Historical information

One of a group of unprovenanced photographs donated to the Society by Betty Morgan.

Significance

While its provenance is unclear, and it has suffered from fading, the photograph is a useful record of children's clothing in the first decade of the Twentieth Century. It is an example of Massingham's commercial photography at his studio in Bendigo. The clothing worn by the boys can be used to deconstruct social values in the period preceding the First World War.

Physical description

Faded sepia studio photograph of three unidentified boys, the oldest boy dressed in a quasi-military uniform; the two younger in berets and lace collars. The photographer is named as G.L. Massingham ( (George Leake, active 1866-1921) of View Street, Bendigo (and Geelong); active in View Street from 1901-c.1921.

Inscriptions & markings

G. L. MASSINGHAM / VIEW STREET. BENDIGO