Three generations of women are represented in this apron. The linen used was woven by Olga's great-grandmother Efstathia in the late nineteenth century with flax grown on the island of Ithaca. Olga's mother Toula Raftopoulos added the whitework around 1908 at age 16 - the first piece of lacework she made on her own - and embroidered her initials on the front. Olga embellished the apron with coloured embroidery around 1950 at age 20. Olga Maria Black was born in Melbourne in 1930, the daughter of Ithacan migrants Constantine and Toula Mavrokefalos. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. Toula's family had left Ithaca for Romania when she was only six months old, but she happened to be visiting the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Olga's mother Toula learned to sew as a child, while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Olga spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years.Cream linen embroidered half apron. White lace along hem, along with white embroidered initials, "T.P." Coloured floral and abstract embroidery along sides in red, black, blue and green.olga black, toula raftopoulos, migration, embroidery

This nightgown was made by Vasiliki Raftopoulos around 1900 for her daughter Toula's trousseau. Born in Ithaca, Toula's family migrated to Romania when she was only a baby. In 1914, Toula emigrated to Australia with her husband Constantine Mavrokefalos, where their daughter Olga Black was born in 1930. Olga is a longtime Brighton resident. BHS holds a collection of garments and textiles made by the women of Olga's family, spanning four generations. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. Toula's family had left Ithaca for Romania when she was only six months old, but she happened to be visiting the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Olga's mother Toula learned to sew as a child, while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Olga spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years.Women's white cotton nightgown, long with three quarter sleeves. Cotton lace on front and sleeves. Front fastening buttons. Pintucked with eyelets around neck.nightgown, toula black, toula mavrokefalos, vasiliki raftopoulos, olga black, 1900s, trousseau

The lady pictured is Efstathia (Toula) Black (Mavrokefalos) nee Raftopoulos. Toula married Constantine Mavrokefalos. Toula was president of the first Greek women's committee established in Melbourne in 1917, the Greek Women's Oganisation. Constantine was a founding member of the IPS. Her daughter's Nina and Olga Black were both very active in the Ithacan and Greek communities. She had three other children, Marguerita (Rita), John and Ellie.A black and white photograph of a head and shoulders view of a smartly dressed lady wearing a coat with a fur collar and hat with face net. The lady is wearing glasses.

The lady is Regina Mavrokefalos, mother of Constantine Mavrokefalos (Black) and paternal grandmother of Nina (Regina) and Olga Black, both well known in Melbourne's Greek community for their contributions to Greek language and culture. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. He met and married his Efstathia (Toula) Raftopoulos on Ithaca in 1914 and returned to Australia with his wife. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944.A sepia photograph of a photograph of a lady sitting in the garden of a small house which is in the background.

This is a photo Constantine Black (Mavrokefalos) who was from the village of Exoghi arrived in Melbourne 18 years of age in the early 1902. He returned to Greece for the Balkan War and the photo depicts him in the army uniform of the time. It was at this time that on a visit to Ithaca he met Efstathia (Toula) Raftopoulos. They married and in 1914 Constantine returned to Melbourne with Toula. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Two of his children, Nina Black and Olga Black, were very active and well known in the Ithacan and Greek community's cultural life.A studio black and white photograph of a man wearing the traditional Greek soldier's uniform. He is standing beside a wall and holding a gun upright.

Toula Black (Mavrokefalou) is seated with her 2 year old daughter Rita on her knee. Her older daughter, Nina, is crouched down beside her. Toula's brother, John Raftopoulos, is standing behind them. John came from America and eventually settled in Brisbane.A black and white photograph of a man and lady with two little girls. They are in a garden and the man is standing behind the seated group.

The young lady is Efstathia (Toula) Mavokefalos (nee Raftopoulos) aged 16 who grew up in Romania. Efstathia left Ithaca at the age of three when her parents migrated to Romania. She returned to Ithaca where in 1913 met Costantine J. Mavrokefalos (Black) who had returned from Australia to fight in the Balkan Wars. Within three weks of their first meeting, they married and spent their honeymoon on the ship to Australia. Their children were Regina (Nina), John, Ellie, Marguerita (Rita) and Olga. During the19th century a number of Ithacans migrated to Romania. Generally they worked as barge traders on the Danube River or as farmers. Instability in the Balkans lead to many returning as well as new opportunities and trends in migration for Ithacans, such as Australia.A photograph of a sepia studio portrait photograph of a head and shoulders view of a young lady. The original photograph was backed onto brown board. Details relevant to the photographer are written in Romanian across the bottom of the backing.

The photograph was taken in the family home of Constantine and Toula Black (Mavrokefalos) in Parkville during the early 1920s on the christening day of their son John Black. John's sisters, six year of Nina Black and her four year old sister, Rita (Marguerita) are pictured. Also pictured from l-r: Argiro ? , who was from Adelaide; John (Panoyoti) Raftopoulos, Toula's brother; and Lily Sigalas, Greek school teacher. Lily was the sister of Alexandra Vrachna who taught two generations of Australian born Ithacan children in Greek community schools for close to 30 years.In adult life Nina Black also went on to teach Greek at the Greek Community school which opened in Melbourne in the early 1930s. She also taught Greek at the CAE and English to new arrivals in the 1960s.A black and white photograph of a man, two ladies and two little girls of a group standing in a garden. A person on the left is almost hidden.

This nightgown belonged to Toula Mavrokefalos Black, nee Raftopoulos (1892-1976). Born in Ithaca, Toula's family migrated to Romania when she was only a baby. She learned to sew as a child while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. In 1914, Toula emigrated to Australia with her husband Constantine Mavrokefalos. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Her daughter Olga Black spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years. BHS holds a collection of garments and textiles made by the women of Olga's family, spanning four generations.Women's cream cotton sleeveless nightgown. Cutwork embroidery on bodice. Blue stain under one arm.nightgown, toula black, toula mavrokefalos, 1900s

This top was made by Toula Mavrokefalos Black (nee Raftopoulos) as a teenager living in Romania. It was intended to be worn under suit jackets. Her daughter, Olga Black, is a longtime Brighton resident. Olga Maria Black was born in Melbourne in 1930, the daughter of Ithacan migrants Constantine and Toula Mavrokefalos. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. Toula's family had left Ithaca for Romania when she was only six months old, but she happened to be visiting the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Olga's mother Toula learned to sew as a child, while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Olga spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years.Long-sleeved top of cream georgette with high round neck. Front features three handmade rectagular lace panel inserts, surrounded with floral cross stitch embroidery in red, blue, black and greentoula mavrokefalos, toula black, olga black, migration, embroidery

This nightshirt was made by Vasiliki Raftopoulos for her husband Panayioti around 1890. Both natives of Ithaca, the couple and their children were living in the village of Brila in Romania at the time. They emigrated to Australia around 1920, following their daughter Toula, who had settled in Melbourne with her husband Constantine Mavrokefalos in 1914. Toula and Constantine's daughter, Olga Black, is a longtime Brighton resident. BHS holds a collection of garments and textiles made by the women of Olga's family, spanning four generations.Men's white cotton nightshirt with red and black cross stitch embroidery. Fastened with red tassels (one missing).vasiliki raftopoulos, panayioti raftopoulos, olga black, migration, embroidery