Pickwick Clubs were established around the world in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, inspired by the first novel of Charles Dickens. A Kew branch was formed in 1897 and lasted until c.1912. Its membership was drawn from a number of notable Kew families. The club published two booklets, the first in 1904 and the second in 1912. In addition to holding meetings, club members performed in productions of Shakespearian plays in the Recreation Hall in Wellington Street Kew. Members of the club adopted pseudonyms based on characters in Dickens' novels.Literary publication of of artistic (literary) significance recording the social and cultural activities of a group of residents of Kew and its environs that operated from 1897 to c.1912. Another copy is held by the State Library of New South WalesContents of The Pickwick Portfolio, Vol.1, No.2 - Frontispiece / Mark Tapley (Alice Bale); Editorial; To Pickwick / John Jarndyce (Mr G. Bell); A sonnet / BarkisThe Pickwick Portfolio being the magazine of The Pickwick Club, Kew, Vol.1, No.2 January 1, 1912 (Mr McCowan); Nikko / Barnaby Rudge (Mr H. Gaze); The lady or the tiger? / Nathaniel Winkle (Mr J.A. Richardson); Why? / Alfred Jingle (Mr H.M. King); The autobiography of Richard Pitt Cobden Slugger / Sam Weller (Mr P Vines); A new natural history; A kerosene tin / Wardle (Mr Veitch); Peter, or butt me no butts / Henrietta Boffin (Mrs J.A. Richardson); Laughter: can it be cured? / Cap'n Cuttle (Mr E. Vines)fictionthe pickwick club - kew, literary clubs, pickwick clubs, charles dickens

Pickwick Clubs were established around the world in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, inspired by the first novel of Charles Dickens. A Kew branch was formed in 1897 and lasted until c.1912. Its membership was drawn from a number of notable Kew families. The club published two booklets, the first in 1904 and the second in 1912. In addition to holding meetings, club members performed in productions of Shakespearian plays in the Recreation Hall in Wellington Street Kew. Members of the club adopted pseudonyms based on characters in Dickens' novels.Literary publication of of artistic (literary) significance recording the social and cultural activities of a group of residents of Kew and its environs that operated from 1897 to c.1912. Copies of volume 1 are held by the State Libraries of Queensland and New South Wales.Contents of The Pickwick Portfolio, Vol.1, No.1 - Frontispiece [Illustration] Pickwick Portfolio / Mark Tapley (Alice Bale); Foreword / Mantalini (Mr A. Barlow); D. Copperfield (Mr H. Brown); Sonnet to celebrate Pickwick Club's birthday's eight and to congratulate it on its happy fate / John Jarndyce (Mr G. Bell); A new planet / Mikawber (Mr H. Mollard); The melancholy heart / Samuel Weller (Mr P. Vines); Time / Florence Dombey (Miss C. Turner); A day in Japan / Miss Moucher (Dr G. Halley); His yellow affability / Mark Tapley (Alice Bale); A tragedy / N. Nickleby (Mrs J.T. Dill, nee Miss Pullar); Bill Sykes [Illustration] / (Micawber (Mr H. Mollard); The norseman's song / Pickwick (Rev W. Slack); The maker of the soul / Squeers (Mr N. Brown); Glory / Jingle (Mr H.M. King); My first conquest / Agnes Wickfield (Miss A. Vines); The mosquito / D. Copperfield (Mr H. Brown); The blind baggage / Mantlini (Mr A. Barlow); The Pickwick Tree [Illustration] / Mark Tapley (Alice Bale); The freedom of life / Toots (Mr W. Shum)fictionthe pickwick club - kew, literary clubs, pickwick clubs, charles dickens

This book was part of a large group of books referred to as the Pattison Collection, which belonged to the Warrnambool Public Library, part of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute. About RALPH ERIC PATTISON and the ‘PATTISON COLLECTION’ The ‘Pattison Collection’ is a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, 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 WMI was led to ask the City Council to take it over in 1911 due to a lack of financial support. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Public Library as it was then called. Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up a home in Warrnambool. In 1935 when Pattison accepted the 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 areas 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 from 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 NEW WARRNAMBOOL LIBRARY 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 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. 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. The Posthumous Papers of The Pickwick Club Author: Charles Dickens Publisher: J M Dent & Sons Date: 1926 Further Information: First Issue of this Edition 1907. Reprinted 1909,1911,1913,1916,1918,1920,1923,1924,1926.The label on the spine cover with typed text PAT 823 DIC Paste down front end paper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service. Front loose end paper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service. Inside the front loose end paper is written "to Bill from Cyril 6.1.27"flagstaff hil, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, 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, the posthumous papers of the pickwick club, charles dickens

Stamped 'Cowes Free Public Library'. Labelled 'Cowes Free Public Library', 'Phillip Island Historical Society, Cleeland Bequest'.

Published quarterly since 1977, the newsletters of the Kew Historical Society contain significant research by members exploring relevant aspects of the Victorian and Australian Framework of Historical Themes. Frequently, articles on people, places and artefacts are the only source of information about an aspect of Kew, and Melbourne’s history.non-fictionAquatic adventures / Robert Baker p1. Office Bearers / p2. History News: exhibitions; new acquisitions; memberships / p3. Hussey Burgh Macartney / Felicity Renowden & Tony McCutcheon p4. Where is North Kew? / Brad Miles p6. June 1922 / Trove p6. Harold Blair's Kew Committee / David White p7. Pickwick Portfolio: new acquisition / Robert Baker p9. The Rotary Club of Yarra Bend / Anne Josefsberg p10. Membership & Donations p12. 12ppkew historical society (vic.) -- periodicals., kew historical society (vic.) -- newsletters, kew historical society (vic.) -- journals

Various PartiesReference, Research, InformationArranged by Secondary Values (value of records to users)The Pickwick Club, founded in 1897, was an artistic and literary group within Kew who specialised in poems and similar expressions of literature. They published ‘The Pickwick Portfolio’ on an irregular basis. The file includes: Two different editions of the Pickwick Portfolio, two of Volume 1 in 1904, one from Volume 1 in 1912. There is also a letter from a Mr. J. F. Richardson and responses regarding the donation of two of the portfolios, as well as an old Kew Historical Society newsletter regarding the donation of the third.pickwick club – kew (vic.), literature – kew (vic.), poems – kew (vic.)pickwick club – kew (vic.), literature – kew (vic.), poems – kew (vic.)