Allan has finished his photography course and passed the exams.. Eleven of his photos were exhibited in the end of year exhibition and one of them, a portrait of an Indian girl, received a gold star award. Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0901.a1) headed 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8 and dated 16/07/52. Letter is written in green ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. It is postmarked Paddington W 2. Return address is Allan Quinn, 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8. letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952, vera south, musical 'south pacific', mary martin, pat and barry hannon, covent garden, margot fonteyn, frank sedgman

Allan is working with a photography firm.Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0902.a1) headed 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8 and dated 12/08/52. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. It is postmarked Paddington W 2. Return address is Allan Quinn, 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952, vera south

Allan and Alette are going to Oslo for Christmas and may marry there. Allan has attended a number of Promenade Concerts at Albert Hall and enjoyed seeing harmonica player Larry Adler, composers Vaughan Williams and John Ireland and conductor Sir Malcolm Sargent. He has been promoted at work and is now in charge of the Processing Department.Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0903.a1) headed 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8 and dated 18/09/52. Letter is written in green ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. It is postmarked Paddington W 2. Return address is Allan Quinn, 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8. Enclosed is a small off-white piece of paper (0903.b) with writing, in green ink, on both sides.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952, vera south, sir malcolm sargent, vaughan williams, john ireland, larry adler, albert hall

Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0904.a1) headed 37 Elsham Road, London W 14 and dated 9/10/52. Letter is typed using a very small font. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. The postmark is not legible. Return address is Allan Quinn, 37 Elsham Road, London W 14. letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london, pat hannon

Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0905.a1) headed 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8 and dated 22/10/52. Letter is written in green ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. It is postmarked London. Postmark is very faint. Return address is Allan Quinn, 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952, vera south, jim hayes, sir malcolm sargent, albert hall,, marian anderson

Allan writes of the severe fog which meant there were no buses of planes for three days. "I only heard or saw two cars over the weekend and each one had a man in front with a torch." When he and Alette attended the Royal Concert they found themselves sitting near Charlie Chaplin, Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivian Leigh. The Queen was there and Sir Malcolm Sargent conducted the orchestra and a choir of 500. Alette is going home to Norway for Christmas. Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0906.a1) headed 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8 and dated 10/12/52. Letter is written in green ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. It is postmarked London. The return address is Allan Quinn, Australia House. letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952, royal concert, queen elizabeth ii, sir malcolm sargent, sir laurence olivier, vivian leigh, charles chaplin

Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0907.a1) headed 37 Elsham Road, London W 14 and dated 12/12/52. Letter is typed using a very small font. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. There is no visible postmark. Return address is Allan Quinn, 37 Elsham Road, London W 14.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, pat and barry hannon, london

Allan writes of a lonely Christmas without Alette who is spending it in Norway with her family. They are planning to get married in the last week of February.Quinn CollectionA blue self-folding letter (0909.a1) headed London and dated 30/12/52. Letter is written in green ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. Postmark is illegible. The return address is Allan Quinn, C/- Australia House, Strand, London. There are four lines of writing at right angles to the return address. letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952

Allan is very upset as Alette wants to postpone their wedding again. She has taken a job in a shop in Oslo and shows no signs of returning to London despite their plans to marry in February and travel to Australia in July. Quinn CollectionA blue self-folding letter (0910.a1) headed London and dated 8/02/52. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia and postmarked London W.1. The return address is Allan Quinn, C/- Aust. House, London. letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952

Quinn CollectionA blue self-folding letter (0911.a1) headed London and dated 25/02/53. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia and postmarked London W.1. The return address is Allan Quinn, 8 Gloucester Walk, London W. 8.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, vera south, graham hannon, victoria league, london 1953

Quinn CollectionA blue self-folding letter (0912.a1) headed London and dated 21/03/53. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia and postmarked London W.1. The return address is Allan Quinn, C/- Australia House, London.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, folies bergere, graham hannon, oxford-cambridge boat race, london 1953

Allan describes his trip to Cowes on the Isle of Wight where he met, and spent time with, the photographer Keith Behan "...who is considered the best yachting photographer in the world......." He also visited Southhampton, Portsmouth. Brighton and East Grinstead before returning to London. He enjoyed being away from London for a few days.Quinn CollectionA blue self-folding letter (0913.a1) headed London and dated 11/04/53. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia and postmarked Paddington W.2. The return address is Allan Quinn, C/- Australia House, London.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, london 1953, cowes, isle of wight, keith behan, photographer, southhampton, portsmouth, brighton u.k., east grinstead, vera south

Allan writes of seeing the film 'The Cruel Sea' and attending the Anzac Service at St Paul's Cathedral. He is enjoying his new job "....working for a technical and industrial photographer." He plans to sail home to Australia on the 'Orontes' on the 17th July.Quinn CollectionA blue self-folding letter (0914.a1) headed London and dated 30/04/53. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. The postmark is very faint. The return address is Allan Quinn, C/- Aust. House, London.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, london 1953, vera south

Allan writes of how wonderful it was to be in London for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and describes the procession from his vantage point in Hyde Park. He is planning to spend a few weeks on the Continent before returning to Australia in July.Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0916.a1) headed London and dated 4/06/53. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia and postmarked Kensington W.8. The return address is Allan Quinn, C/- Australia House, London.There are several numbers written in pencil below the return address.allan quinn, hyde park, coronation of queen elizabeth, queen of tonga, robert menzies, winston churchill, conquest of mt everest, london, 1953

Allan writes of London being decorated "...like a fairyland..." for a coronation. He plans to photograph it from a stand in the East Carriage Drive of Hyde Park. He will be in the stand from 6 am until 5.30 pm.Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0915.a1) headed London and dated 24/06/53 [sic]. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia and postmarked Kensington W.8. The date on the postmark is 26/05/53. The return address is Allan Quinn, C/- Australia House, Strand, London.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, london 1953, hyde park, coronation of queen elizabeth

Allan writes of his trip on the Continent and of meeting with Alette in Norway.Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0917.a1) headed London and dated 7/07/53. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia and postmarked London S.W.1. This is a special air letter produced by the Post Office to commemorate the coronation. Printed in red, to the left of the address, it comprises a spray of four flowers representing Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland above the letters ER. Below that is 1953 and the word 'coronation' in white on a red ribbon. The return address is Allan Quinn, C/- Australia House, London. letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, vera south

Allan is about to leave London and expects to arrive in Australia in six weeks time. His last visit to Albert Hall was to see the musical 'Hiawatha'.Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0918.a1) headed London and dated 15/07/53. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia and postmarked London S.W.1. This is a special air letter produced by the Post Office to commemorate the coronation. Printed in red, to the left of the address, it comprises a spray of four flowers representing Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland above the letters ER. Below that is 1953 and the word 'coronation' in white on a red ribbon. The return address is Allan Quinn, C/- Australia House, London. letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, vera south, albert hall, musical 'hiawatha'

Allan writes of his two-weeks in Buenos Aires where he witnessed a "..great parade.." on Independence Day and heard Peron speak in the city. He also attended several orchestral concerts and saw 'Gone with the Wind' for the fourth time. He writes "The papers have been full of the coal strike in Australia down here....".Quinn CollectionSingle-sided letter written on two sheets of unlined blue air-letter paper (0816.a1-2) headed M.S.Fenris, Montevideo, and dated 22.07.49. The blue airmail envelope (0816.b) has a 4cm border of diagonal green and yellow stripes. There are two Uruguayan stamps, one blue, one green. The postmark is indistinct. The letter from Allan to his mother is written in blue ink. letters-from-abroad, quinn, 1949, m s fenris, independence day, buenos aires, australian coal strike

Allan writes that when the Fenris reaches New York he thinks he will "..sign off". He has been with the ship for ten months and ...'"the South American sun is becoming a little monotonous".Quinn CollectionSelf-folding letter written on both sides (0818). The letter, dated the 26/09/49, is headed M.S. Fenris, At Sea. The letter is post-marked Boston Mass. 21letters-from-abroad, quinn, brazil, 1949

Allan writes that having reached New York he has 'signed off' the 'Fenris'. "After ten months I'm a civilian again....". He describes the eighteen hour voyage from Boston to New York when they came through the Cape Cod Canal and Long Island Sound in New England past holiday homes, sailboats and launches. He mentions that, in New York, Bing Crosby's latest film is 'Top of the World', Ingrid Bergman is appearing in 'Under Capricorn' and that you can buy a 12" television for the equivalent of fifty pounds, a smaller one for twenty-six pounds. Quinn CollectionSingle-sided letter written on seven sheets of thin, blue unlined paper (0821.a1-0821.a7) dated 3/09/49 and headed New York. No envelope was found. The letter is from Allan to his mother.letters-from-abroad, quinn, 1949, new york

Allan writes of his time in New York and mentions some parcels he has sent to his mother, including one with a photo album of photos taken whilst aboard the 'Fenris'. As shipping is slow in New York he is planning to drive with three others from New York to Los Angeles.Quinn CollectionPale green self-folding letter written with green ink, headed New York and dated 19/09/49.The letter is from Allan to his mother.letters-from-abroad, quinn, 1949, new york

Allan writes of his trip from New York with five others in a 1942 Plymouth. He describes "..magnificent highways..", the very hot weather, and that "New Mexico and Arizona have been the most spectacular states with their deserts and mountains and colours".Quinn CollectionPale green self-folding letter written with green ink (0823), headed Yuma, Arizona and dated 02/10/49.The letter is from Allan to his mother.letters-from-abroad, quinn, 1949, new mexico, arizona

Allan writes in detail about his six-day, 3500 mile car trip from New York to Los Angeles. Only one of the five other passengers shared the driving with him. He describes the excellent roads, the beautiful countryside, the towns, and the friendly people. He thought New Mexico the most beautiful state he saw and Tombstone was the most interesting place.Quinn CollectionSingle-sided letter written in green ink on eight sheets of thin, blue unlined paper (0825.a1-0821.a8) dated 7/10/49 and headed Los Angeles. Matching envelope (0825.b) has a border of alternating yellow and green diagonal stripes.The letter is from Allan to his mother. There is no stamp on the envelope and the postmark is indistinct.letters-from-abroad, quinn, 1949, new york, los angeles, road trip

Allan writes that in order to reach Australia he signed on to the Mongabarra at San Pedro but when the ship reached San Francisco he had to sign off and let the seaman, who had been ordered before Allan signed on in San Pedro, take his place. Had he been able to stay with the ship he would have been in Australia by Christmas.Quinn CollectionPale green self-folding letter written with green ink (0826), headed San Francisco and dated 22/10/49.The letter is from Allan to his mother.letters-from-abroad, quinn, 1949, mongabarra

Allan writes that, although he is still waiting to sign on to a ship, '....I am at the top of the list now at the union and definitely expect to be away in a day or two.'Quinn CollectionOne and a half page letter written in green ink on two sheets of thin, blue unlined paper (0828.a1-0828.a2) dated 5/11/49 and headed San Francisco. Cream coloured envelope (0828.b) has a border of alternating pale blue and cream diagonal stripes.The letter is from Allan to his mother. There is a 15 cent airmail United States postage stamp on the envelope. The postmark is barely visible.letters-from-abroad, quinn, 1949

Allan mentions he has met dozens of Australians on the beach in San Francisco.Quinn CollectionPale blue self-folding letter written with dark blue ink (0829.a) headed San Francisco and dated 09/11/49.The letter is from Allan to his mother.letters-from-abroad, quinn, 1949, san francisco

Indicates a friendship at the timeQuinn CollectionOne and a quarter page letter (0830.a1) typed on cream-coloured paper headed 5408 Denker Avenue, Los Angeles, California and dated 13/11/49. Matching envelope (0830.b) has type-written address and is post-marked Los Angeles. The stamp has been torn off. 'Please forward' is written in pencil across the bottom left-hand corner.Letter is from Stanley Carraher and commences 'Hi Allen' and concludes 'Your friend, Stan'. It appears from the context of the letter that Stanley was one of Allen's fellow passengers in the recent car trip from New York to Los Angelesletters-from-abroad, quinn, 1949, los angeles, stanley carraher

Allan writes it is three months now that he has been ashore waiting to sign onto another ship and most of his savings have been used up. He has met up with several old friends when their ships have docked in San Francisco. He has spent some time with is friend Norm Cowley, who has married and settled in San Francisco. Quinn CollectionPale green self-folding letter written with green ink (0831.a) headed San Francisco and dated 28/11/49.The letter is from Allan to his mother.letters-from-abroad, quinn, 1949, san francisco, norm cowley