The fictional novel “Our Mr. Wrenn: The Romantic Adventures of a Gentle man” was written by Sinclair Lewis. It was originally published in America in 1914 by Harper & Brothers. It was the first of Sinclair Lewis’ novels published in his real name. His first published book, “Hike and the Aeroplane was” published in 1912 using the pseudonym of Tom Graham. Flagstaff Hill’s copy of “Our Mr. Wrenn” was published in 1930 by Jonathan Cape of London. About SINCLAIR LEWIS (1885-1951) The author was born Harry Sinclair Lewis in 1885 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. He was renowned as an American novelist, playwright and short story writer. His first writings were romantic poems and short stories. Six of his novels were published by the time Lewis was 36. Lewis won the 1926 Pulitzer Prize for his book “Arrowsmith” but declined because he had been helped in the writing of it by science writer Paul de Kruif, who received 25% of royalties on the sales. However, Lewis is listed as the sole author. Lewis received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1930 for his “vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humour, new types of characters." He was the first author from the United States to receive this award. Lewis graduated from university in 1907. He worked as a reporter and editor for several publications. He was a prolific writer, publishing dozens of works and numerous articles, and became popular for his satire. Lewis married and divorced twice and died alone from a heart attack due to advanced alcoholism) near Rome on 10th January 1951, aged 66. This book is part of a large group of books referred to as the Pattison Collection, which belonged to the Warrnambool Public Library, part of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute. About RALPH ERIC PATTISON and the ‘PATTISON COLLECTION’ The ‘Pattison Collection’ is a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, 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 WMI was led to ask the City Council to take it over in 1911 due to a lack of financial support. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Public Library as it was then called. Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up a home in Warrnambool. In 1935 when Pattison accepted the 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 areas 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 gentle man 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 from 1942 to 1945 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 because 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 NEW WARRNAMBOOL LIBRARY 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 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.Lewis’s book is significant for its association with the writer, who was the first American to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature (1930). This book is also significant for its connection with the Pattison Collection which, 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. Title: Our Mr. Wrenn: the romantic adventures of a gentle man Author: Sinclair Lewis Publisher: Jonathan Cape, London Date: 1930 Hardback board book covered with red linen, spine reinforced with blue. The author’s name is embossed in gold on the front cover. On the spine is a handwritten title and author, and a white adhesive label with a typed library call number. Inside the front cover are pasted labels and stamps. The book is part of the Pattison Collection originally belonging to the Warrnambool Public Library. It was once held by the Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library and the Corangamite Regional Library Service.Label on spine cover with typed text “PAT / FIC / LEW” Black handwriting on the spine “Our M- Wren” and “s. Lewis” Pastedown front endpaper has a label from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library, covered by another from the Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Serviceflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool public library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, warrnambool books and records, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool children’s library, american novel, jonathan cape, harry sinclair lewis, sinclair lewis, tom graham, 1930 nobel prize for literature, sinclair lewis’ debut novel, fiction, romance, our mr wrenn

Item in the collection re Wing Commander Leonard Bacon OBE. Refer Cat No 7510.2 for his extensive service history. Brown tarnished bi-plane. Propellers and wheels and two wings. Struts attaching upper wing to plane is missing and most of the propeller missing. Propeller is movable as are wheels.trench art, model plane

This item is on display in the gardens of the Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch Havilah Road. Refer photo .1) re its manufacture, history and use..1) Plaque black metal on a stand with white text with details of the item. .2) Scale replica of a Supermarine Spitfire Fighter Mark V111 with markings."Lest we Forget" - "CAL"brsl, smirsl, bdrslinc, replica, spitfire

Photograph of the Harry Hawker airplane landing on the straight at Caulfield Racecourse circa 1914caulfield, caulfield racecourse, horse racing, harry hawker, aeroplanes

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito is a British twin-engine shoulder-winged multi-role combat aircraft. The crew of two, pilot and navigator, sat side by side. It served during and after the Second World War. It was one of few operational front-line aircraft of the era whose frame was constructed almost entirely of wood and was nicknamed The Wooden Wonder. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_MosquitoIt is one of the paradoxes of aircraft development that some of the world's greatest aeroplanes have achieved their fame doing jobs other than the one they were originally designed for. No better example of this could be found than the Mosquito, which, conceived as a bomber, became one of the war's most potent fighters. More than this, indeed, it was probably the most successfully versatile of any twin-engined type built between 1939 and 1945. It excelled in all the widely varied roles. Its duties included the duties of low-level and high-attack day and night bomber, long-range photo-reconnaissance, mine layer, pathfinder, high-speed military transport, long-range day and night fighter, and fighter-bomber. It served in Europe, the Middle and Far East and on the Russian front. In fact, the ubiquitous Mosquito reigned supreme among General Purpose types. Of the grand total of 7,781 Mosquitos built, 6,710 were delivered during the war years. www.aviation-history.com/dehavilland/mosquito.html Rectangular shaped picture frame showing Mosquito fighter plane.fighter planes, ww2, british aircraft, mosquito fighter planes, lara r.s.l.

The photograph depicts the damage to F.G. Davey's Lancaster bomber as detailed in his account titled 'The Nuremburg raid' which can be read from Cat No 4410. Part of F.G. Davey Collection. See Cat No 3536P for his service record.Black and white photograph with white border. Photograph features a group of three air force personnel examining damage to the wing of an aircraft.lancaster bomber, war damage, bombing raid, f.g. davey, raid on nuremburg

This Airaus A port bottle shaped like an FIII. Khaki & fawn camouflage colouring on top, black nose tip & black under body & wings. .1) Limited edition No 1003 port bottle is the model of body. .2) Detachable nosecone - reveals bottle top & cork.model making - planes, ornaments - glass

Neville Bunning in RAAF Uniform .16 a,b, c - foolscap sized pages relating to various methods for doing different things with RAAF planes neville bunning, raaf, uniform, mainplanes, airframes, joints, fuselage, lockheed hudson, lockheed vega, light components, strength and weights, slinging aircraft, slings, slinging points, kittyhawk, vultee vengence

An entry ticket to Manical Mechanicals in Marysville in Victoria.An entry ticket to Manical Mechanicals in Marysville in Victoria. Manical Mechanicals was owned and operated by Marg and Alistair Mackie in Murchison Street in Marysville in Victoria. It offered a display of various engineering wonders of the world all made from Meccano. There was also a selection of models, toys and other items that all moved. The Meccano models were all built by Doug Wilson who lived in Wangaratta in Victoria. In 1937, when he was 12, Doug won first prize at Brunswick Technical School for making a Meccano model aeroplane with three rotating propellers. Manical Mechanicals was destroyed in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.manical mechanicals, marysville, victoria, meccano, doug wilson, brunswick technical school, 2009 black saturday bushfires

An advertising flyer for Manical Mechanicals in Marysville in Victoria.An advertising flyer for Manical Mechanicals in Marysville in Victoria. Manical Mechanicals was owned and operated by Marg and Alistair Mackie in Murchison Street in Marysville in Victoria. It offered a display of various engineering wonders of the world all made from Meccano. There was also a selection of models, toys and other items that all moved. The Meccano models were all built by Doug Wilson who lived in Wangaratta in Victoria. In 1937, when he was 12, Doug won first prize at Brunswick Technical School for making a Meccano model aeroplane with three rotating propellers. Manical Mechanicals was destroyed in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.manical mechanicals, marysville, victoria, meccano, doug wilson, brunswick technical school, 2009 black saturday bushfires

A colour photograph of Manical Mechanicals in Marysville in Victoria.A colour photograph of Manical Mechanicals in Marysville in Victoria. Manical Mechanicals was owned and operated by Marg and Alistair Mackie in Murchison Street in Marysville in Victoria. It offered a display of various engineering wonders of the world all made from Meccano. There was also a selection of models, toys and other items that all moved. The Meccano models were all built by Doug Wilson who lived in Wangaratta in Victoria. In 1937, when he was 12, Doug won first prize at Brunswick Technical School for making a Meccano model aeroplane with three rotating propellers. Manical Mechanicals was destroyed in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.manical mechanicals, marysville, victoria, meccano, doug wilson, brunswick technical school, 2009 black saturday bushfires

A colour photograph of Manical Mechanicals in Marysville in Victoria.A colour photograph of Manical Mechanicals in Marysville in Victoria. Manical Mechanicals was owned and operated by Marg and Alistair Mackie in Murchison Street in Marysville in Victoria. It offered a display of various engineering wonders of the world all made from Meccano. There was also a selection of models, toys and other items that all moved. The Meccano models were all built by Doug Wilson who lived in Wangaratta in Victoria. In 1937, when he was 12, Doug won first prize at Brunswick Technical School for making a Meccano model aeroplane with three rotating propellers. Manical Mechanicals was destroyed in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.manical mechanicals, marysville, victoria, meccano, doug wilson, brunswick technical school, 2009 black saturday bushfires

A colour photograph of a display in Manical Mechanicals in Marysville in Victoria.A colour photograph of a display in Manical Mechanicals in Marysville in Victoria. Manical Mechanicals was owned and operated by Marg and Alistair Mackie in Murchison Street in Marysville in Victoria. It offered a display of various engineering wonders of the world all made from Meccano. There was also a selection of models, toys and other items that all moved. The Meccano models were all built by Doug Wilson who lived in Wangaratta in Victoria. In 1937, when he was 12, Doug won first prize at Brunswick Technical School for making a Meccano model aeroplane with three rotating propellers. Manical Mechanicals was destroyed in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.manical mechanicals, marysville, victoria, meccano, doug wilson, brunswick technical school, 2009 black saturday bushfires

A newsletter article regarding the donation of Meccano models to the Marysville & District Historical Society.A newsletter article regarding the donation of Meccano models to the Marysville & District Historical Society. Manical Mechanicals was owned and operated by Marg and Alistair Mackie in Murchison Street in Marysville in Victoria. It offered a display of various engineering wonders of the world all made from Meccano. There was also a selection of models, toys and other items that all moved. The Meccano models were all built by Doug Wilson who lived in Wangaratta in Victoria. In 1937, when he was 12, Doug won first prize at Brunswick Technical School for making a Meccano model aeroplane with three rotating propellers. Manical Mechanicals was destroyed in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.manical mechanicals, marysville, victoria, meccano, doug wilson, brunswick technical school, 2009 black saturday bushfires, melbourne meccano club, melbourne meccano club newsletter

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of an early Bi Plane landing on the site of the Main Garage, Thompson Avenue, Cowes - 1920local history, photography, aeroplane, black & white photograph, air transport, bi planes, john jenner, bryant west

Framed plan of internal workings of Rolls Royce Avon Turbo Jet. plan, rolls royce, avon turbo jet, aeroplane

The Geoff mentioned in the inscription is Geoff Biddington.Children's book with colour and black and white illustrations.Inside front cover "To Geoff With Best Wishes From Aunty Vi 1932army, airforce, navy, armed service, royal marines, sailors, naval aircraft carrier, signalling, submarine, royal horse guards, military band, drum major, argyll and sutherland highlanders, royal artillery, machine gunners, tanks, bridge building, the piper, whippet tank, airmen, armstrong whitworth atlas machine, hawlker fury aeroplance, super-marine napier, schneider racing aeroplane, fairet iiif sea-plane, hawker hart day bomber, parachute jumping, schneifer trophy sea-plane, bristol bulldogs, iris flying-boat, geoff biddington, uniforms

3 pages of plans, drawn in black pen, for replica of John Robinson Duigan's Aircraft, 1919. Plans appear to be copies. A3 Manilla envelope addressed to Dr. L.K. Morgan, 57 McIvor Road, Bendigo contains plans. On rear of envelope: RL Lewis Brightwells Hill, Heathcote, 3523. Front view, side view and plan view written respectively on each plan. On bottom RH of 'Front view' plan is stamp from Civil Aviation Authority Australia , dated 9.12.91. On top RH corner is written ' these drawings are not be be reproduced by anyone other than the builder, Ronald Lloyd Lewis' Items in this collection were donated by Dr. Jan Sherringham, whose husband is a pilot. It can only be assumed that this document belonged to them as it postdates Violet's death.person, bendigo, john robinson duigan, duigan, john robinson, lewis, ronald lloyd, aeroplane, plan

Signed and and dated 31.10.1934 copy of Book - Solo Flight by Jean Batten / Book- Hard covered blue cover with black printing / paper dust cover showing Jean Batten and pictures of Australia and England .Solo flight contains newspaper cuttings of her flights and facsimile of her log written while in the air, published in Australia by Jackson & O'Sullivan Ltd, first published October 1934.Jean Battenbooks, biography, jean batten, lydia chancellor collection, collection, jean batten / solo flight by jean batten, flight, aeroplane, aviation, female, pilot, jean batten

Postcard: man standing by side of single winged aircraft. Written on rear of plane ' The Tornado' On LH bottom of print ' Flying at Hendon'aviation, civilian, tornado aeroplane, basil watson collection, aircraft, aviation, hendon

Postcard: man wearing a dustcoat and hat, standing on side of plane. On bottom of card' Mr. Dukinfield Jones'Topical Postcard Co, Winton, Hantsaviation, civilian, dukinfield jones, basil watson, dukinfield jones.

Postcard: sepia coloured card. Monoplane on ground, wire wheels, single propellor. Five men in uniform and two in suits standing in front of plane. Written on bottom in white ' Deperdussin Monoplane 100 H.P. Gnome' Written in corner ' Fuller, Amesbury'aviation, civilian, deperdussin monoplane gnome, basil watson, monoplane, aeroplane

Postcard: sepia coloured card. Young man wearing a jacket and peaked style 'porkpie' hat ( on back to front ) sitting in cockpit of plane. Written on bottom of card in white ' Tom. Sopwith' and 'copyright'Topical Postcard Co., Winton, Hants.aviation, civilian, tom sopwith, basil watson. biplane, aeroplane