Historical information

This Bible and cover belonged to Ethel Ardlie, nee Ryan (1880-1967). In 1903 she married Arthur Stanley Ardlie of Warrnambool. Arthur Ardlie was the son of the prominent Warrnambool lawyer, William Ardlie and his wife Mary and the grandson of John and Mary Ardlie, pioneer settlers in Warrnambool. Ethel and Arthur Ardlie had three daughters, Olive (1905- 1912), Dorothy (1910-1993) and Agnes (1915-1993). They lived at Aroona, Princess Street, Warrnambool.

Significance

These items are of great interest firstly because they are examples of the type of Bible and cover that families owned in the mid 20th century. Also they are mementoes of a prominent family in Warrnambool in the 20th century, with the Bible containing important information on this family.

Physical description

.1 This is a Bible with a black cover with gold lettering on the spine. The cover is stained. The pages contain the Old Testament (1086 pages), a Family Register section, the New Testament (306 pages) and some coloured maps. Amongst the pages are two pressed pansies and two loose sheets.
.2 This is a brown tooled leather cover for the Bible with a brown silk lining and a brown cord attached to the top of the spine for use as a bookmark. The front cover has an embossed image of seven figures. The edges of the spine of the cover are torn.

Inscriptions & markings

Ethel M. Ardlie (x2)
Aroona, Warrnambool