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 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, 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. I Remember Author: J T Lang Publisher: Invicible Press Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 920 LAN Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Public Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Servicewarrnambool, 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, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, great ocean road, i remember, j t lang

Letter from the Kalabity Pastoral Co to W R Lang 9/2/1946, regarding the testing of wool samples.wool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history, gordon institute of technology kalabity pastoral co ltd, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history

Letter from The Graziers' Association of Southern Riverina to W R Lang, 17th November, 1947.RBS/ this was mentioned/ to you yesterdaywool - research wool - testing wool - testing, the graziers' association of southern riverina gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy, deniliquin, new south wales, wool - research, wool - testing

Letter, on "The Pastoral Review" letterhead, 7th April, 1943, from E Hearse, to W R Lang regarding publication of an article.wool - research wool - testing world war ii, gordon institute of technology pastoral review pty ltd, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool - testing, world war ii

Letter from the Kalabity Pastoral Co to W R Lang 1/6/1944, regarding receipt of publicationswool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history world war ii, gordon institute of technology kalabity pastoral co ltd, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history, world war ii

Letter from the Australian Mercantile, Land and Finance Company Limited, 1944 on behalf of their clients W.H. Treweeke and Sons of Umbercollie, Goondiwindi, Qld requesing a wool sample evaluation from W.R. Lang.wool - testing world war ii, australian mercantile land and finance company ltd, lang, dr w. roy, wool - testing, world war ii

Letter from the Hazeldean Pastoral Co to W R Lang 17th March 1943 regarding the testing of wool sampleswool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history world war ii, gordon institute of technology hazeldean pastoral co, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history, world war ii

Letter from the Kalabity Pastoral Co to W R Lang 4/9/1944, regarding the testing of wool samples.wool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history world war ii, gordon institute of technology kalabity pastoral co ltd, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history, world war ii

Letter from the Kalabity Pastoral Co to W R Lang 12/9/1945, regarding the testing of wool samples.wool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history world war ii, gordon institute of technology kalabity pastoral co ltd, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history, world war ii

Letter from Edwrd Waters & Sons, Patent Attorneys, 1949, to W R Lang re. R M Poole invention of a process for scouring wool.wool processing wool - research, scouring, lang, dr w. roy poole, r m, wool processing, wool - research

Letter from H Munz to W R Lang contains seven pages of reviews for his book "The Australian Wool Industry" (Angus & Robertson, Sydney)Please return after perusal... Quite good/..../27/7/1950 G W McDwool - research wool processing, h munz wool trading co gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy munz, mr h., wool - research, wool processing

Letter from the The Kelson Products Co to W R Lang 25th June 1947, requesting information on the wool testing service at the Gordon College of Technology.wool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history, gordon institute of technology s kidman & co, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history

Letter from the Warrnambool Woollen Mill Company Limited, Victoria, 1956 to Gordon Institute of Technology, (W.R. Lang) re: Garnetted Nylon Waste samplestextile mills - staff woollen mills textile fibres - synthetic, warrnambool woollen mill, lang, dr w. roy, textile mills - staff, woollen mills, textile fibres - synthetic

Letter from the Warrnambool Woollen Mill Company Limited, Victoria, 1947 to W.R. Lang, Gordon Institute of Technology, Geelong re: Wool Top samplesRBS 17.2.47textile mills - staff woollen mills textile fibres, warrnambool woollen mill, lang, dr w. roy, textile mills - staff, woollen mills, textile fibres

Letter from the Haddon Rig Stud to W R Lang regarding the testing of two fleeces.wool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history world war ii, gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy, haddon rig merino sheep stud, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history, world war ii

Letter from Fletcher Jones "F J Trousers Pty Ltd" to W R Lang re. a gift of wool topsJ M Vicaris/ Jack/ Vict Road/ Marrickville.....wool - research wool - measurement wool - testing, f j trousers pty ltd, lang, dr w. roy jones, mr fletcher - f j trousers pty ltd, wool - research, wool - measurement, wool - testing

Letter from H Munz to W R Lang regarding his book."The Australian Wool Industry" (Angus & Robertson, Sydney,1950)wool - research wool processing merino sheep - history, h munz wool trading co gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy munz, mr h., wool - research, wool processing, merino sheep - history

Letter from L W Smith Pty Ltd to W R Lang 25th October, 1949, regarding a new scouring processRBSwool - research wool - testing, gordon institute of technology l w smith pty ltd, scouring, lang, dr w. roy strachan, mr norman - l w smith pty ltd, wool - research, wool - testing

Letter from Ian [?]Rankin, "The Yanko", Jerilderie, NSW 1950 to W.R. Lang, Gordon Institute of Technology, Geelong re: wool samplessheep stations - management wool - testing, gordon technical college, lang, dr w. roy, the yanko, nsw, sheep stations - management, wool - testing

Letter,18th December 1946, from Sidney Reid to W R Lang regarding the testing of wool samples.wool - research wool - testing pastoral industry - history sheep breeding, gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy ramsay, mr urquhart, wool - research, wool - testing, pastoral industry - history, sheep breeding

Two letters dating from 1943 from the Anama Pastoral Co. Ltd, Central Bungaree, Brinkworth, South Australia, to W.R. Lang re: wool testing and measuring service.wool - testing world war ii, anama pastoral co., ltd, lang, dr w. roy, wool - testing, world war ii

Letter from F D McMaster, "F D McMaster Pty Ltd", Dalkeith, Cassilis, 1941 to W.R. Lang, Gordon Institute of Technology, Geelong re. wool samplesworld war ii wool - testing, f d mcmaster pty ltd, lang, dr w. roy mcmaster, f d, world war ii, wool - testing

Letter from E M Winter, Woolerina Station, Quensland, 1944 to W.R. Lang, Gordon Institute of Technology, Geelong re: wool samplesSend receiptsheep stations - management wool - testing, warrnambool woollen mill gordon technical college, lang, dr w. roy, woolerina station, queensland, sheep stations - management, wool - testing

Letter from the Haddon Rig Stud to W R Lang 17/12/1942, regarding the testing of two fleeces.wool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history world war ii, gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy, haddon rig merino sheep stud, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history, world war ii

Letter from the Haddon Rig Stud to W R Lang 10/10/1942, regarding the testing of two fleeces.wool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history world war ii, gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy, haddon rig merino sheep stud, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history, world war ii

Letter, 2nd June 1947, to W R Lang requesting research material for his book on the Wool Industry of Australia.wool - research wool - testing sheep breeding wool industry, gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy munz, mr h., wool - research, wool - testing, sheep breeding, wool industry

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 six members of the Phillip Island Rifle Club - winners of the McCauley Cup 1960 at Lang Lang. Back row: Bryant West, Percy Cooper, Harry Bradley, Robbie Justice. Front row: Ron (Plugger) Bennell, Ted Waltonlocal history, photography, phillip island rifle club, black & white photograph, mccauley cup, john jenner, bryant west

These catalogues come from the firm of Thomas Lang and Company of 52 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne and Bridge Street, Ballarat. They list the seeds and plants for sale in the early 1870s. This company sold seeds and plants to all parts of Australia and to India, China, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Ceylon and Fiji. These catalogues have no known local provenance but have considerable antiquarian value and are of interest as they tell us what plants and seeds were sold in Australia in the 1870s.These are three booklets - catalogues of plants and seeds for Thomas Lang & Co, Nurserymen and Seedsmen, of Ballarat and Melbourne. The booklets are printed in black on a white background and are bound or stitched with fine string. They are a little foxed and dog-eared. Catalogue One is dated 1870 and is numbered No. 27. The cover has an ornamental border. Catalogue Two is dated October 1871 and is Number 36. Catalogue Three is Number 30 but undated and contains prices of seeds and current postal rates.thomas lang & co.,, nurserymen and seedsmen, plant and seed catalogues, 1870s, warranmbool, history