Joseph Fowler (1888-1972), businessman and municipal councillor, was born on 28 February 1888 at Bagworth, Leicestershire, England, one of thirteen children of John Fowler, groom, and his wife Mary, née Ash. With his brother Sydney, in the early 1900s Joseph worked in a fruit-preserving business run by an uncle at Maidstone, Kent, and continued with the firm after 1908 when it was relocated at Reading. At St Andrew's parish church, Leicester, on 7 September 1910 he married a nurse, Elizabeth Harris (d.1965); they emigrated in 1913 and settled at Camberwell, Melbourne. Encouraged by his commercial experience, and by the variety and quality of fruit in Australia, Fowler set up a fruit-bottling business in the rear of his small house in Burke Road. Trading as J. Fowler & Co., by 1915 the company had begun producing home-bottling kits which contained a sterilizer, bottles, lids, rings and a thermometer. To acquire the capital to establish a factory, Fowler travelled the district, selling his kits door-to-door from the back of a cart. In 1920 he bought a shop at the corner of Power Street and Burwood Road, Hawthorn, and registered his business as a private company. During the Depression his kits became a household name. In 1934 Fowlers Vacola Manufacturing Co. Ltd was registered as a public company. Housewives, nationwide, were urged to bottle their own fruits and jams by 'Mrs B Thrifty', the dainty cartoon character who graced the firm's advertisements. Numerous recipes and instruction books, such as From Orchard to Bottle the Fowlers Way, advertised the necessary preserving equipment, extending to jelly bags and juice extractors. Australian-made glass and imported steel and rubber were used in the production of Fowlers Vacola Bottling Outfits. Determined to put something back into the community which had supported him so well, in 1933-60 Fowler represented Yarra Ward on the Hawthorn City Council (mayor 1938-39 and 1945-46). He served as vice-president of Swinburne Technical College (1942) and of the Hawthorn branch of the Australian Defence League (1943); he was also a Rotarian, and a warden and vestryman of St John's Anglican Church, Camberwell. Changed demands in World War II encouraged Fowlers Vacola to diversify their product. Canned goods were manufactured for allied troops in the South Pacific. In 1953 new buildings and plant, including a giant pressure-cooker, were installed to increase productivity: from that time Fowlers Vacola sold canned and bottled food throughout Australia and abroad. By 1960 the factory occupied more than 122,000 sq. ft (11,330 m²) and further expansion was to occur when the firm moved to Nunawading. Fowler retired in 1961, but remained chairman of directors; his son Ronald succeeded him as managing director. Variously described as a generous, jovial man with a sense of humour, and as a strict and astute manager whose company was his life, Fowler was renowned for his straight business dealings and his 'no-nonsense' attitude. Survived by his son and daughter, he died on 24 April 1972 at Camberwell and was cremated. His estate was sworn for probate at $204,424. On Ronald Fowler's death in 1978, the company was bought out by the Sydney firm, Hooper Baillie Industries Ltd; it in turn sold to Sabco Ltd of South Australia; in 1994, when Sabco went into receivership, Australian Resource Recovery Technologies re-established Fowlers Vacola Australia Pty Ltd's headquarters in Melbourne. Copper boiling pot for home preserves, handles, lid and removable thermometer, also acc ompany instruction booklet. "Fowlers Method of Bottling Fruits and Vegetables"Fowler's "Vacola" Reg. No. 68081 Sterilizer

Formal photograph of group of men and women employed by the Shire of Eltham, to commemorate the Shire Centenary April 1971. Photograph taken at the rear of the Council Offices, Main Road, Eltham Includes Eltham Shire Council Staff List and Phone Numbers, 1971 1971 Eltham Shire Council Staff Photo (SEPP_4050 and SEPP_4051) L-R Back Row: N. Stuart (Engineering), N. Campbell (Engineering), W. Oakley (Engineering), R. McIldowie (Engineering), D. Welch (Engineering), G. Pullen (Accounts), J. Bleazby (Rates), P. Sturtevent (Engineering), B. Hill (Engineering), F. Harrington (Engineering) Third Row: C. Harris (Building), M. Van Ewijk (Accounts), Miss C. Casella (Administration), Miss D. Curran (Rates), M. Howard (Administration), Dennis McKay (Engineering), Mrs L. Crockett (Accounts), A. Liepa (Engineering), G. Newton (Building), Mrs N. Davis (Administration), I. Leach (Health), Mrs F. Conyers (Rates), B. Wright (ranger), I. Caig (Traffic By-Laws Officer) Second Row: J. Constable (Accounts), J. Parsons (Health), Mrs J. Baker (Health), P. Hoare (Engineering), Miss R. Spearman (Rates), D. Golder (Engineering), Mrs R. Cox (Administration), H. Masefield (Fire Proper Officer), A. Birch (Engineering), Sister L. Cameron (Health), Russell Yeoman (Engineering), T. Phyland (Engineering) Front Row (seated): Miss D. Vreulink (Administration), D. Lovatt (Health), Mrs H. Dixson (Accounts), M. Fowler (Rates), Mrs L. Harris (Administration), C. Gaudion (Health), M. Watson (Shire Secretary), A. Roberts (Administration), Miss J. Featherby (Engineering), M. Verhoeven (Engineering), Mrs M. Lethlean (Engineering), I. McDonald (Rate Collector), Mrs W. Klooster (Engineering), Mrs C. Bell (Engineering) Absent: John McDonald (Shire Engineer) This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image Print Foolscap page typedInscribed A2207A (SEPP_4050) 2nd version inscribed A2207B (SEPP_4051)a. birch, a. liepa, a. roberts, b. hill, b. wright, c. gaudion, c. harris, council, council staff, council-staff, d. golder, d. lovatt, d. welch, dennis mckay, eltham-shire-council, f. harrington, g. newton, g. pullen, h. masefield, i. caig, i. leach, i. mcdonald, j. bleazby, j. constable, j. parsons, john mcdonald, m. fowler, m. howard, m. van ewijk, m. verhoeven, m. watson, miss c. casella, miss d. curran, miss d. vreulink, miss j. featherby, miss r. spearman, mrs c. bell, mrs f. conyers, mrs h. dixson, mrs j. baker, mrs l. crockett, mrs l. harris, mrs m. lethlean, mrs n. davis, mrs r. cox, mrs w. klooster, n. campbell, n. stuart, p. hoare, p. sturtevent, r. mcildowie, russell yeoman, shire of eltham centenary, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, sister l. cameron, t. phyland, w. oakley

Formal photograph of group of men and women employed by the Shire of Eltham, to commemorate the Shire Centenary 6 April 1971. Photograph taken at the rear of the Council Offices, Main Road, Eltham 1971 Eltham Shire Council Staff Photo (SEPP_4050 and SEPP_40511) L-R Back Row: N. Stuart (Engineering), N. Campbell (Engineering), W. Oakley (Engineering), R. McIldowie (Engineering), D. Welch (Engineering), G. Pullen (Accounts), J. Bleazby (Rates), P. Sturtevent (Engineering), B. Hill (Engineering), F. Harrington (Engineering) Third Row: C. Harris (Building), M. Van Ewijk (Accounts), Miss C. Casella (Administration), Miss D. Curran (Rates), M. Howard (Administration), Dennis McKay (Engineering), Mrs L. Crockett (Accounts), A. Liepa (Engineering), G. Newton (Building), Mrs N. Davis (Administration), I. Leach (Health), Mrs F. Conyers (Rates), B. Wright (ranger), I. Caig (Traffic By-Laws Officer) Second Row: J. Constable (Accounts), J. Parsons (Health), Mrs J. Baker (Health), P. Hoare (Engineering), Miss R. Spearman (Rates), D. Golder (Engineering), Mrs R. Cox (Administration), H. Masefield (Fire Proper Officer), A. Birch (Engineering), Sister L. Cameron (Health), Russell Yeoman (Engineering), T. Phyland (Engineering) Front Row (seated): Miss D. Vreulink (Administration), D. Lovatt (Health), Mrs H. Dixson (Accounts), M. Fowler (Rates), Mrs L. Harris (Administration), C. Gaudion (Health), M. Watson (Shire Secretary), A. Roberts (Administration), Miss J. Featherby (Engineering), M. Verhoeven (Engineering), Mrs M. Lethlean (Engineering), I. McDonald (Rate Collector), Mrs W. Klooster (Engineering), Mrs C. Bell (Engineering) Absent: John McDonald (Shire Engineer) This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book, "Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image Print 20 x 25 cmInscribed A2207A (SEPP_4050) 2nd version inscribed A2207B (SEPP_4051)a. birch, a. liepa, a. roberts, b. hill, b. wright, c. gaudion, c. harris, council, council staff, council-staff, d. golder, d. lovatt, d. welch, dennis mckay, eltham-shire-council, f. harrington, g. newton, g. pullen, h. masefield, i. caig, i. leach, i. mcdonald, j. bleazby, j. constable, j. parsons, john mcdonald, m. fowler, m. howard, m. van ewijk, m. verhoeven, m. watson, miss c. casella, miss d. curran, miss d. vreulink, miss j. featherby, miss r. spearman, mrs c. bell, mrs f. conyers, mrs h. dixson, mrs j. baker, mrs l. crockett, mrs l. harris, mrs m. lethlean, mrs n. davis, mrs r. cox, mrs w. klooster, n. campbell, n. stuart, p. hoare, p. sturtevent, r. mcildowie, russell yeoman, shire of eltham centenary, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, sister l. cameron, t. phyland, w. oakley

"Eureka" was a Ballarat College of Advanced Education Student Union Newspaper. Ballarat College of Advanced Education is a predecessor institution of Federation University. The campus was at Mount Helen. Articles in the newspapers include an Editorials, Letters to the Editor, Education items, Clubs and Societies news, Reviews - consumer advice, Union reports. Environment, sports reports "Eureka" printed by Jeff Zilles.eureka, ballarat college of advanced education, editorials, letters to the editor, clubs and societies, reviews, union reports, sports reports, environment, stephen roberts, tony gill, janeen gunn, dawn reading, phillip crowley, judy ellis, neila mccaw, jeff zilles, printer, simon marginson, steve sewell, d j bellingham, steve bromeley, greg giles, wayne king, stephen harris, christopher stevens, philip lynch, peter mcmahon, bruce widdop, robert rook, annie stewart, m a caddie, phil lynch, peter fisher, grahame mcculloch, nina mckay, murray caddie, david fowler, whitlam government, education cuts, the budget, student union, student association, anne e. stweart

Letter from R Coles, General Secretary of the Federated Municipal and Shire Employees' Union of Australia - Victoria Division to Mr. J Richmond referring to a list of Members' deductions from Bendigo. He has requested Mr Richmond to send the necessary receipts for the Members so he can send his Commission. List of employees attached. They are: Rogers A M, Christensen B E, Holahan T P, Dingfelder W H, Diss W T, Braine C G, Chinn A E, Deveraux K W, Dowsey S T, Jones R C, Mangan L J, Bush A A, Howarth D L, Brandreth G J, Lowndes L, Cocks G E, Harvey G R, Richmond J A, Kerwin E G, Webb D G, McKindley S C, Lees D A, Downing T R, Boorn M A, Jobling R L, Muir W H, Callanan L F, O'Neill S F, Rasmussen P D, Barkla P J, Donnellan M D, Wilson DL, Weaver H N, Holliday J Lenaghan P S, Taylor R J,Kane M J, Kyriakakis A, Brauman K C, Lundberg R J, Purden D, Ramage K, Barber L H, Billet W J, Jackson R J, Cutting N A, Dutton W J, Hopcott W R, Fowler W T, Clarke R D, Gray R J, Hannan D J, Hoggan V J, Homewood J N, Duimovich R J, Comer J L, Jones D W, Kelly P L, Fitzpatrick B T, Leach L R, Lonsdale J E, Lummis L H, McGuane J F, Edwards W A, Morgan K G, Penhall J T, Roberts M A, Smith I B, Spoors R S, Tannock C F, Threlfall K J, McCarthy B F,Walker A F, Cain R J, Miller P R, Dutton D B, Naylor P L, Pollard G D, Pendlebury P F, Price A G, Strahan A H, Mundy K J, Young D J, Young G J, Chaplin L I, Roberts R D, thomas G A, Binns G W, Whitfield A C, Tranter J E, Tranter N J, Lonsdale P A, Taylor C J, Barton G C, Hayes J L, Oates D J, Calentine G R, Read W G, Hearps R M, Denham P G, Burke D M, Stokes H A, Harrington P M, Tranter G S, Asher K W, Fisher S A, Bruce D W, Kingdom C J, Watts M J, Freeman E S, Winzar J O, Jones R C and Browell R E,bendigo, council, cattle markets, bendigo saleyards collection - letter to mr j richmond, federated municipal and shire council employees' union of australia - victoria division, commonwealth conciliation and arbitration act, r coles, city of bendigo, rogers a m, christensen b e, holahan t p, dingfelder w h, diss w t, braine c g, chinn a e, deveraux k w, dowsey s t, jones r c, mangan l j, bush a a, howarth d l, brandreth g j, lowndes l, cocks g e, harvey g r, richmond j a, kerwin e g, webb d g, mckindley s c, lees d a, downing t r, boorn m a, jobling r l, muir w h, callanan l f, o'neill s f, rasmussen p d, barkla p j, donnellan m d, wilson dl, weaver h n, holliday j lenaghan p s, taylor r j, kane m j, kyriakakis a, brauman k c, lundberg r j, purden d, ramage k, barber l h, billet w j, jackson r j, cutting n a, dutton w j, hopcott w r, fowler w t, clarke r d, gray r j, hannan d j, hoggan v j, homewood j n, duimovich r j, comer j l, jones d w, kelly p l, fitzpatrick b t, leach l r, lonsdale j e, lummis l h, mcguane j f, edwards w a, morgan k g, penhall j t, roberts m a, smith i b, spoors r s, tannock c f, threlfall k j, mccarthy b f, walker a f, cain r j, miller p r, dutton d b, naylor p l, pollard g d, pendlebury p f, price a g, strahan a h, mundy k j, young d j, young g j, chaplin l i, roberts r d, thomas g a, binns g w, whitfield a c, tranter j e, tranter n j, lonsdale p a, taylor c j, barton g c, hayes j l, oates d j, calentine g r, read w g, hearps r m, denham p g, burke d m, stokes h a, harrington p m, tranter g s, asher k w, fisher s a, bruce d w, kingdom c j, watts m j, freeman e s, winzar j o, jones r c, browell r e

A white document titled "Bendigo Teachers' College Graduation Ceremony". Bendigo City Hall, Friday 11th Dec. 1970, at 10.30 A.M. Principal: Mr. K. G. Scarrott. Warden for Men: Mr.F. M. Courtis. Warden for Women: Mrs. H. J. Chatfield. Below this is a list of the staff at the college - Mr. T. J. McCabe, Mr. D. O'Brien, Mr. B. I. Rollins, Mr. R. F. Colbourne, Mr. B. A. Clemson, Mr. L. A. Hall, Mr. B. T. Geary, Mr. K. C. Coles, Mr. K. G. Harrison, Mr. B. R. Reed, Mr. J. A. White, Mr. G. L. Colson, Mr. A. D. Maltby, Mr. K. I. Clements, Mr. L. Jackman, Mr. D. R. Phelan, Mr. J. J. Layther, Mr. J. Brasier, Mr. R. B. Silverback, Mr. W. P. Lomas, Mr. J. P. Furnell, Mr. J. R. Goodrich, Mr. K. A. Ryrie, Mr. A. R. McIntosh, Mr. R. N. Teasdale, Mr. C. J. Barnes, Mr. R. J. Harris, Mr. R. Colliss, Mr. D. A. Jobling, J. R. R. McLeod, Mr. D. J. Watson, Mr. R. N. Bruce, Mrs. N. F. Fawdry, Mrs. H. A. Knox, Mrs. E. L. Perry, Mrs. M. M. Clemson, Mrs. R. M. Briggs, Mrs. M. P. Hibberd and Miss J. C. Burnett . Associate Medical Staff - Dr. S. Morphy and Administrative Staff: Mr. W. D. Kolle, Mrs. E. Morshead, Miss E. Christopher, Miss C. T. Aldridge and Mrs. D. M. Philpott. On the inside page is the "Significance of the Ceremony" and "The College Anthem". On the following page is a list of the students completing the Diploma of Teaching (Primary) 1968 - 1970 - Kaye Anderson, Marike Arro, Alan B. Baker, Avril L. Baker, Helen, J. Barnett, Madeline M. Beischer, Thelma J. Busch, Jenny A. Callender, Julie M. Cocks, Valerie Dealy, Sue J. Dudley, A. James Dunstone, Kath J. Fowler, Judy A. Gibb, James M. Goodall, Helen P. Gorman, Lindy A. Hall, J. Margaret Harkin, Jenny A. Henderson, Heather A. Hockley, Marilyn J. Hope, S. Lynn Humphry, Helen R. Jamieson, Gail E. Jolliff, Susan M. Jones, Mary Clare Kelly, N. Jenny Kennedy, R. John Leschke, Clare P. Lynch, Lois J. McConnell, Kay M. McDonald, Peter A. McManus, Margaret L. Mangan, Lorraine L. Matthews, Lois Monk, Frances M. Morgan, Genevieve M. Mulcair, Gail M. Norton, Helen M. Oliver, Colleen M. Orr, Rosemary F. Punton, Veronica E. Rahill, Peter J. Ryan, Robyn B. Schooling, Carol A. Scott, Richard W. Steele, Bruce W. Taylor, Jeanette M. Wallace, Lesley R. Wallis, Gwendoline M. Williams and Francis J. Wright. The Trained Primary Teacher's Certificate 1969 - 1970 was received by Rosena T. Amitrano, Ann E. Bennett, Jennifer E. Biggs, Philip L. Blackmore, Gayle D. Boase, Suzanne Brown, Paul T. Cairns, Julienne Cairns, Patricia Callanan, Sally Cariddi, Jennifer J. Carr, Helen Childs, Stephen M. Cope, Cheryl R. Coulstock, Carmel M. Doolan, Lynette R. Dowdell, Roseann C. Egan, Linda Ellis, Beverley J. Evans, Jillian Faderson, Judith Field, Anne E. Flynn, Rosemary J. Gardam, Valerie L. Green, J. Lindsay Harvey, Glenda M. Hepburn, Lynette D. Herdman, Helen M. Hodgson, Alyson C. Hyde, Pamela Jackson, May R. Jardine, Jennifer A. Jones, Barbara A. Kay, Gerrard A. Keogh, Bernadette Kerlin, Teresa M. Lavery, Judith A. Leneghan, Ann L. Licence, Aileen P. McAlister, Janet G. McCartney, Nola McConnell, Peter McCurry, Jacqueline E. McDonald, Margaret McHugh, Elizabeth A. McInnes, Barbara A. McLean, Lena J. Mariani, Jillian J. Martin, Louisa M. Merlin, Denise M. Miller, Dorothy J. Morshead, Christine A. Moss, Margaret Mulqueen, Penelope A. Murdoch, David Murray, Margaret M. O'Brien, Janice W. Pattison, Bronwyn A. Pease, Ian Perry, Angelika M. E. Petrovic, Beverly A. Pianta, Marianne L. Pollock, Julie C. Seipolt, Una Sims, Beth A. Small, Martin D. Smith, F. Elizabeth Spittal, Helen E. Stephens, Cheryl J. Sumner, Susan E. Tate, Suzanne Tate, Geoffrey L. Taylor, Cheryl Thomas, Jennifer A. Tope, Graham L. Turner, Lynette F. Turner, Margaret Wallis, Maureen T. White, Graham J. Whitlock, Julie A. Wilson, Jennifer A. Wood and Lynette J. Young. Also on this page are the names of students who completed external studies in the Trained Primary Teacher's Certificate - Margaret I. Anderson, Heather M. Collins, Margaret E. Gaskell, Marie A. Row, Sheryl F. Russell and Margaret E. Wilson. Denise J. Johnston completed her Trained Infant Teacher's Certificate externally. On the back cover is the "Order of the Ceremony". Mr. B. A. Clemson welcomed the visitors and the Principal Mr. K. G. Scarrott gave the Principal's message to graduands. Student representatives were presented to Mr. W. F. R. Budge by Mrs. H. Chatfield. Mr. F. M. Courtis presented the 1968-1970 Diploma of Teaching (Primary) to students and Mr. T. J. McCabe presented the 1969-1970 to T.P.T.C. students. Congratulations were offered by City of Bendigo, Cr. R. F. Turner, President of Strathfieldsaye Shire, Cr. R. W. Somerville and Principal of Golden Square State School Mr. R. Cordingley. The Occasional Address was given by Professor P. W. Musgrave and the President of the S.R.C. Mr. Peter McManus gave the Acknowledgement.bendigo, education, bendigo teachers' college graduatio, la trobe university bendigo collection, collection, bendigo teachers' college, bendigo, education, teaching, teachers, students, tertiary education, bendigo teachers' college staff, bendigo teachers' college students, graduands, graduation, graduation ceremony

Silver colored cup with two handles and a baker light base.City of Warrnambool Rowing Club D. A. McDougall Cup 1980-81. S. Carter, J. Crossbie, K. Johnson 1981-82. D. O'Keefe, J. Crossbie, Glenda Warwick, Carmel O'Keefe 1982-83. K. Owen, P. Gee, W. Addinsall 1983-84. Stuart Fowler 1984-85. Stuart Fowler 1986-87. Gary Wallace, Mathew Bell 1987-88. Andrew McNeil 1988-89. Andrew McNeil 1989-90. C. Stonhouse, N. Bell 1990-91. J. Stonhouse 1991-92. S. Burleigh, I. Peerson 1992-93. N. Barratt, C. Kelson 1993-94. K. Lynch, K. Malseed 1994-95. J. Burleigh 1995-96. J. Burleigh 1996-97. B. Wooster 1997-98. B. Wooster 1998-99. R. Church 1999-2000. Michelle McKenzie, Cristy Kelson warrnambool, rowing, warrnambool rowing club, city of warrnambool rowing club, d. mcdougall

Photo taken soon after the school was built in 1907.Charlton State School c. 1909. Students and teacher standing in front of school building. Teacher: Eric Stubbs. Students names (not complete): V Dew, Fowler, A Procter, L Coath, Luth, C Dew, H Procter, ?, C Curnow, A Clark, E Ower, D Sleeman, K Tonkin, W Larkin, M Burton, D Dew, A Hedder, E Curnow, Roberts, R Ditterich, V Beckham, H Wylie, N Cussons, E Beckham, D Sherman, B Dullard, I Dew, B Bennett, Catron, ?, B Farren, L McRae, H Clark, C Thompson, Dullard, Dew, A Luth, N Tulloch, R Curnow, ?, J Fisher. school, charlton, higher elementary school, education

It belonged to Beryl Mair of 20 Barton Street, Surrey Hills and was given to her by Mr W Sandoe on 12.11.1928. There are entries from family members and class mates from Mont Albert Central School (MACS). The first entry is written by her father, Dave Mair. Entries from: D Mair, Lance Young, Norma Dunn, I Goodes, Lorraine Potts, Mary Griffin, L E Jarman, J Stalker, Jean Fowler, Ailsa Hank (with an ink drawing of a cottage), May Leach, Merle Botten, Beryl Skinner, Enid Marro(w ?), Betty (S ?)oule, Fred A Teague, A Mock, Kath Paul, Melva Dare, Marjorie Smith, J Hargreave, Ethel Lillifant. Three entries are quotation only. One page lists teachers of Mont Albert Central School: E C Cairns, E E Holden, Alfred Harley, R Blackburne, R W Campbell, M (?) Sheahan, ------- (undecipherable), H McConville. Those dated are mostly from 1930.The Mair family were resident in Barton Street for several generations. Beryl's father Dave Mair was a keen sportsman and founder of the Kangaroo Social Club of cricketers. Beryl married Lance Young. This is part of a large collection relating to the Mair, Deakin and Young families.In Europe autograph books have a history that can be traced back to 15th century university students. In Australia autograph albums were particularly popular towards the end of the 19th century, although there are known examples as far back as the 1830s. The increase in popularity coincides with printing and book binding becoming more affordable. Autograph books came in many sizes but were typically small with blank pages, usually in pastel colours. The books were often exchanged so the gathering of autographs was a very social pastime. Pages were filled with not only names, signatures and personal details but also poems, limericks, drawings, personal messages, small pieces of verse, and other mementos, such as pressed flowers, locks of hair and even embroidery. Although they could be very personal, unlike a diary they were meant to be viewed as part of the exchange. Autograph books from the 1950s may have a different focus. Although it remained common to collect the autographs of friends it was also highly desirable to collect the signatures of the famous, especially rock and television stars. Autograph books are of social relevance because they reflect the sentiment of the era of creation; they can also be reflective of social change, major political events or new inventions.A small autograph book with a mottled brown cover and faded pastel pages with gold edging. The end pages are detailed in beige and pink. There are multiple entries, those dated are mostly from 1930. Front cover: "Autographs" in gold within a gold oval. Front inside page in black and red ink: "BERYL MAIR / 20 / BARTON / STREET , SURREY HILLS / from / MR W SANDOE / 12/11/28" Embossed in back cover, lower right: "MADE IN ENGLAND" beryl mair, autograph books, dave mair, barton street, ernest lance young, lance young, norma dunn, i goodes, lorraine potts, mary griffin, l e jarman, j stalker, jean fowler, ailsa hank, may leach, merle botten, beryl skinner, enid marro(w ?), betty (s ?)oule, fred a teague, a mock, kath paul, melva dare, marjorie smith, j hargreave, ethel lillifant, teachers, mont albert central school, e c cairns, e e holden, alfred harley, r blackburne, r w campbell, m (?) sheahan, h mcconville