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. Napoleons Brothers Author: A. Hilliard Atteridge Publisher: Methuen & Co Date: 1909Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 929.2 ATT Pastedown front end page has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, pattison collection, warrnambool library, ralph eric pattison, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, napoleons brothers, a. hilliard atteridge

Williams' Brothers Merchants Store, c1890. Features owners, workers, women, a horse.tatura, buildings, historic, costume, female, male, transport, horse

Honour board to the Colvin Brothers, inscription and decoration in white, on brown timber boards."Presented by James & Elizabeth Colvin | In Memory of their Beloved Sons | Lieut. William Colvin. | Killed in Action in France July 26, 1916, Aged 23 years. | Private George Colvin. | Died of illness Sept. 22, 1916. Aged 23 years. | Bravely they answered their Country's Call. | And gave their best, their lives, their all."woods family, george colvin, william colvin, james colvin, elizabeth colvin, world war 1, world war i, ww1, wwi

The photograph was taken during an opening on Ballarat Heritage Weekend. Colour image of the entrance to a bluestone building named Ercildoun by squatters the Learmonth Brothers. architecture, garden, bluestone, ballarat heritage weekend, ercildoun, ercildoune

The photograph was taken during an opening on Ballarat Heritage Weekend. Colour image of a detail of the bluestone building named Ercildoun by squatters the Learmonth Brothers. architecture, garden, bluestone, ballarat heritage weekend, ercildoun, ercildoune, squatter settlement

Black and white photograph of Gloria Mullens seated in a yard and holding her brother.mullens gloria mullens ivan

Jim Woolrich, brother of Ted Woolrich, seated in Woolrich Service Car. c1920On back of photo - Jim Woolrich in their touring car.woolrich, jim woolrich, service car, touring car, car, olinda

Formal photograph of Frederick Jeeves (seated) and his younger brother Hubert Jeeves.frederick jeeves, hubert jeeves

This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers, that was donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son John Rogers in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand. Frank Richardson sent this postcard to his family from Cairo before leaving for the front.The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian in the 1960s and 1970s. Together it forms the largest privately-donated collection within the archives of the Kew Historical Society.Postcard from Egypt to Dorothy Richardson, from her brother Frank in 1915Dear ones at home These Huildings are wonderfull and the interiour are still more ancient and Beautiful. I will have a lot to tell if ever God spares Me to come back alive off to seat of War good bye love to all be kind to Hazel & Alice for Your lovings sons sake Frank dorothy richardson, frank richardson, world war 1, cairo, world war one

The photograph was taken during an opening on Ballarat Heritage Weekend. Colour image of the garden and bluestone building named Ercildoun by squatters the Learmonth Brothers. architecture, garden, bluestone, ballarat heritage weekend, ercildoun, ercildoune

Wendy McLellan is the daughter of Minnie Caroline Beckett (1907-1998). Minnie married Francis James Renkin on 13 March 1934. Peter Renkin (formerly of 59 Guildford Road, Surrey Hills, now Shoreham) is her brother.Black and white wedding photo taken of Minnie Beckett with her parents, Rev Walter and Mrs Clara Beckett, her brother Kenneth and her sister Maude, the bridesmaid. The family group is standing on a picnic rug in front of an Edwardian style timber home with simple verandah fretwork. The house is 'Deloraine', 268 Union Road, Balwyn.weddings, balwyn, union road, miss minnie beckett, rev walter beckett, mrs clara beckett, kenneth beckett, miss maude beckett, 'deloraine', 1930-1940

coloured photograph of open farm land Rear note: Donald Gillies and his brothers, sister grew up in this farmland. Donald was the father of three brothers who started Gillies Pies (in Bendigo). Alan, Norman, Leslie.

Documentary on those that travel to Gallipoli for ANZAC Day Dawn ServiceDVD in caseEnough Rope Andrew Denton Gallipoli: Brothers in Armsgallipoli

Small portrait of a lady standing beside a stone fence. She is wearing a long, high neck dress with puff sleeves and a seven layer skirt.Paterson Brothers, 8 Bourke St. East Melbournephotograph, portrait, female, portrait of a lady, paterson brothers

Small portrait of a man sitting on a stone fence. He is wearing a three piece suit with a watch chain. He is also wearing a bow tie and is holding a round crown hat with a thick material hatband.Paterson Brothers. 8 Bourke Street, East Melbourne.photograph, portrait, male, portrait of a man

Two programmes for the Royal Visit - Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, May 6th - 16th 1901. Details of visit to Melbourne and one-day visit to Ballarat (not Bendigo). a & b/ A coloured bi-fold 'Official Programme' with summary of each day's programme and section on ''Movements of the Duke and Duchess'' (the programme issued by Lord Hopetoun). c/ Single sheet ''Programme''' with the summary of the each day's activities (as per the first part of 7722.a). d/Advertisement for Catanach's Jewellery Factory on reverse.T Shortel. Varley Brothers Melbourne Sydney Adelaide.event, official, royal visit, catanach's jewellery factory, little collins street. ballarat. the duke & duchess of cornwall & york.

http://www.prc68.com/I/MkVHeliograph.shtml Brass heliograph.Helios. MkV . No:3075. 1914. Made by Siemens Brothers.

Large oval shaped silver plated meat cover with handle and a Lion rampant clutching a sheaf of wheat engraved on one side.Mappin Brothers 222 Regent Street and London Bridgedomestic equipment, food storage & preservation, meat cover, di500

World War one French postcard. Sent from France by a Wandin soldier.Silk embroidered postcard with Violet flowers and green leaves. Personal message on the back."To my dear sister from your loving brother"postcards

1958 Dennis Brothers "F2" Series, 600 gallons per minute, Heavy Pumper.Registration GSR 540, "MFB" lettering on body sides, "Dennis" badge on bonnet.car, brigade, 1958, mfb, fire, pumper, dennis, 8, pump, metropolitan

Collection of Accounts, 1912 - Webster Brothers, Cycle Manufacturers and Importers, 211 Mitchell Stbusiness, retail, general, webster brothers

A hand written one page letter by James Kelly Kerr to his brother Bill.letter, james kelly kerr

Two Brothers Edward and Walter Simmons outside Oban with Shotguns and pigeons from shoot.shooting, sport

Account and receipt for A.G. Pipies from Geal Brothers Terracotta Pottery manufacturers, Tunstall.Account and receipt for A.G. Pipies from Geal Brothers Terracotta Pottery manufacturers, Tunstall.potteries, geal bros

The photograph was taken during an opening on Ballarat Heritage Weekend. Colour image of a brick workers building on the Ercildoun property established by squatters the Learmonth Brothers. architecture, garden, bluestone, ballarat heritage weekend, ercildoun, ercildoune, workers cottage