Historical information

This letter book was used by George Barber to produce letters to send to clients and to retain a copy of this correspondence. Barber was a prominent Warrnambool lawyer in the 19th century. English-born George Barber (1814-1897) came to Warrnambool from Port Fairy in 1853, making him one of the earliest lawyers in the town. In 1867 he formed a partnership with William Ardlie, and this partnership continued until Barber retired in1879. Barber was active in community affairs, being involved with such institutions as the Warrnambool Cricket Club, the Warrnambool Hospital, the Warrnambool Gas Company and the local Horticultural Society.

Significance

This letter has a connection to one of Warrnambool's important early lawyers and will be useful to researchers if the handwriting can be read.

Physical description

This is a letter book of 750 pages with a hard grey-coloured cover and black taping on the spine. The front cover has a paper label with a handwritten title on the outside and a signature on the inside cover The cover is partly detached from the spine. The pages contain an alphabetical index at the front and copies of handwritten letters. There are many pages unused and there are three loose paper items seemingly not connected to the contents of the letter book. The cover and some of the pages are stained and tattered and the contents are very difficult to read.

Inscriptions & markings

George Barber Warrnambool