Prior to the election of female Councillor's and Mayors, the Mayoress role as wife of the Mayor, was one of the few ways women could officially undertake civic duties. Mayoress's played an important role in civic life through charity work, even stepping in on occasions to undertake Mayoral duties. Mayoress Niemann was born Ethel Emily May Harding in 1880 in Geelong and died in Canberra in 1959.Framed, oval photographic portraits with convex glass and print, created using a collodion wet plate process. Hand coloured detail.Verso; signed Vincent Kelly 1ethel harding, mayoress niemann, mayor niemann, vincent kelly photographer, city of bendigo, city of greater bendigo portraits

This group portrait was taken at a City of Greater Bendigo function marking the 100,000th visitor entering the Grace Kelly: Style Icon exhibition.Colour photograph taken at the Bendigo Art Gallery of gallery staff and volunteers, Visitor Centre staff and volunteers, Mayor Sandner, CEO Craig Niemann and various other COGB staff.city of greater bendigo tourism, bendigo art gallery, mayor sandner

Correspondence re Niemann family - reference to a ''Niemann'' mentioned in Frank Cusack's book. Mention of F C Niemann, councillor and mayor of Bendigo (ca. 1930s).Reply from BHS mentions a Miss Niemann (amateur dramatics). Date of correspondence - 1980.person, individual, niemann family