann, George The American Armaterium, page 503.uterine device, dilation, forster, frank

Souveniered during ww11. except three coins.19 Japanese coins, 1 American. cent. 1943. 1 French coin. 1949 1Greek coin1954.

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A coloured photograph of three members of AATTV and an American man the most forward northern base in South Vietnamaattv, photograph, south vietnam, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, australian army training team vietnam (aattv)

Memo from Assistant Manager to Depot Masters relating to the flying of flags on buildings for American Day of Independence.trams, tramways, instructions, flags

Issued to RAR's for attachment to Armalite weaponsAmerican bayonet for M8A1 rifle or carbine Plastic chequered handle steel scabbard with webbing belt fittingOn bayonet USM4 TMN On scabbard USM8A1 / VIZ

Marjorie Morgan noticed a beautiful wood carving of gumleaves and gumnuts by John Blogg. The carving, donated by a Box Hill resident, is in the impressive art collection of the City of Whitehorse. The more Marjorie researched the more she felt his achievements should not be permitted to disappear into the mists of time. This collection of poems was compiled by Marjorie Morgan, collected from the local newspaper "The Reporter" (Box Hill) and in 1927 a book of poems entitled "Selected Poems", "Modern Roses in Australasia", "American Rose Magazine" and "The Australian Rose Annual" during his lifetime and for 10 years after his death in 1936.This collection of poems was compiled by Marjorie Morgan, collected from the local newspaper "The Reporter" (Box Hill) and in 1927 a book of poems entitled "Selected Poems", "Modern Roses in Australasia", "American Rose Magazine" and "The Australian Rose Annual" during his lifetime and for 10 years after his death in 1936.(mr) john kendrick blogg, poetry, literature, (mrs) marjorie morgan

Colour photo: British and American Hotel, Eaglehawk Road, Ironbark. Image shows one storey white painted hotel, plain façade, green and white stripe awnings over windows and doors. British and American with the two flags painted in red on top. Blue car at right.bendigo, hotel, british and american

Printed in ChinaSoftcover with maroon title section. Black and white photo on cover shows US troops raising an American flag.On first page "Donated by Jen B(?) family".books, military history

A metal badge, American eagle logo with banner underneath, emblazoned with stars. Possibly snake positioned behind eagle.bendigo, gold mining, qc binks, qc binks, america

American Flag wrapped in triangular shape and contained within a red felt covered box with a certificate and covering letter Refer to certificate and covering lettera13

White parachute canopy only. Cords cut. This parachure not used by Australians, more likely by Americans or South vietnamese.S/N 179346 IAC3 TIO-B or MCI-1Bparachute, american forces, south vietnam

Robin Boyd was appointed Exhibits Architect for the Australian Pavilion at Expo ‘67 in Montreal. The garden outside the pavilion featured a sculptural pool, a coral display, animal pool, a pit for kangaroos and Eucalypts and other native plants. The indoor exhibits covered aspects of Australian art and culture, architecture, industrial design and scientific innovation, such as the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Power Scheme, the Parkes radio telescope, the design of Canberra, and the Australian way of life.Colour slide in a mount. United States of America Pavilion, Montreal Expo '67, Canada. (Architect: Buckminster Fuller.)Made in Australia / 14 / FEB 67M2 / 22 (Handwritten)expo 67, montreal, robin boyd, slide

Melbourne Airport was built at Tullamarine during the second half of the 1960s and was officially opened in 1970.A black and white photograph of the terminal at Melbourne Airport with two airliners on the tarmac. They are Qantas and Pan American Boeing 707s.melbourne airport, airports, qantas airlines, pan american airlines, commonwealth of australia, department of civil aviation: printing and publication centre, george evans collection

Book: 'THE YOUNG TENNIS PLAYER'. Hardcover with dust jacket. First American edition. Materials: Ink, Paper, Cardboardtennis

Copy of St. Nicholas Magazine (American children's magazine); June 1921. Materials: Ink, Paper, Cloth tapetennis

Copy of St. Nicholas Magazine (American children's magazine); July 1921. Materials: Ink, Paper, Cloth tapetennis

Copy of St. Nicholas Magazine (American children's magazine); August 1921. Materials: Ink, Paper, Cloth tapetennis

Book: 'TENNIS STYLES AND STYLISTS'. Hardcover. First American edition (copyrighted 1969). Materials: Ink, Paper, Cardboardtennis

The ready rubbed tobacco held within the tin was mainly used by those smokers who rolled their own cigarettes. These smokers would have mainly used their palm and formed a cup then placing their choice of the amount of tobacco to be rolled. This would then be placed on the fine cigarette paper and rolled and sealed (using saliva in the mouth) into the required shape. There were mechanical "roll you own" gadgets on the market but most rural users, especially males used their palms. This item reflects the first half of the 20th century when smoking was acceptable.Small blue, rectangular tin with hinged lid. Match striker on base. Edgeworth Extra High Grade Plug Slice. Paper seal remains on lid. Tobacco by LARUS & BRO. CO Richmond Va Tin by American Can Co 50Atin tobacco larus smoking container

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea Engelmanni. Western N. America. Note inside: 711 Picea Engelmanni