University of Melbourne Issue 1, November 2007 COLLECTIONS University of Melbourne Collections Issue 1, November 2007

University of Melbourne Collections succeeds University of Melbourne Library Journal, published from 1993 to December 2005.

University of Melbourne Collections is produced by the Cultural Collections Group and the Publications Team, Information Services Division, University of Melbourne. This first issue has been generously supported by the Friends of the Baillieu Library.

Editor: Dr Belinda Nemec Assistant editor: Stephanie Jaehrling Design concept: 3 Deep Design Design implementation: Jacqueline Barnett

Advisory committee: Shane Cahill, Dr Alison Inglis, Robin Orams, Michael Piggott, Associate Professor Robyn Sloggett

Published by the Information Services Division University of Melbourne Victoria 3010 Australia Telephone (03) 8344 0269 Email [email protected]

© The University of Melbourne 2007

ISSN 1320-1832

All material appearing in this publication is copyright and cannot be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher and the relevant author.

The views expressed herein are those of individuals and not necessarily those of the University of Melbourne.

Note to contributors: Contributions relating to one or more of the cultural collections of the University of Melbourne are welcome. Please contact the editor, Belinda Nemec, on (03) 8344 0269 or [email protected]. For more information on the cultural collections see http://www.unimelb.edu.au/culturalcollections.

Additional copies of University of Melbourne Collections are available for $20 plus postage and handling. Please contact the editor.

Front cover: botanical model of a cocoa flower (genus: Theobroma; family: Sterculiaceae), R. Brendel & Co., Germany, early 20th century, papier-mâché, wood, mixed media, height: 50.0 cm. University of Melbourne Herbarium. This is one of a collection of 130 such teaching models acquired by the School of Botany in the early 20th century.

Back cover: Pleurotus lampas Br., collected by Mr Brunton at Mentone, Victoria, in October 1933. University of Melbourne Herbarium.

Cover photography: Lee McRae, Information Services. CONTENTS

Page 2 Introduction Ian Renard

Page 3 Postera crescam laude Robyn Sloggett and Tony Arthur

Page 12 The foundation of the Universitie of Cambridge Louise Wilson and Robyn Sloggett

Page 13 Hortus sanitatis (The garden of health) Louise Wilson and Robyn Sloggett

Page 14 Friends of the Baillieu Library Graham N. Dudley

Page 20 The University of Melbourne Herbarium, from McCoy to MELU Linden Gillbank

Page 29 MELU 2007 Nicole Middleton

Page 30 Engage, invigorate and educate Helen Arnoldi

Page 33 Cultural collections online Andrew Stephenson

Page 34 2007 exhibitions review

Page 38 John Harry Grainger Brian Allison

Page 46 Who was Kimura Kiyoko? Michelle Hall

Page 48 Financial support for the collections in 2006 and 2007 Warren Bebbington

Page 50 Collections news from across the University

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 1 Introduction Ian Renard

It gives me great pleasure to introduce collections: The Friends of the the first issue of University of Baillieu Library, currently celebrating Melbourne Collections. This new their 40th anniversary. The number magazine covers all 33 of the and quality of rare books, University’s diverse cultural manuscripts, maps and other items collections, including the library, that the Friends have helped the archival and Grainger Museum Library acquire over this period are collections which were so ably remarkable, and should serve as an presented in its predecessor inspiration to others to support the publication, University of Melbourne University’s collections. The Friends Library Journal. have also made a generous financial The University of Melbourne is contribution to the production of this uniquely placed among Australian magazine. tertiary institutions with its article, book, exhibition, or just for I trust that you will enjoy reading internationally significant holdings of general interest and enjoyment. this first issue of University of artworks, rare books, manuscripts, It is particularly apt that this first Melbourne Collections, and that it will archives, photographs, scientific issue should begin with a discussion inspire you to explore the collections specimens and historic apparatus and of the history of the University’s themselves more closely. artefacts. All University students and collections and the steps being taken staff, as well as the wider community, to preserve them for future are encouraged to take advantage of generations. This introductory article Ian Renard was installed as the 19th Chancellor of these remarkable collections, whether is complemented by the story of a the University of Melbourne in February 2005. A lawyer and company director, Mr Renard has for a research project, honours, group of community-minded citizens served on University Council since 1994 and was masters or doctoral thesis, journal who have long supported the library appointed Deputy Chancellor in 2001.

2 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Postera crescam laude Taking care of the cultural collections at the University of Melbourne Robyn Sloggett and Tony Arthur

Early days: The development preferred destination for education decade before the University was of the University of Melbourne’s and that for those who remained in opened, the 1841 census of cultural collections the colonies the ‘temptations of Melbourne recorded a settler lucrative employment were … population of 4,479.6 When the The University of Melbourne is a irresistible’.3 The University Australian Colonies Government Act of remarkable demonstration of the Chancellor wrote of ‘the great 1850 heralded the development of intellectual and cultural development necessity that the Professor of classics Victoria as a self-governing colony, of the City of Melbourne and the should be of hopeful persevering, and planning began in earnest for a State of Victoria. The complexity, constant mind; not to be discouraged university and public library. On 3 contribution and reach of the at his outset by deficiencies in his July 1854 the Governor Sir Charles University are notable. With a budget pupils’.4 Hotham laid the foundation stones of over $1 billion (to put this in Despite this shaky start the for both institutions. A year later the context the State of Victoria’s budget University was, from the beginning, population of Victoria had reached for 2007–2008 is around $33 billion) an important cultural provider in the more than 240,000.7 The University and its own postcode, the University emerging colony. The National was perceived as a critical is not only a key player in the Museum of Victoria, known to development, necessary for the intellectual life and development of Melburnians as the McCoy Museum, education of those who would this city and this state, it is also a although funded by the Victorian contribute to the social, political and major economic driver and an Government, was housed on campus economic development of the colony. important cultural resource. until 1901 and its mix of natural Each of the four initial subjects: In 1856 however the future of the science specimens and examples of ‘Greek and Latin Classics with University of Melbourne was less Victoria’s technological development Ancient History’; ‘Mathematics Pure than secure. The Age ridiculed the drew 22,520 visitors in 1858 and and Mixed’; ‘Natural Science’; and University as being a costly toy, 37,000 in 1861. Historian Geoffrey ‘Modern History, Modern Literature, claiming ‘it would be twice as cheap Blainey noted, ‘The university was far Political Economy and Logic’, was … to close the university and send all more popular as a pleasure resort than supported by collections of library the students to Oxford or as an institution of learning; for the material and of material culture.8 Cambridge’.1 On opening day, 13 students studying for a degree did not These early collections can be April 1855, only 16 students enrolled; exceed thirty in any one year until the characterised as those with a primary one disappeared after the first day and 1860s.’5 objective of supporting the teaching four others dropped out by the end of The University was conceived and streams with a focus on their use by the year.2 The University’s annual developed in a climate of rapid students, such as the Pathology report of 1856 noted somewhat wryly change and expansion, and a growing Collection, and those that had a that, although Council had expected a sense of the value and potential of the public profile and serviced a more larger number of candidates, it was role of the Colony of Victoria within general and more public cultural need, not surprised that Europe was the the British Empire. A little over a such as the Museum and Library

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 3 collections. The professor of natural colonial institution (and later as a Fryett’s groundbreaking 1902 X-ray science Frederick McCoy’s teaching contributor to nation-building). The or skiagram prints which show blood collection doubled as the National University’s cultural collections vessels in the vascular system (in the Museum of Victoria collection. So reflected and contributed to both Medical History Museum), are popular was the public role of the agendas. examples of the thousands of items of University’s collections that the 1857 The cultural collections of the international significance held at the annual report of Council noted ‘The University are exceptional. Immense University. That donors, who have the Museum and Library are both open in scale but, until recently, relatively choice of a range of destinations for to the public every day.’9 British hidden from the community beyond their gifts, favour the University of institutions were keen to support the the University (with the exception of Melbourne as the repository for their fledgling University of Melbourne. the collections of the University objects indicates the esteem in which The University of Edinburgh and the Library, the University of Melbourne the University is held, and the very University of Cambridge, for Archives, and the Ian Potter Museum real import of its motto Postera example, sent out natural history of Art, each of which has a defined crescam laude.10 Nevertheless it is true specimens. Similarly library materials public role), they reflect the material that many of the cultural riches of the were sourced from institutions in culture of the various disciplines that University are known by relatively few other colonies and the United engaged the minds of scholars in the outside their own departments and, Kingdom. Soon these collections were University. The collections also reflect while available, are not always easily supplemented with Australian the support from the community of found. material and they began to represent donors and benefactors who saw (and dual teaching and research platforms, continue to see) the University as a A relatively invisible asset highlighting the opportunity to build repository, as well as a generator, of new knowledge based on proximity to knowledge. Objects such as the The reasons for the relative the ‘new world’, and demonstrating specimen of Epaltes cunninghamii invisibility of some of the University’s the need to inculcate the knowledge collected during Captain James cultural material are numerous but in and cultural competencies of Mother Cook’s first voyage to the east coast of general relate to two main issues: England. For the University of Australia (in the Herbarium); the cataloguing and condition. As a Melbourne, the acquisition of cultural Moniac, a mechanical and hydraulic whole the University’s cultural material was part of the acquisition of model of the interrelationship collections are on a par with state cultural capital, and by extension, between macroeconomic principles collections across the country. When social legitimacy and international used to demonstrate economic the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ recognition. The University needed to principles at the London School of Committee published its first report build competencies in those Economics (in the Faculty of on Australia’s university collections in disciplines which were core to a Economics and Commerce); the 1996, the University of Melbourne European academic ideal, as well as Nimrud ivories (in the Classics and claimed 16 collections. By 2007, and showcase its strengths as a key Archaeology Collection), and George with a systematic focus on collection

4 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Interior of old Central Library, University of Melbourne, c.1901, sepia print photograph. UMA/I/1007, University of Melbourne Photograph Collection, University of Melbourne Archives.

identification and needs (and the the Leonhard Adam Collection in the and even irregular, care. The addition of the Victorian College of Museum of Art. responsibilities of others such as the the Arts Collection), another 17 had The care of these collections has University of Melbourne Art been added to this list. Many of the been various. Many collections Collection and the University of 33 collections include sub-collections reflected the somewhat serendipitous Melbourne Archives are enshrined in that are highly significant in their collecting aspirations of a single the University statutes, and are own right, such as the Bright Family academic, who without a university- managed and profiled as important Papers and the Malcolm Fraser wide collection management national resources. It is Information Collection in the University Archives, framework was able to provide Services (previously known as the or the Grimwade Art Collection and dedicated, but often unsystematic Information Division) however that

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 5 has responsibility for the majority of management over 150 years had remains presented by the East India the University’s ‘cultural’ collections. created problems of immense Company and the Miocene tertiary As part of Information Services the proportion. That this survey indicated fossils presented by the Imperial University Library (referred to as ‘the a more extensive issue was Mineralogical Institute of Vienna.13 Library’ in this paper) manages the highlighted when further surveys of The exercise book used to log the University library collections, the the Grainger Museum and the University’s developing collection of University of Melbourne Archives Archives were undertaken, and when biological specimens records some of and the Grainger Museum. the program of significance the earliest natural history accessions By the 1990s, the Library, in assessment and identification of and indicates similar collection common with other major university conservation needs indicated the development. Until Baldwin Spencer’s libraries, had well-developed requirement for remedial action as a arrival in 1887 the collection cataloguing standards and established whole of university strategy. consisted of material donated by approaches to the preservation of its The history of the library institutions such as the University of collections. What it lacked were the collections reflects the histories of Edinburgh or Cambridge University. resources and focus to ensure they other collections across campus. In After Baldwin Spencer’s arrival local were implemented collection-wide. the University’s early years lack of field trips provided material from Port While this paper examines issues space meant that the professors’ Phillip Bay, Westernport Bay and relating to the general care and private libraries, which held many of Wilson’s Promontory.14 conservation of the University the University’s important books and Although the University provided collections more broadly, it was the periodicals, also served as lecture central space for library material, the focus provided by the Library’s desire rooms.12 Between 1853 and 1857 the care of books was not a high priority, to understand the conservation needs Library collection had increased from particularly in times of financial of its special research collections, and 1,284 to 2,971 volumes, developing pressure. Geoffrey Blainey notes that the methodological framework from both purchase and gift, with ‘[a]t times the library was chaotic, for provided by the University libraries in the United Kingdom the university could not always afford Conservation Service, that provided supporting the fledgling University of to pay a librarian’.15 As a result of the the impetus for a ‘whole of university’ Melbourne with gifts of books and parlous state of the University’s approach to the care and management other material. The Council Minutes finances in the decade 1891 to 1902 of the University’s cultural assets. of 30 May 1859 note that 100 ‘[t]he library … housed books on In 2000 the Information Division volumes were presented from the ledges and window sills and unopened sought an assessment of the University of Dublin (‘obtained by crates through lack of shelving,’ and conservation requirements of its the intervention of Mr. Foster’), with in the year 1893–1894 purchased only culturally significant research a similar donation from the 85 books.16 The Library also served as collections.11 The results, although University of Cambridge (‘by the a social venue, attracting students to perhaps not unexpected, did indicate good offices of Mr. Childers’). The its large log fires. the extent to which passive Minutes also note the casts of fossil As the central Library developed,

6 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 so did discipline-based departmental individual academic staff and by German-Jewish refugee who collections. In the mid-1920s the bequest. The opening of the Baillieu commenced work as a research University consolidated the Library Library saw a growth in the Library’s scholar on his release from the Tatura with a move to the north wing of the special collections in the late 1950s, Internment Camp in 1942, built a Old Quadrangle. There was little particularly with material from major ethnographic collection that by further development until 1959 when British sources. From the 1950s until 1960 included some 2,500 objects. In the first sections of a major new his death in 2001, Dr John Orde 1967 the Faculty of Medicine University Library were built. This Poynton, an English-born doctor, established its Medical History new building was named the Baillieu made major donations of early Museum with support from the Library after W.L. Baillieu printed books and prints. Similarly in London-based Wellcome Institute. In (1859–1936), in whose memory his 1954 Mr Frederick Morgan presented 1973 Sir Russell and Lady (Mab) brother E.L.M. Baillieu (1867–1939) a major collection of children’s books Grimwade bequeathed their had established a trust fund that with the idea that these items were extraordinary collection of Australian contributed generously towards already represented in British art, archival and bibliographic construction costs. A decade later the collections and this collection would material to the University, a year after north wing was added. This extension be more useful at Melbourne. the establishment of the University provided dedicated space for rare The 1960s and particularly the Gallery in the John Medley Building. books and prints with separate 1970s saw even more accelerated Even in the 21st century new airconditioning and dust filtration, growth with the arrival of federal museums were being established and with the idea that these old materials government funding for universities new collections acquired. The most had special needs, although the and an increased emphasis on recent museum development at the inadequacies of these environmental research and measurements of University, the Henry Forman controls were highlighted in the 2000 University output. In the 1970s the Atkinson Dental Museum in the survey. The numerous branch and Library signalled its intention to School of Dental Science, was departmental libraries continued to develop and expand its collections relocated to purpose-built premises in expand, and their administrative with the appointment of staff to 2006. responsibility, particularly cataloguing manage its special research collections and lending, gradually passed to the (including a curator of rare books). Preserving the past in the Library. The advent of computers in Large collections of old and rare plan for the future the late 1970s and early 1980s made material were purchased, and bequests centralisation even more effective. of all sorts and quality encouraged. The creation of the position of The growth of the collections of Across the University other university conservator in 1988, with rare books, Australasian publications, departments also experienced funds provided by the Sir Russell and maps and prints was piecemeal, extraordinary growth in collection Lady (Mab) Grimwade Miegunyah although many treasures were development. In the History Bequest, marked the establishment of acquired through the interest of Department Dr Leonhard Adam, a the University of Melbourne

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 7 Conservation Service (now the collections. At least a decade of immediate work. Conservation costs Centre for Cultural Materials paradigm shift in the library sector were estimated at between $3.5 Conservation) and with it the had resulted in information and million and $8.75 million, depending beginning of a university-wide access being seen as critical to the on level of treatment. A further approach to the care of its cultural future of libraries, while books, prints 26,566 items (10.2 per cent) were material. Nevertheless the and realia were perceived as less useful identified as poor/unstable, i.e. Conservation Service was the only for delivering information. deteriorating or needing conservation part of the University to have staff Nevertheless the Library’s research treatment, at a cost of $8 million. with position descriptions that collections collectively represented the Finally 48,184 items (18.5 per cent) reflected a whole of university most valuable cultural asset of the were fair/stable, including those that approach to collections management. University, and it was important to were stable but disfigured. The This remained the case until 2004, understand what areas were Library’s response was not when Information Services created vulnerable in order to manage surprising—with needs of this scale the role of cultural collections resources, prioritise treatment, and how would it be possible to make a coordinator to provide support inform infrastructure planning and sensible start? and coordination for the cultural enable access. The survey had also made material owned and managed by It was in this climate that the recommendations addressing the ways the University. Library contracted the University of in which building infrastructure, By the late 1990s, questions about Melbourne Conservation Service to acquisition processes, active the housing of the existing library and undertake a ‘Conservation survey of deterioration, and handling and archival collections and especially the the University of Melbourne Library storage were affecting the collections. rare and valuable collections were Research Collections’.17 In all, 24 of Overall the survey found that these being addressed across campus. The the Library’s culturally significant were interrelated issues that could not emphasis was on ensuring research collections, comprising over be satisfactorily addressed with preservation and accessibility. A new 260,000 items, were surveyed. single-issue solutions. art gallery, the Ian Potter Museum of These collections included While Library management could Art, was opened in 1998, and the material of high cultural significance take some comfort in the findings University of Melbourne Archives not only for the University but also that the majority of the special opened new premises in Brunswick in for Australia and internationally. collections were in a stable condition, 1999. This activity brought a focus to While the survey found that the the $11.5 million–$16.75 million a number of collection management majority were in good and stable required for immediate or remedial issues as collections were prepared for condition (68.5 per cent or 178,411 conservation came as a shock. The relocation. Library planning now items), approximately 7,293 items Library concluded that approaching raised questions of how to deal with (2.8 per cent) were extremely fragile the University for funding of this unprocessed material and set or highly unstable, including those magnitude without providing options priorities between items and affecting adjacent items or requiring and priorities would be neither

8 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Whale skeleton behind National Museum, University of Melbourne, 1862–1899, sepia print photograph. UMA/I/1332, University of Melbourne Photograph Collection, University of Melbourne Archives.

responsible nor successful. As a result recommendation that collections be university-wide approach would be a working group from the Library and assessed using the emerging appropriate. In 2002 the the Conservation Service was formed significance assessment methodology, Conservation Centre, the Library and to develop strategies and action plans before being proposed for Corporate Services (now Financial to progress the report. The fact that conservation treatment.18 This proved Operations) provided $20,000 to the survey had canvassed only some to be an important tool in a employ a significance assessment of the Library’s cultural collections, university-wide approach. officer. Collection management staff, excluding for example the Archives department managers and volunteers and the Grainger Museum, only A whole of university who had taken on responsibility for compounded the sense of frustration approach the management of collections came and underlined the potential together for the first time as a group, magnitude of the issue. Clearly, if such was the extent of the to consider the content, value and Fortunately, in view of the scope problem in the Library, and if the needs of their collections. This work (and scale) of the issues identified in Library was developing management resulted in the publication, ‘Strategic the survey, the report also included a tools to address this problem, then a approaches to resourcing the cultural

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 9 collections of the University of Following the survey of the special Where to now? Melbourne’.19 research collections, surveys were also During 2002 and 2003 the completed for the Grainger Museum, With a renewed sense of possibility, Library funded a conservator to treat the University of Melbourne Archives the University is enthusiastically some of the items identified in the and the University of Melbourne Art embracing its cultural collections in survey and in the significance Collection. the new Melbourne Model. assessments. The Friends of the In January 2004 the Information Conservation students work on Baillieu Library also supported the Division appointed a cultural collection items as part of their conservation of individual items, in collections coordinator, followed in training. The Cultural Collections particular the ‘Cambridge manuscript’ 2005 by a manager, cultural Student Projects Program provides (see p. 12). The Morgan Collection of collections group and student projects opportunities for students in diverse Children’s Books and the Bright coordinator and in 2006 by a disciplines to gain experience with a Family Papers were rehoused into coordinator, conservation projects. range of collection management purpose-built folders and boxes and These positions, in conjunction with projects (see article by Helen Arnoldi damaged and deteriorated material the Centre for Cultural Materials on pp. 30–32). A new University treated. Holinshed’s chronicles of Conservation and the Cultural Breadth Subject ‘Learning Cultures’ is England, Scotland and Ireland was Collections Committee with its three being developed for delivery in 2009. disbanded, cleaned, deacidified, sub-committees (Exhibitions and This subject explores how knowledge resized, mended and rebound. Other Public Programs; Conservation and is developed from specific disciplinary material treated included an 1859 Storage; and Web Presence and bases, using examples from the map of Corio Harbour; a bound Digitisation) support all departments cultural collections as a point of volume of engravings Vues des plus in the care and conservation of the departure for investigations such as beaux edifices publics et particuliers de la University’s cultural collections. the role of light in seeing, for example ville de Paris (c.1810); a photograph On 5 June 2006 University in physics, art history, and of the 1935 Federal Cabinet Council endorsed the ‘Policy and conservation. meeting; the Myrtleford court register minimum requirements for the When the Australian Vice- 1908–1932; the 1679 pamphlet A true management of cultural collections’.21 Chancellors’ Committee coined the narrative of the late design of the Papists For the first time in its history the term ‘Cinderella collections’ the to charge their horrid plot upon the University had a policy that implication was that the cultural Protestants, the 1491 herbal, Hortus enunciated those standards it collections were hardworking sanitatis (see p. 13) and many other considered critical to the proper care contributors, but hidden and important items. Research and management of its cultural unacknowledged.22 This is no longer publications showcased new material. In 2006 Property and the case at the University of knowledge produced by this Campus Services joined the Cultural Melbourne. While there is still much collaboration between library and Collections Committee to support to be done to ensure the preservation conservation staff.20 the university-wide approach. of important material, today our

10 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 cultural collections are recognised and 4 Redmond Barry, letter to Sir John W.F. 14 Logbook of biological accessions from the Herschel, 27 January 1854, contained in School of Biology, now held in the supported by a university-wide ‘Minutes of the proceedings of the Council of Department of Zoology, the University of approach. By securing their the University of Melbourne’, meeting no. 17, Melbourne. preservation the University of 10 April 1854, UMA, p. 3. 15 Geoffrey Blainey, A centenary history of the 5 Blainey and Olver, The University of University of Melbourne, Carlton: Melbourne Melbourne is ensuring that its history Melbourne, p. 4. University Press, 1957, p. 50. and identity will indeed be available 6 Terence Lane and Jessie Serle, Australians at 16 Blainey, A centenary history, pp. 111–112. to earn esteem into the future. home: A documentary history of Australian 17 The Library’s vision statement, 1999, sought domestic interiors from 1788 to 1914, ‘To advance excellence in teaching and Tony Arthur is Honorary Librarian and Vice- Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1990, learning through access to, organisation and President of the Genealogical Society of Victoria. p. 15. The 1841 census recorded 769 houses management of knowledge, regardless of time, During the life of the project outlined in this in Melbourne, with tents providing place or format’. A strategy for the paper he was Director, Information Resources accommodation for many of the 4,479 management of the Library’s special research Access in the Information Division of the people recorded on the census. collections was an important part of delivering University of Melbourne, with responsibility for 7 The population figures are cited in Barry, this vision. library collections. letter to Herschel, 27 January 1854. 18 Roslyn Russell and Kylie Winkworth, 8 ‘Minutes of the proceedings of the Council of Significance: A guide to assessing the significance Associate Professor Robyn Sloggett is Director of the University of Melbourne’, meeting no. 5, of cultural heritage objects and collections, the Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation at 4 July 1853, UMA, n.p. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia on the University of Melbourne. The Centre provides 9 The University of Melbourne, ‘Report of the behalf of the Heritage Collections Council, conservation services to the cultural collections of proceedings of the Council of the University of 2001. the University and to the public, manages an Melbourne during the year commencing on 19 Tony Arthur, Stephanie Jaehrling and Robyn internationally renowned research program and the 1st of May, 1856, and terminating on the Sloggett, ‘Strategic approaches to resourcing delivers the only comprehensive postgraduate 30th April, 1857’, in ‘Minutes of the the cultural collections of the University of conservation training program in the Australasian- proceedings of the Council of the University of Melbourne’, unpublished report, University of Pacific region. In 2004 Robyn was awarded the Melbourne’, meeting no. 78, 25 May 1857, Melbourne, 2003. AICCM Conservator of the Year Award for her UMA, p. 3. 20 For information on research undertaken on the contribution to the profession. 10 Postera crescam laude has been translated as ‘I University’s cultural collections see shall grow in the esteem of future generations’. http://www.unimelb.edu.au/culturalcollections The University Council adopted this Latin /research Notes motto on 28 August, 1854. It is taken from 21 The University of Melbourne, ‘Policy and Horace’s Odes III, Carmen XXX (an ode to the minimum requirements for management of 1 Quoted in Geoffrey Blainey and Norman H. poet’s immortal fame): ‘... usque ego postera cultural collections’, April 2006, available from Olver, The University of Melbourne: A centenary crescam laude recens dum Capitolium scandet http://www.unimelb.edu.au/ portrait, Melbourne: Melbourne University cum tactia virgine pontifex ...’ culturalcollections/links/university.html Press, 1956, p. 2. 11 Robyn Sloggett and Rosie Freemantle, 22 Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee, 2 Blainey and Olver, The University of ‘Lindenderry project, conservation survey of University Museums Review Committee, Melbourne, p. 2. the University of Melbourne Library research Cinderella collections: University museums and 3 The University of Melbourne, ‘Report of the collections’, unpublished report, University of collections in Australia, Canberra: Australian proceedings of the Council of the University of Melbourne Conservation Service, Ian Potter Vice-Chancellors’ Committee, 1996. A later Melbourne during the year commencing on Art Conservation Centre, University of report was titled Transforming Cinderella the 1st of May, 1855, and terminating on the Melbourne, May 2000. collections: The management and conservation of 30th April, 1867’, in ‘Minutes of the 12 Blainey and Olver, The University of Australian university museums, collections and proceedings of the Council of the University of Melbourne, p. 4. herbaria, the report of the DCA/AV-CC Melbourne’, meeting no. 55, 30 June 1856, 13 ‘Minutes of the proceedings of the Council of University Museums Project Committee, University of Melbourne Archives (UMA), the University of Melbourne’, meeting no. 123, Canberra: Australian Vice-Chancellors’ p. 3. 30 May 1859, UMA, p. 4. Committee, 1998.

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 11 The foundation of the Universitie of Cambridge Louise Wilson and Robyn Sloggett

The foundation of the Universitie of Cambridge, 1662, manuscript, 32.5 x 21.0 cm. Cambridge Collection, Special Collections, Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne.

Below right: title page showing tears, detachment, staining and mould damage before treatment.

Below left: paste-downs after removal and reattachment.

This unique heraldic manuscript of all such noble persons, as have been depicts the arms of the Earls of Earles of Cambridge; and Chancelors Cambridge, and of the chancellors of the Universitie, for 100 yeares last and colleges of Cambridge University, paste’. The volume also contains the plus lists of founders, benefactors, names of the masters and fellows of masters, fellows, other officials and each college and the names of current students. Compiled for ‘magestrates, governors, and officers, Edward Montague, the second Earl there-unto belonginge: and the of Manchester (1602–1671) and number of students now therin Chancellor of the University, and residinge.’ The pages that contain the containing a bookplate of his son entries for the masters and fellow of Robert, the third Earl (1634–1683), each college have been pasted over the manuscript consists of 34 leaves, with a sheet of paper containing a written on both sides, with one large single name. This may have been an using medium-weight Japanese tissue full-page coat of arms and 61 smaller updating of the volume when it was and wheat starch paste. Tears were coats of arms, all with contemporary collected by W.S. Sanderson. repaired and losses were filled with hand colouring. It is bound in The volume was in poor Japanese tissue and wheat starch contemporary red morocco English condition. A number of pages were paste. panelled binding, gilt decorated, with creased, detached and torn, and there On pages where paper sheets had remnants of green silk ties. was extensive bookworm damage. been pasted over original text there The manuscript is dated 1662. The first page was detached from the was tearing indicating previous The volume celebrates ‘[T]he text block and had been sitting proud attempts to lift pages in order to read foundation of the Universitie of of the case for some time. As a result the obscured text. In order to reveal Cambridge with the names, and arms it had sustained considerable this original text, damp blotters and a mechanical damage. The volume was heated spatula were used to create disfigured by extensive surface dirt, steam to soften old adhesive. The water staining and mould damage. As paper sheet overlays were carefully noted a number of pages had paper removed, and then washed in buffered sheets pasted over original text. deionised water and pressed. Once The pages were dry surface dry and flat, the pages were hinged cleaned, mould mycelium was back into their original positions with removed mechanically, and the small Japanese tissue hinges and affected area was deactivated with wheat starch paste, providing access ethanol/deionised water. Losses, to all the information in the volume mould-weakened areas and while retaining the historic integrity bookworm damage were repaired of the manuscript.

12 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Hortus sanitatis (The garden of health) Louise Wilson and Robyn Sloggett

This book is a modified Latin Julianne Simpson, former Deputy translation of the famous Greek Curator, Special Collections, Baillieu herbal written by Dioscorides Library). Pedanius of Anazarbos who lived in Before conservation treatment, the the 1st century CE. Dioscorides’ five- book was in extremely fragile volume treatise (usually referred to as condition with the binding detaching De materia medica) and its various from the text block. The pages were derivatives and translations were the affected by surface dirt and many most popular and influential herbal tears had been supported with crude books of their times, serving as an repairs that concealed hand-coloured encyclopaedia of the plant, animal woodcuts. Pages affected by surface and mineral kingdoms and the dirt were cleaned using a soft brush medical applications of their products. and old repairs were removed by first A German translation of softening them using a Dioscorides was published by Peter methylcellulose poultice and then Schöffer in Mainz in 1485. The 1491 lifting them mechanically. Tears were Latin edition is the only one by realigned and repaired using toned Meydenbach and was followed by Japanese tissue and wheat starch three editions published by Johann paste. The visual impact of some tear Prüss who reduced the amount (and mends was reduced with minor cost) of paper required by setting 55 retouching using Winsor and Newton lines per column and employing a watercolours. A custom-made phase smaller type than Meydenbach. Prüss box now protects the book. Further used the same woodcut illustrations as research is needed to determine what Meydenbach, but used some of them the original binding would have been, more than once. The Baillieu Library and to identify a title page from a copy has 47 lines per column and Meydenbach edition. Hortus sanitatis (The garden of health), figures are not repeated, indicative of Mainz: Jacob Meydenbach, 1491. Louise Wilson has a Bachelor of Arts in Art George McArthur Bequest, Special Collections, the Meydenbach edition. And History and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne. although missing the title page, it Conservation of Cultural Materials (Paper contains a handwritten note Specialisation). On completion of her formal Above: illustration of Aquilegia showing image training she undertook an internship in book and transfer from page opposite and discolouration indicating it is the 1491 Meydenbach paper conservation at the State Library of associated with acidity on edge of page. first edition. Comparative studies Victoria. Until recently she was Project indicate that the binding is a later Conservator at the Centre for Cultural Materials Below: front opening before treatment. Conservation, University of Melbourne. She is addition, possibly dating from the currently Conservator Works on Paper at the All photographs by Louise Wilson, Centre for 17th century (based on advice from National Gallery of Victoria. Cultural Materials Conservation.

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 13 Friends of the Baillieu Library 40 years on Graham N. Dudley

The Baillieu Library at the University authors and other literati, view Merete Smith in particular were duly of Melbourne was opened in 1959. exhibitions and libraries, and recognised with Life Memberships of Seven years later, in 1966, the Friends engage in discussions that promote the Friends, its highest honour. of the Baillieu Library was founded,1 knowledge about books for their Since 1966, 261 titles have been with the expressed aim to ‘provide a instruction and enjoyment; added to the University’s collections fund for the purchase of books, f. to co-operate or associate with with the Friends’ assistance. Most manuscripts or prints required by the other bodies sharing the Friends’ have been purchased outright, though Library.2 This aim still remains at the aims; in some special cases, partial funding core of the Friends’ activities, but g. to publish or assist the publication was provided to assist with the these have broadened over time. As of any work consistent with the purchase of particularly important Peter McInnes points out, the Friends objects of the Friends. items. In more recent years, funds were ‘very early entrants in the field’.3 have also been provided for the The current constitution of the The Committee itself meets five conservation of some material and the Friends (adopted in 2006) identifies times a year to discuss possible cataloguing of others. seven aims: purchases and plan events for To celebrate the 21st anniversary a. to support The University of members. It has been fortunate in of the Friends of the Baillieu Library Melbourne Library, … including that over its first 40 years, there have in 1987, a booklet listing the first 220 the Baillieu Library and all Branch been three long-serving presidents: donations was published.4 During the Libraries, by ways and means the Rodney Davidson (1978–1996); Peter following years, a further 41 books members determine from time to McInnes (1996–2003) and Victor have been given by the Friends. The time. The aims shall include the Prescott (2003–2007). This continuity smaller number of additions to the following: has meant that considerable expertise collections in more recent years is the b. to identify any books, manuscripts, has been developed in handling the result of a conscious effort to prints, paintings and other Committee’s activities. Coupled with concentrate on major purchases rather materials of value for The Library this is the sterling service rendered by than, as sometimes in the past, a and acquire them by purchase, gift several Committee members who larger number of minor purchases, or other means; served for many years. Outstanding which are more adequately catered for c. to assist and support The Library contributors include the late Professor through the main budget. It also in the care, maintenance and Harold Attwood and the late Dr reflects the smaller number of preservation of its collections; Sophie Ducker, Mrs Diana Baillieu financial members of the Friends d. to obtain gifts of money or other and Dr Alison Patrick. following the decision not to give property whether real or personal, The Committee has also been automatic borrowing rights as part of for The University, to be used for well served by its Executive membership privileges. the purposes of The Library; Secretaries who were, for many years, As Denis Richardson wrote in his e. to organise meetings for members senior staff of the Library. The introduction to the 1987 bibliography, at which they may be addressed by services of Dr Juliet Flesch and Ms ‘The subjects covered by the Friends’

14 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Geoffrey Chaucer, The works of Geoffrey Chaucer now newly imprinted, Hammersmith: Printed by William Morris at the Kelmscott Press, 8 May 1896. From an edition of 425 copies. Purchased by the University of Melbourne with contributions from the Library Endowment Fund, the Ivy May Pendlebury Estate and the Friends of the Baillieu Library, 2005.

Illustration for ‘The knyghtes tale’ by Edward Burne-Jones (1833–1898) with decorative borders and initial letters by William Morris (1834–1896).

acquisitions, and the forms of library material supported have always been extremely varied.’5 It is not possible within this article to encompass comprehensively all the purchases made by the Friends over the last 40 years. I trust the following highlights will do the field justice.6 Art of the book

Over the years, many titles from small and private presses have been purchased for the collection, with the output of two presses in particular being purchased. The Friends were instrumental in completing the University’s collections of two major English private presses: the Golden Cockerel Press and the Kelmscott Press. The first Golden Cockerel titles were purchased in 1972, and the final one 20 years later, an event which was celebrated by a luncheon. In all, 21 titles were purchased, along with several items of ephemera from the Press. The Golden Cockerel Press, founded in 1920, published 214 titles before its closure in 1960. It produced limited editions of classics and contemporary works to the very highest standards and using well- known artists and typographers. The Kelmscott Press was founded by William Morris in 1891, with the

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 15 aim of producing fine books designed 1800–1804, published in Paris through a fundraising effort, since it within the framework of the Arts and between 1807 and 1816. These was well beyond the means of the Crafts movement. The first Kelmscott volumes, as Richardson notes, ‘are of Friends. The University Librarian Press titles were acquired by the great importance to the history of generously agreed to cover the Friends in 1975, and in recent years European discovery in Tasmania, and balance through library funds. the completion of the collection was a the expedition took back to France a A more recent addition, purchased major priority. Finally, only the great very important collection of natural from the David Parsons collection in 1896 Kelmscott edition of The works history specimens as well as much 2006, was Anders Sparrman, A voyage of Geoffrey Chaucer was wanting. This geographical information’.8 to the Cape of Good Hope: Towards the was acquired in 2005 with substantial In 1996 the Friends made one Antarctic Polar Circle (London, 1786). funds coming from the Library major purchase to mark the Sparrman was professor of zoology at Endowment Fund as well as more retirement of Mr Rodney Davidson as Uppsala University and had modest contributions by the Friends president of the Friends, a position accompanied James Cook on his and the Ivy May Pendlebury Estate.7 which he had held for 18 years. The second voyage in 1772. That the University was prepared to book was A second voyage round the provide substantial funding for this world (1776). This work is commonly Manuscripts purchase was a most welcome known as the ‘Cambridge Cook’ reinforcement of the importance of because of the widely held view that One of the Friends’ most important the Baillieu Library collections. the anonymous author was a purchases was made in 1974—an More recently, the Friends have Cambridge University student. It illuminated manuscript produced in begun purchasing titles produced by appears to be a surreptitious account England around 1350, a breviary the Ashenden Press, another fine, of Cook’s second voyage from the according to the use of Sarum small, English private press. journal of one of the officers, (Salisbury). This is one of the published anonymously, a year before undisputed treasures of the Baillieu Voyages and travels the official account. This purchase Library and was once part of a larger was particularly pleasing since it was breviary (a book containing the texts The subject of voyages and travels has the only significant contemporary for the celebration of Divine Office), always been of particular interest to work on James Cook’s voyages not the other part of which is in the the Friends and, over the years, at held in the Baillieu Library’s Bodleian Library in Oxford.9 It is one least 15 titles have been added. Most Australiana Collection, and was on its of only 40 known English breviaries have dealt with Australia and the list of ‘most wanted’ items. The from the first half of the 14th century. South Pacific, but have ranged as far addition of this book adds greatly to The purchase of original afield as Iceland. In 1979, the Friends the research value of the collections of mediaeval manuscripts is now well enabled the acquisition of François Cook and of voyages within the beyond the resources of the Friends. Péron’s Voyage de découvertes aux terres Library. The purchase was funded However, funds over the years have australes exécuté ... pendant les années partly by the Friends’ funds and partly been used to purchase fine facsimile

16 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Geoffrey Chaucer, The works of Geoffrey Chaucer now newly imprinted, Hammersmith: Printed by William Morris at the Kelmscott Press, 8 May 1896.

The University’s copy is bound to a design by William Morris in original full white pigskin, lavishly stamp-decorated in neo-gothic style, with original metal clasps and banded spine; signed on the back inner dentelle ‘Doves Bindery 1896’.

versions of important manuscripts, including several produced for the Court of Berry in France. Other facsimiles of manuscripts held in collections in Italy, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the United States have also been bought. In 1997, for example, the Friends’ major purchase was Der Kreuzritterbibel (The Morgan Crusader Bible). This superb facsimile of a medieval manuscript was produced as a close copy of the original manuscript in a limited edition of only 980 copies. Occasional seminars highlighting these splendid works are always popular with members, especially with speakers of the calibre of Professor Margaret Manion. The sciences

In earlier years, the Friends purchased a considerable number of works in the area of the sciences—botanical, physical and zoological as well as medical history. Many are of great importance, especially the work acquired for its ‘coming of age’ in 1987: Pierre Bulliard’s Herbier de la France, ou, Collection complette des plantes indigènes de ce royaume (Paris, 1780–1809). This was probably the first botanical work completely colour- printed without retouching by hand. A separate plate was used for each colour.10

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 17 Special purchases conservation of its collections. A collection has doubled in size to over special appeal for funds raised money 2,500 items. It is worth recording that the Friends which supported the conservation of Another link to the Cambridge have received two special donations some early newspapers and an Collection occurred in 2005 when the which enabled the purchase of four important early edition of Holinshed’s Friends, in association with the outstanding titles. In 2000, the chronicles. Subsequent funds were Centre for the Book at Monash George Shaw Trust donated $100,000 provided to conserve an important University, were able to publish a to support the purchase of an item or heraldic manuscript from the major lecture by David McKitterick, a collection of permanent value for Gorman Cambridge Collection—The From local collecting to global the Library’s Special Collections. The foundation of the Universitie of understanding: Cambridge University works chosen were an incunabulum, Cambridge (see p. 12). and its histories.11 McKitterick is the Quadragesimale de filio prodigo by Funding was provided for the acknowledged expert on the history Johannes Meder (Basel: Michael cataloguing of historical maps of the of Cambridge University’s libraries Furter, 1495), and another early University, Melbourne and Victoria. and publishing. imprint, Opera by Virgil (Strasbourg: A total of 168 maps were catalogued, Johann Gruninger, 1502). including 77 which were not recorded Other activities In 2002, $4,000 was channelled as being held by any other library. As through the Friends from the T.A. a result of this project, all the A regular part of the Friends’ Scheps Bequest, which purchased two Library’s historical maps of the activities has always been talks and items. The works chosen were University are now catalogued, as are other events focussing on the Memoirs of an unfortunate young the majority of the historical maps of collection in particular and on books nobleman, return’d from a thirteen years Melbourne. Funding was also and literature in general. A significant slavery in America (London: Printed provided to purchase two special sets number of these subsequently found for J. Freeman, 1743) and Horticultura of shelves to house large folios in the their way into print in the University by Peter Lauremberg (Frankfurt: Rare Books Collection. of Melbourne Library Journal. The Sumptibus Matthaei Meriani, 1654). A recent decision was to fund a Friends have long enjoyed a good The latter item further strengthened new and revised catalogue of the working relationship with Melbourne the Friends’ considerable purchases in Gorman Collection, Cambridge in University Press (now Melbourne the area of botanical sciences. books: The university, the town and the University Publishing) which has seen country, held by the Baillieu Library MUP authors talk to the Friends Conservation and and formed by the late Dr Pierre about their work. Major seminars cataloguing Gorman CBE, a major benefactor of have been held at various times on the Library and a stalwart Friend over romance fiction, cookery books and A major decision taken during Peter many years. The first edition of the medieval manuscripts, highlighting McInnes’s presidency was to provide catalogue was compiled by Dr the splendid collection of facsimiles funds to assist the Library with the Gorman in 1998, since when the purchased by the Friends.

18 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Friends of the Baillieu Library Peter McInnes, Fiona Baillieu and Graham Dudley at a Friends event in the Library’s Leigh Scott Room.

In recent years, the annual general continue in the coming years. The no. 2, December 1999, pp. 38–40. 2 Words taken from the original invitation as meeting, held in March, has been Friends of the Baillieu Library is cited by McInnes, ‘Friends of the Baillieu addressed by a senior member of the committed to pursuing its aims Library’, p. 38. University, including the Chancellor, within the resources available to it. 3 McInnes, ‘Friends of the Baillieu Library’, p. 38. Vice-Chancellor and the Pro Vice- The steady state of its membership 4 June Stewart, Juliet Flesch and Valerie Chancellor (University Relations). numbers remains a matter of concern Turnbull (eds), Friends of the Baillieu Library: These occasions enable the Friends to and work remains to be done in A list of books presented to the University of Melbourne 1966–1987, Parkville: University of set their own operations within the attracting new members. Melbourne, 1987. wider University context as well as 5 W.D. Richardson, ‘Introduction’, in Stewart, reminding senior members of the Graham Dudley was elected President of the Flesch and Turnbull (eds), Friends of the Friends of the Baillieu Library in March 2007. A Baillieu Library, p. 7. important role the Friends have librarian and public servant for over 30 years until 6 Purchases for the period 1988 to 1998 are played, and continue to play, in retiring in early 2007, he managed for many years dealt with in detail by Merete Smith in developing and conserving the the State Government’s grants programs for public ‘Presented by the Friends of the Baillieu libraries. Graham has a particular interest in the Library’, University of Melbourne Library Library’s collections. history of libraries and mechanics’ institutes. Journal, vol. 5, no. 2, December 1999, Once or twice a year, the Friends pp. 44–48. I am indebted to Merete for visit other important libraries and allowing me to use her work for this Members of the Friends of the Baillieu Library article. collections. These popular occasions receive many benefits, including invitations to 7 For a discussion of the making of the have included visits, among others, to special events throughout the year, a substantial Kelmscott Chaucer, see Pam Pryde, ‘The the Royal Society of Victoria, the discount on the University Library membership making of the Kelmscott Press’ The works and borrowing fee, a 15 per cent discount on of Geoffrey Chaucer’, in Brian Allison, Sugden Collection on the early purchases from the University Bookshop, and Astrid Britt Krautschneider and Pam Pryde, history of Methodism at Queen’s receipt of this new publication, University of Kelmscott: A medieval adventure in the age of the College, the Melbourne Athenaeum, Melbourne Collections. machine, exhibition catalogue, 2nd edition, University of Melbourne, November 2005, the Melbourne Cricket Club and the Readers interested in joining the Friends are pp. 18–21. University of Melbourne Archives. encouraged to contact Ms Leanne McCredden, 8 Richardson, ‘Introduction’, p. 12. c/- Cultural Collections Reading Room, 3rd floor, 9 This manuscript is discussed in detail by Baillieu Library, The University of Melbourne, Margaret Manion and Vera Vines in The future Victoria 3010, telephone (03) 8344 5997, email Medieval and Renaissance illuminated [email protected] or visit the Friends manuscripts in Australian collections, Over its first 40 years, the Friends website http://www.unimelb.edu.au/ Melbourne: Thames and Hudson, 1984, culturalcollections/links/baillieufriends.html. pp. 98ff, and Merete Smith, ‘Sarum breviary’, group has made a significant in Chris McAuliffe and Peter Yule (eds), contribution to the holdings of rare Treasures: Highlights of the cultural collections of and fine works in the Baillieu Library. the University of Melbourne, Carlton: The Miegunyah Press, Melbourne University The funding of some recent projects Publishing, 2003, p. 152. has recognised the importance of Notes 10 Richardson, ‘Introduction’, p. 13. conserving and cataloguing works, 11 This publication was the initiative of 1 The early history of the Friends is covered in Professor Wallace Kirsop and his foreword on besides simply purchasing them. Peter McInnes, ‘Friends of the Baillieu Library’, the development of the Baillieu Library’s This combination can be expected to University of Melbourne Library Journal, vol. 5, collections is essential reading.

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 19 The University of Melbourne Herbarium, from McCoy to MELU A broken paper-trail Linden Gillbank

Living plants can be studied and indigenous and introduced species. of natural science in the 19th century exhibited in gardens. But preservation Some species represented in and the Botany School under its first allows their much longer exhibition herbarium collections are now extinct. two professors in the 20th century, I and study in museums. The simple Herbarium specimens have a have attempted to winkle out and very old technology of pressing crucial role in systematic or information about MELU and any and drying allows plant specimens to taxonomic botany—the classification antecedent herbaria. University and survive for centuries—as convenient, and naming of plants—and thereby in other archival records provide clear compact and enduring herbarium the generation of the universal lexicon herbarium paper-trails for parts of the specimens in museums called of taxonomic plant names. The formal 19th and 20th centuries, but, herbaria. Over 3,000 herbaria, each naming of new species requires the tantalisingly, their connection appears with its unique acronym, are listed in publication of the new name with a doubtful. Here is the story those the global directory, Index detailed description based on a paper-trails reveal—from the herbariorum. The 28 in Australia specimen or specimens which must be acquisition of a herbarium collection include the National Herbarium of deposited in an official herbarium. in 1856 to the official designation of Victoria in Melbourne’s Royal These herbarium specimens, called the University of Melbourne Botanic Gardens (MEL) and the type specimens, and the associated Herbarium as MELU in 1974. Herbarium in the School of Botany at published descriptions, are the the University of Melbourne reference objects of taxonomic botany. Frederick McCoy, professor (MELU). The University of Melbourne’s library of natural science, 1855–1899 Documentation of herbarium collections include many publications specimens is essential. An affixed carrying taxonomic descriptions, and The herbarium paper-trail begins at label should include the plant’s the University’s herbarium collections the very beginning of the University scientific (taxonomic) name, the include more than 150 type of Melbourne—with one of the four collector’s name, and the date and specimens. One of these is shown on foundation professors, Frederick place of collection. Specimen labels p. 21. McCoy, the University’s first and only thus provide botanical, historical, Although much smaller than professor of natural science. Professor geographical and personal MEL, MELU might be almost as McCoy’s very broad intellectual information. Herbaria include old. This is because, way back in the territory spanned chemistry, specimens of plants which live 1850s, a herbarium was established at mineralogy, geology, palaeontology, together in ecological associations, the University using collections from zoology and botany, and he convinced and, as human activities affect global Victoria’s young government the government to allow the transfer climate change and local urban and herbarium, decades before it was of the colony’s geological and rural landscapes, herbarium called the National Herbarium of zoological collections from specimens provide crucial botanical Victoria. Melbourne’s Assay Office, rarely evidence of altered ecosystems and While investigating the botanical visited by the public, to his honorary changes in the distribution of activities of the University’s professor curatorial care at the University.1

20 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 This specimen of Grampians gum was collected by Julie Marginson in 1979 during her doctoral research at the School of Botany. It is now the isotype of Eucalyptus verrucata. University of Melbourne Herbarium.

An isotype is a portion of the primary type specimen (holotype), which for E. verrucata is lodged in MEL.

As illustrated on p. 22, a herbarium also reached the embryonic National (Natural History) Museum in its new premises in the new north wing of the University Quadrangle in 1856. In the mid-19th century, museums such as the British Museum commonly included botanical material in their natural history collections. So McCoy’s inclusion of herbarium specimens in Victoria’s National Museum is not surprising. With museum experience gained in Britain, McCoy recognised two kinds of botanical museum ‘for the exhibition of classically [taxonomically] arranged plants’— ‘Botanic Gardens for living specimens’ and ‘Herbaria for dried plants’2—and sought to develop both at the University of Melbourne. The founding herbarium collection was from the substantial government herbarium which Victoria’s government botanist, Dr Ferdinand (not yet Baron von) Mueller, had assiduously developed from his appointment in January 1853 until his departure in 1855 to join an expedition across northern Australia. According to McCoy, the government herbarium, containing specimens ‘of most of the native plants of Victoria’, had been left ‘tied up in bundles, and kept in the little cottage in the Botanic Garden, where

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 21 the workmen took their meals and lecture theatre on the ground floor, University botanic garden was a slept’. At the University specimens and orchestrated the establishment of systematic or class garden. Professor would be repaired and ‘most carefully a systematically arranged botanic McCoy referred his botany students preserved’.3 garden for the exhibition of living to the taxonomically arranged class During Mueller’s absence in 1856, plants in the north-west corner of the garden, and perhaps to the the Chancellor of the University, spacious University grounds. taxonomically arranged herbarium. Redmond Barry, negotiated the Professor McCoy presented botany But the herbarium paper-trail is transfer of a Victorian collection from lectures to combined classes of petering out. the government herbarium to the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor In the 1870s a third Melbourne Museum.4 University annual reports of Medicine (MB) students, museum displayed botanical for 1856 and 1857 record the arrival sometimes illustrating his lectures exhibits—the new Industrial and of ‘the Herbarium and Botanical with specimens plucked from the Technological Museum behind the specimens collected and prepared by University botanic garden. Because Public Library in Swanston Street— Dr. Mueller’,5 and that the ‘Public plant groups (natural orders) were and McCoy was no longer director of Herbarium in the charge of the arranged to represent their positions the broad based museum which he University is preserved in good in a classification system, the had developed, but curator of the order’.6 McCoy added Australian specimens from Mueller, and British and American collections.7 Even after Melbourne’s Botanical Museum, long-sought by Mueller to house the government herbarium, was built in 1860 in the Reserve adjacent to the Botanic Garden, Mueller continued to send herbarium specimens to McCoy—for example, Western Australian specimens in 1863.8 As honorary director of the National Museum of Victoria, McCoy arranged natural history collections (which he sometimes called natural science collections) on the upper floor of the University Quadrangle’s north wing; and, as the University’s professor of natural science, taught science subjects in a

22 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 ‘The successful foray: or the professor’s return’, Melbourne Punch, 14 August 1856, shows Chancellor Barry and professors delivering natural history specimens to the University.

somewhat diminished National Alfred J. Ewart, professor Victorian Naturalist, was the main Museum, and answerable to a new of botany (and from 1911 literary vehicle for Victorian botanical umbrella board of trustees for the plant physiology), 1906–1937 records. Ewart was in the tricky Public Library, Museums and the position of seeking the trust and National Gallery of Victoria. He was From 1906 the University’s first assistance of naturalists who, having still teaching botany, but, with two professor of botany took over botany frequently consulted and contributed other museums exhibiting botanical teaching—in a small extension (on to National Herbarium collections, material and his own diminished Tin Alley) to Professor Baldwin valued them hugely and feared their museum control, perhaps his Spencer’s biology building. Surely he removal to the University. Ewart botanical enthusiasm was dampened. would resurrect or re-establish a assuaged their fears, and in April In 1880 McCoy offered for sale six University herbarium. Perhaps not 1906 noted his ‘difficult position in long-unopened boxes of herbarium initially because, for 15 years, he was having to lecture without [herbarium] specimens.9 also in charge of the government specimens being available for The 1880s were a decade of herbarium. This was because, at a examination’ and asked FNCV botanical losses for Professor McCoy. time of huge financial stringency, the members to collect ‘specimens of He lost control of the University University acquired only a half-time plants for the University Museum’.10 garden and botany students to new professor of botany. And Victoria Apparently there was no science subjects in the BA course, and gained a half-time government University herbarium in 1906. then, from the establishment in 1887 botanist. From February 1906 until Anxious to re-establish the of the Bachelor of Science (BSc) February 1921, Alfred Ewart National Herbarium as Victoria’s, and degree, botany was taught by the new concurrently headed the University of possibly Australia’s, taxonomic professor of biology, Walter Baldwin Melbourne’s tiny botany department authority, as it had been under Spencer, leaving the garden-less and Victoria’s substantial National Mueller, Ewart encouraged the professor of natural science, until his Herbarium. To fulfil his University deposition of specimens collected death in 1899, only a single, rarely- and government duties, Dr Alfred J. within and beyond Victoria and taken botanical subject—‘systematic Ewart made twice-daily tram trips arranged for members of his tiny botany’ in the new BSc course. through the city and across the Yarra University department to undertake Ironically, as the systematic to spend mornings in the National taxonomic work on herbarium arrangement of the University class Herbarium in the Domain near the specimens. Co-authors of his 36-part garden became increasingly obscured Botanic Gardens and afternoons at taxonomic series, ‘Contributions to and obliterated by weeds and neglect, the University. the flora of Australia’, included a very it was sometimes called the System Ewart quickly joined the young Ethel McLennan and her two Garden. organisation which nurtured female predecessors in the position of Was a herbarium available to Victoria’s botanical fraternity—the assistant lecturer and systematic students taking McCoy’s systematic Field Naturalists Club of Victoria botany teacher. Ewart sought to botany or Spencer’s biology? (FNCV), whose journal, The ensure the reliability of published

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 23 plant records, instigated regional suggested that it would be more Sonenberg, to collect plants. plant surveys, and helped an FNCV useful at the University, which lacked Sonenberg accompanied class committee prepare an up-to-date a herbarium.13 Accepting this ‘first excursions, collected specimens for Census of the plants of Victoria large donation’ of several thousand Patton’s systematic botany classes, (1923).11 specimens, Professor Ewart looked after the University In one of his many attempts to commented: ‘Until now there has Herbarium and helped Ewart prepare spark consideration of rationalising been practically no herbarium at the Flora of Victoria.16 Busy with the his two positions by bringing them University’.14 The cupboards built in much-needed Flora on top of his together—at either the University or 1926 to house Rupp’s donation must University duties, Ewart wanted a the National Herbarium—Ewart have occupied a substantial space in curator for the University Herbarium. remarked that, in order to reduce Ewart’s very cramped quarters. The University agreed, provided the duplication, he had incorporated Perhaps fortuitously the collection’s position was entirely honorary.17 University herbarium collections into arrival coincided with an ecological Ewart recommended a retired the National Herbarium in 1907.12 research project.15 school teacher, Herbert B. Had Ewart developed a University Now there is a definite University Williamson, ‘our leading systematist herbarium since April 1906? herbarium paper-trail. in Victoria’, whose taxonomic work Across and beyond World War 1 In 1929 Ewart’s department could was useful for his Flora.18 While the number of University botany at last expand into a building contributing to the FNCV’s Census, students and courses slowly increased, dedicated to botany, appropriately teacher Williamson had spent school as did the proportion of Ewart’s time situated on the edge of the System holidays searching National spent at the University. From 1921 Garden, and Ewart could use his Herbarium specimens for doubtful the University paid his full-time National Herbarium experience to records, and echoed Ewart’s desire to professorial salary, leaving Victoria develop the University Herbarium. ensure the accuracy of published again without a government botanist, Staff and students would contribute, botanical records with the deposition and Ewart without direct access to including Dr Ethel McLennan’s of herbarium specimens of plants National Herbarium collections. mycology students and Dr Reuben mentioned in published papers.19 In Five years later, Ewart received a Patton’s systematic botany students 1929 Williamson was pleased to take huge herbarium which is widely who were required to submit charge of the University Herbarium accepted as the foundation collection herbarium specimens as part of their ‘with a view to rearranging & of the University of Melbourne course work. Dr McLennan built a extending it and making it as Herbarium. In 1925, while beginning significant fungal collection, and Dr complete and accurate as possible’.20 to focus his botanical attention on Patton added plant specimens He oversaw Sonenberg’s daily work, orchids, the Reverend Montague collected during his ecology and checked the specimens in a Rupp offered the non-orchid part of excursions. collection received from the National his extensive herbarium to his old Patton was already training a Herbarium.21 Sadly, Bert Williamson college, Trinity, whose warden teenage assistant, Edward J. died in January 1931, just before the

24 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 H.M.R. Rupp, ‘Notes on various plants represented in the herbarium of the Rev. H.M.R. Rupp, B.A.’, January 1926, unpublished manuscript. University of Melbourne Herbarium.

publication of Ewart’s 1,257-page Flora of Victoria. In the preface Ewart noted that the Leguminosae family was entrusted ‘to the late Mr. H.B. Williamson, F.L.S., Honorary Keeper of the University Herbarium’ and thanked him ‘for a partial revision of the manuscript and proofs.’ Two years later Ewart found a suitable successor—William H. Nicholls, another accomplished, modest, amateur naturalist, who walked and cycled far in search of plants. Several University annual reports mention his taxonomic work and small grants for research expenses. The report for 1934–1935 records that Nicholls ‘collected over a wide area in Victoria, including the Brisbane Ranges, Steiglitz Ranges, Comoidai, Tallangatta, Grampians, Bennison Plains, etc., and many additions have been made to the University Herbarium as a result of this field work’.22 In 1940 he used his £15 grant for ‘travelling expenses in connection with work on Australian orchids’.23 While Will Nicholls was honorary curator, he carried out substantial and beautifully illustrated taxonomic work on Australian orchids; and the low- paid technical assistant, Edward Sonenberg, continued the day-to-day curatorial care of the University Herbarium.

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 25 By 1940, the world was again at McLennan and her assistant, Sophie University Herbarium may well have war, Ewart had died, and his Ducker (a refugee from war-torn languished in the pervasive successor had arrived, bringing a fresh Europe), and James Hamlyn Willis departmental feeling in the 1950s botanical vision to the University. from the National Herbarium. Sophie that it should include only teaching Ducker volunteered to help Jim material and only Victorian species.25 John S.Turner, professor of Willis collect plant specimens and, on In the 1960s, Dr David Ashton botany and plant physiology, Turner’s suggestion, formed a High and Dr Raymond Specht taught 1938–1973 Plains reference collection for the undergraduate ecology and supervised University Herbarium. postgraduate ecological research, and Dr John S. Turner was the Given the urgent need for a Sophie Ducker introduced an University’s second professor of reliable successor to Ewart’s out-of- undergraduate course on algae and botany and plant physiology, a title print and taxonomically out-of-date supervised phycological research determined by his predecessor. Flora, Professor Turner organised projects. They encouraged their Increases in the size and number of assistance for Jim Willis to prepare postgraduate students to deposit botany classes allowed Professor such a book; and Maisie Fawcett, who voucher specimens in the University Turner to increase the number and in 1949 succeeded Reuben Patton as Herbarium. Enriched with specimens diversity of staff and initiate the systematic botany and ecology and respect, the Herbarium gained a ecological research in the Botany lecturer, orchestrated the preparation new lease of life. So did its part-time School. of an interim student text, The keeper. Professor Turner supported the families and genera of Victorian plants, Following her retirement, development of regional reference to which Sonenberg, part-time Associate Professor McLennan was collections in the University lecturer Willis and other members of appointed as part-time (but salaried) Herbarium. Having organised the Botany School contributed. keeper of the Herbarium in 1957. funding for Maisie Fawcett’s earlier Meanwhile, Edward Sonenberg Immaculate in her lilac lab coat, ‘Dr work for Victoria’s Soil Conservation continued contributing to and Mac’ worked with care and Board, he facilitated her post-war curating the University Herbarium, dedication. In a pre-electronic era she ecological work on the Bogong High but without a designated curator or began the important but onerous task Plains (which was prompted by fears keeper. Some specimens disappeared. of accessioning the entire collection of the expensive threat of soil erosion Some were apparently sent to the and updating the nomenclature to to the massive Kiewa hydro-electric National Herbarium. Dr David conform to the system in Willis’ A scheme, then under construction) by Ashton began to contribute handbook to plants in Victoria,26 whose organising annual summer excursions specimens from across the taxonomic two volumes were published in 1962 to help her assessment of cattle- spectrum and the kaleidoscope of and 1972—Dr McLennan’s and the grazed and ungrazed vegetation.24 His Victorian ecosystems. But for the indispensable Mr Sonenberg’s last plant-recording team in January 1946 persistent support of McLennan, year. Known to generations of included Associate Professor Ethel Sonenberg, Ducker and Ashton, the students and staff as ‘Sony’, he was

26 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Herbarium specimens of Epacris impressa, collected by H.M.R. Rupp in 1894, 1897, 1921 and 1924. University of Melbourne Herbarium.

the modest, self-effacing and rigorously reliable authority on plants and their names. Who now would reliably answer the question asked by students and staff, gardeners and foresters, agriculturalists and veterinarians, school teachers and police, ‘What is this plant?’ Sonenberg’s numerous collections of indigenous and introduced plants are particularly important because they include specimens from areas which have since been overtaken by suburbia. Before the convenience of plastic bags, he lugged a suitcase, heavy with damp newspaper to keep specimens moist, on the train or tram to the ‘wilds’ of Studley Park or South Kensington, Port Melbourne or Cheltenham.27 His distinctive handwriting on specimen labels reliably records collection localities and dates. In 1974, the year after Professor Turner retired, Jim Willis was awarded a DSc degree for his Handbook, and moves initiated by Sophie Ducker were eventually successful with the listing of the University Herbarium as MELU in Index herbariorum. Its significance was now officially recognised.

Acknowledgements I thank Nicole Middleton, Ian Clarke, Helen Cohn, Ray Specht, Ian Price, Robert King and Roger Spencer (and belatedly the late David Ashton and Sophie Ducker) for comments and clues.

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 27 Edward Sonenberg in his room in the Botany School, c.1959. University of Melbourne Herbarium.

Linden Gillbank, whose doctoral research was in 10 Victorian Naturalist, vol. 23, May 1906, p. 2. 19 H.B. Williamson, ‘Notes on the census of the School of Botany, has since explored various 11 Helen M. Cohn, ‘Watch dog over the Victorian plants’, Victorian Naturalist, vol. 34, aspects of the history of Australian botany. An Herbarium: Alfred Ewart, Victorian 1919, pp. 11–19. Honorary Fellow in the School of Social and Government Botanist 1906–1921’, Historical 20 H.B. Williamson, letter to Alfred J. Ewart, 7 Environmental Enquiry, she is currently Records of Australian Science, vol. 16, 2005, May 1929, 1929/341, UM 312, UMA. investigating the history of the Botany School and pp. 139–167. See Victorian Naturalist, vol. 24, 21 Reuben Patton’s note, ‘When Prof. Ewart earlier botanical contributions by Professor 1907, pp. 65–67, 81–82, 84, 94–95 for Ewart’s ceased to be Govt Botanist, the Nat McCoy. unsuccessful insistence on the deposition of Herbarium gave to the University a collection herbarium specimens of all plants recorded in of plants to form an Herbarium. This Notes Victorian Naturalist as new to science or to specimen was among them ...’, was affixed to a Victoria or a Victorian district. Ewart prepared specimen of Sarcopetalum harveyanum / 1 ‘Report of the proceedings of the Council of the 97-page census form for recording plant Stephania hernandifolia, whose National the University of Melbourne during the year information to be sent to the National Herbarium label is initialed HBW by commencing on the 1st of May, 1856, and Herbarium and chaired the FNCV Plant Williamson. Ian Clarke noticed this specimen terminating on the 30th of April, 1857’, Names Committee. in MEL in 1993. Many other MELU University of Melbourne Archives (UMA). 12 Alfred J. Ewart, letter to Chancellor of the specimens have National Herbarium labels. See also R.J.R. Selleck, The Shop: The University of Melbourne, n.d., 1909/27, UM 22 ‘Annual Report, 1934–35’, Melbourne University of Melbourne 1850–1939, 312 (Registrar’s correspondence), UMA. University calendar for 1936, p. 1128. Melbourne University Press, 2003, pp. 85–88. 13 I[an] C. Clarke, ‘The history of the herbarium, 23 The University of Melbourne annual reports 2 Frederick McCoy, ‘Museums in Victoria’, School of Botany, University of Melbourne’, in 1939–1946, Melbourne University Press, 1948, Transactions of the Philosophical Institute of Philip S. Short (ed.), History of systematic p. 72. Victoria, vol. 1, 1857, p. 131. botany in Australasia: Proceedings of a symposium 24 Linden Gillbank, ‘Into the land of the 3 McCoy, ‘Museums in Victoria’, p. 132. held at the University of Melbourne, 25–27 May mountain cattlemen: Maisie Fawcett’s 4 Linden Gillbank, ‘University botany in 1988, Melbourne: Australian Systematic ecological investigations on the Bogong High colonial Victoria. Frederick McCoy’s botanical Botany Society, 1990, pp. 13–16; Lionel Plains’, in Farley Kelly (ed.), On the edge of classes and collections at the University of Gilbert, The orchid man: The life, work and discovery: Australian women in science, Melbourne’, accepted for publication in memoirs of the Rev. H.M.R. Rupp, 1872–1956, Melbourne: Text Publishing Company, 1993, Historical Records of Australian Science [2008]. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press, 1992, pp. 54–57. pp. 135–151. 5 ‘Report of the proceedings of the Council of Student Record for Herman Montague 25 Clarke, ‘The history of the herbarium’, p. 18. the University, 1856–1857’. Rucker Rupp, Accession Number 88/51, 26 Clarke, ‘The history of the herbarium’, p. 18. 6 ‘Report of the proceedings of the Council of Student Administration, University of 27 Clarke, ‘Farewell to Mr Sonenberg’, p. 155. the University of Melbourne, during the year Melbourne, UMA, shows that Rupp was a commencing on the 1st of May, 1857, and botany student of Professors McCoy and terminating on the 30th of April, 1858’, Spencer. UMA. 14 Melbourne Herald, 9 February 1926, quoted in 7 Frederick McCoy, On the formation of museums Gilbert, The orchid man, p. 57. in Victoria, Melbourne: Goodhugh and 15 In 1926 Ewart encouraged post-fire Hough, 1857, p. 5. From September 1857 until regeneration research by his demonstrator, 1873 Mueller was director of the Botanic Arthur Petrie, who brought ecological Garden as well as government botanist. experience from the University of Sydney. 8 Ferdinand Mueller, letter to Frederick McCoy, 16 Ian C. Clarke, ‘Farewell to Mr Sonenberg’, 18 February 1863, M22, letters inward, box M Victorian Naturalist, vol. 106, 1989, pp. 155– and Mc 1854–1899, Library of Museum 159. Victoria. 17 University of Melbourne Registrar, letter to 9 Sophie C. Ducker (ed.), The contented botanist. Professor [Alfred J.] Ewart, 16 May 1929, Letters of W.H. Harvey about Australia and the 1929/90, UM 312, UMA. Pacific, Melbourne: Melbourne University 18 Alfred J. Ewart, letter to Sir John [MacFarland], Press at the Miegunyah Press, 1988, p. 347. 8 May 1929, 1929/341, UM 312, UMA.

28 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Nicole Middleton, Collection Manager, MELU, MELU 2007 removing specimens from the cupboards Nicole Middleton built in 1925–1926 to house the collection.

For further information on the MELU Herbarium see http://www.botany.unimelb.edu.au/herbarium or contact Nicole Middleton, Collection Manager, University of Melbourne Herbarium, School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010.

Today the University of Melbourne creativity. But before the hoards of Herbarium (MELU) holds an specimens can be utilised in this way estimated 100,000 specimens. The they need to be rediscovered. With collection spans the breadth of the Dr Mac’s card catalogue now vastly plant world and includes flowering out-of-date, database cataloguing and plants, fungi, algae, mosses, digitising the MELU collection are liverworts, ferns and gymnosperms. necessary to document exactly what Specimens collected by the likes of specimens are present in the Rupp, ‘Dr Mac’, ‘Sony’, Sophie collection and to allow access to their Ducker and Dave Ashton live on in accompanying information. the Herbarium. Their relevance for MELU is registered with the Database entry at MELU is at teaching and research is still as Convention on International Trade in present a slow process, undertaken imperative today as the day they were Endangered Species (CITES), largely by volunteers. Small grants collected. Their significance and value Australian Quarantine and Inspection have enabled four per cent of the have increased exponentially. Service (AQIS) and Environment collection to be recorded Today the Herbarium is used Australia, so has permission to send electronically. At this rate it will take extensively for teaching. Several and receive herbarium specimens a century before we can fully make subjects taught at the University between international and domestic the most of the information held in require students to make their own scientific research institutions. MELU, by which time many of the herbarium specimens, and the MELU Research on specimens collected species may be extinct and collections are continuously used by decades or centuries ago can provide information pertinent to their students as aids for plant many clues to predicting the future. conservation irrelevant. To speed up identification. Since 1999, student Sophie Ducker’s Bogong High Plains the process, funding is required. Only involvement in the Herbarium has collection is being used to indicate when the database is complete will increased through the establishment some effects of climate change, while the MELU collection be fully of volunteer programs. These provide Sony’s specimens collected from now available to anyone, anywhere around botany, history and other enthusiastic urbanised areas show us which species the world, bringing the specimens to students with the opportunity to gain do not require watering when planted life. on-the-job experience whilst in gardens. Within MELU a wealth completing their studies. of such information is peacefully Nicole Middleton is a graduate of the School of Alongside teaching, the waiting its chance to come to life. Botany, and has been Collection Manager at the University of Melbourne Herbarium since 1997. Herbarium also plays a major role in Through modern technology, In addition to curating the collection, running the research. Researchers from within the DNA can now be extracted from Herbarium’s volunteer program and organising University and around the world herbarium specimens and with this, specimen loans, her duties include teaching and support in field botany, plant systematics and utilise the MELU collection through the future for herbaria becomes evolution, vegetation management and specimen loans and exchanges. almost as limitless as a scientist’s conservation, and flora of Victoria.

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 29 Engage, invigorate and educate Cultural collections student projects Helen Arnoldi

Imagine cataloguing rare musical their education, while greatly instruments donated to the University benefitting the collections themselves. by Dame Nellie Melba; imagine At the start of each year, a range planning the preservation of fragile of projects is developed by the early 20th century photographic Student Projects Coordinator in negatives; imagine labelling and consultation with the various mounting botanical specimens to collection managers. These projects ensure their survival … creating an are offered to students primarily exhibition trail to help visitors through the Student Projects website navigate their way through an and via course coordinators. The archaeology display … assessing the projects are usually a semester long significance of historic engineering and involve a student commitment of drawings and models … cataloguing approximately one day per week. and flattening an impressive After an initial application process, a collection of international poster art student meets with the collection … exploring the curious histories of manager and explains why they are plaster and wax anatomical models … interested in a particular project, the arranging the personal papers of an skills they would bring to that project Collection (which documents the eminent Melburnian … researching and what they hope to achieve work of an eminent engineer- etchings and engravings by master through the placement. If the right inventor who worked at the European printmakers of which student is matched to the right University), was completed by two examples are found in the world’s project, the outcomes are positive for engineering students. While they had finest museums and libraries. Now everybody. Once a student is placed in never before worked with collections, stop imagining, because these projects a suitable project, they receive they did possess an understanding of exist and are just some of the training in the collection and interest in mechanical assignments completed by students as management skills they need in order engineering and Michell’s innovative part of the Student Projects Program to complete it successfully. The thrust-bearing and crankless engine. (Cultural Collections). emphasis is on matching the student’s They were keen to learn the cultural Over the past three years, some 65 interests in a particular area first, heritage sector’s accepted significance students have taken advantage of the rather than on identifying an existing assessment methodology so that they opportunity to work behind-the- proficiency. After all, students are could apply their engineering scenes with the University’s cultural applying for these projects in order to knowledge to this historical material. collections. They have enjoyed an learn and develop new skills. Even though the two students immediate and worthwhile For example, in 2006 a originally lacked the necessary engagement which has extended their significance assessment of the museum skills, their educational professional skills and broadened A.G.M. Michell Engineering background and interest in

30 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Opposite: Jasmine Targett identifying and cataloguing instruments in the Henry Forman Atkinson Dental Museum.

Below: Jacqueline Eager, who created extended labels for historic apparatus in the Physics Museum, which are now used in the display panels and on the Museum’s website.

Bottom: Miriam Riverlea researching the Classics and Archaeology Library collection.

mechanical engineering made them sample what it might be like to work ideal candidates, and they completed in a particular field. For example, a very comprehensive report which Master of Art Curatorship students has been of use not only to the have worked on conservation projects University, but to two major to test whether they are interested in Australian museums that also hold pursuing further study in this material relating to Michell. specialised discipline. During a The projects are diverse and range placement, a student may also be from cataloguing and significance exposed to other related work areas, assessment through to research, encountering potential career paths conservation and exhibition curating. previously not considered. Hence, the skills developed by the While some students need to students (and the existing skills they satisfy course requirements and bring to the projects) will vary. An internship subjects, others are seeking individual training program is tailored an extra-curricular activity or a way of to suit each student’s abilities and improving their prospects in an experience. The students also receive increasingly competitive job market. ongoing mentoring and supervision. In the present educational By the end of the placement, while environment, where there is an having acquired and extended their emphasis on the ‘digital’ and ‘virtual’, knowledge of a specific area, they will these projects let students work with have also encountered some of the the ‘real’ and ‘actual’—an element that thorny issues facing cultural may be absent from the theoretical collections managers today. nature of many disciplines. The Student Projects Program The projects expose students to occupies a unique position within the concepts relevant to their area of University and provides an important study. For curatorship students this link between the student body and might mean setting up an exhibition, the collections. Through engagement cataloguing objects or writing a with the collections, their managers significance assessment. Through and other collections staff such as these projects they are placed in a real librarians, conservators, cataloguers, situation which will complement and technicians, curators and archivists, illustrate the theory they have been the students develop vocational skills learning in the classroom. For other applicable in their future professions. students, the project provides an Or they can ‘dip their toe in’ and outlet for them to apply their recently

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 31 acquired skills. This is particularly historic documents; and prepared a the University and beyond. valuable for history students who are plan for the safe housing of volatile In 2008 the Student Projects keen to hone their research and photographic formats. Some of these Program will continue to build on writing talents on meaningful very useful and beneficial tasks could and expand the links we have made research projects that have genuine not be completed without the across the University. We hope to value to an organisation. Throughout students’ input, and the collection welcome students from an even the 33 collections there are numerous managers greatly appreciate their broader range of courses, and to opportunities for students to explore contributions. stimulate an interest that will connect the histories both of individual Because the Student Projects them to collections across the campus. objects within the collections and the Program at the University of We must also maintain the high formation of the collections Melbourne is a unique program quality of placements offered, an themselves. In the last couple of years locally, it has also attracted students essential element if we are to continue for example, history students have from other universities. The to capture the imagination of students investigated 19th century plaster and University is in the fortunate position and offer long-term benefits to them wax anatomical models in the Harry of having been in operation for more and to the collections. Brookes Allen Museum; created than 150 years, over which time it has For more on the Student Projects content for an exhibition utilising the accumulated irreplaceable collections Program visit our website at Law Heritage collections; conserved, that have significance well beyond the http://www.unimelb.edu.au/ transcribed and researched a 100- campus. The involvement of students culturalcollections/projects year-old orchestral ledger from the from other universities enables Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Library; ‘knowledge transfer’, one of the Helen Arnoldi has been the Students Projects Coordinator, Cultural Collections, in Information and explored botanical models in the strands of the ‘triple helix’ proposed in Services since 2005. She has over ten years’ Herbarium. Growing esteem, the University’s professional experience in collection and heritage It is not only the students who strategic plan (the other strands being management, including roles with the Baillieu Library Print Collection, the Ian Potter Museum benefit. The impact of their work on research, and learning and teaching). of Art and the National Trust of Australia the collections should not be Knowledge transfer involves the two- (Victoria). She has a Postgraduate Diploma in Art underestimated. Students have way exchange of knowledge and Curatorship (Melbourne), a Master of Arts– Museum Studies (Monash) and an Honours uncovered and published new expertise between the University and degree in Art History (Monash). information about the origins, the wider community, creating meaning, provenance and use of partnerships of mutual benefit.1 objects; they have inventoried, Furthermore, by ensuring that catalogued, photographed and students (and indirectly through Note conserved items so that others can use them, academic staff) continue to them; created web pages and engage with the cultural collections 1 See Glyn Davis, Growing esteem, University of Melbourne, December 2005, p. 14, exhibitions; arranged and described it invigorates their relevance as a available from http://www.unimelb.edu.au/ archival collections; transcribed unique and important resource to publications/archives.html

32 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Cultural collections online Andrew Stephenson

In October 2006 the University launched a new website for its cultural collections, at http://www.unimelb. edu.au/culturalcollections. Details of the 33 cultural collections owned by the University are now assembled on the site, including Special Collections, University of Melbourne Archives, the Print Collection and the Grainger Museum, together with the Medical History Museum, Herbarium, Physics Museum, Ian Potter Museum of Art and other collections, museums draw on the collections are detailed both within and external to the and libraries across the University. on the site, grouped by the respective University, including University The site provides a range of collections and with links to the final history resources, heritage and alternative access points to the published material where available, conservation centres, friends and collections, including name, category, whether it is online in full text or via a members groups and national a fully cross-referenced alphabetical link to the University Library councils and networks. listing and a search engine customised catalogue entry. The website provides an to search the full content of the Details are provided of exhibitions opportunity to expose the breadth website. drawing on the collections: current, and depth of our collections by One of the functions of the new forthcoming, past and online. For combining descriptions with access to site is to act as a portal to the several recent exhibitions there are all of them on the one website, as well collections, providing descriptive extensive galleries of images, together as through the presentation of our information on each collection and with speeches and photographs from extensive collection of images. links to individual collection websites. exhibition launches, all of which will Students in various conservation be retained on the site as a and curatorial programs, as well as the permanent—and growing—record. Andrew Stephenson is a librarian, and Web new undergraduate degrees, work Items of current news and Coordinator with the Cultural Collections Group closely with the collections, and the forthcoming events are regularly and Information Policy. A graduate of the Royal School of Library and Information Science in site includes a full list of student posted on the home page. There are Copenhagen, his other qualifications include a projects available for the current year, also links to an extensive array of Diploma of Library and Information Studies and each with a downloadable position current and archived news items an Associate Diploma of Social Science from Whitehorse Institute, a Graduate Diploma of description for prospective applicants. relating to the collections. Information Management from RMIT University Research and publications that Links are provided to related sites and a BA (Hons) from the University of Melbourne.

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 33 2007 exhibitions review Highlights of exhibitions from the University’s collections

Professor Emeritus John Bowman, former Professor of Middle Eastern Studies. Illuminations was curated by Dr Andrew Jamieson, R.E. Ross Trust Curator and Lecturer in the School of Classics and Archaeology. From Canton Club to Melbourne Cricket Club: The architecture of Arthur Purnell

Leigh Scott Gallery, Baillieu Library 4 October 2006 to 30 January 2007 Creation tracks and trade This exhibition, based largely on winds: Groote Eylandt bark Arthur Purnell’s papers now located paintings from the University at the University of Melbourne of Melbourne Art Collection Illuminations: Middle Archives, was curated by Dr Derham Ian Potter Museum of Art Eastern manuscripts Groves, Senior Lecturer in 23 September 2006 to 21 January 2007 Architecture in the Faculty of Ian Potter Museum of Art 2 September 2006 to 26 March 2007 Architecture, Building and Planning, Curated by Joanna Bosse, Assistant and Brian Allison, Exhibitions Curator at the Potter, this exhibition This display of 50 manuscripts, dating Curator, Cultural Collections. Dr showcased 32 of a group of 36 from the 15th to the 19th centuries Groves had undertaken significant paintings dating from the 1940s and and in languages including Arabic, research on the life and career of the collected by Frederick Harold Grey, Persian, Ethiopic, Syriac, Turkish, Geelong-born Arthur William who donated them to Dr Leonhard Hebrew, Urdu, Sanskrit, Pushtu, Purnell (1878–1964), particularly his Adam at the University of Prakrit and Mongol, was drawn from work in southern China around the Melbourne between 1946 and 1950. more than 180 examples held in the turn of the 20th century. The paintings formed the core of Special Collections of the Baillieu what is now known as the Leonhard Library. This rich collection of sacred Adam Collection of International texts, educational primers, Indigenous Culture, an important dictionaries, grammars, poetry, holding of more than 1,000 items biographies and astrological, from Australia, Asia, Africa and the mathematical and other treatises is Americas in the University of largely the legacy of the late Reverend Melbourne Art Collection.

34 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Opposite, far left: illustration from a 19th century Opposite, far right: Minimini Numalkiyiya Left: artist unknown (China), n.d. Persian illuminated manuscript Mamarika (c.1900–1972), clan group: Painting on silk. volume of anecdotes, Warnindilyakwa, language group: Anindilyakwa, Strathfieldsaye Estate Collection, gold and coloured inks on card, 32.0 x 19.0 cm. Macassan prau (mijiyanga) with three figures, University of Melbourne Archives. MUL 183, Special Collections, Baillieu Library, waves and sea creatures, c.1941–1945, ochres and University of Melbourne. orchid extract on eucalyptus bark, Right: Shabti figurine, Egypt, Ramessid period, 58.0 x 33.7 cm (irregular). Acc. no. 1960.2217, 1295–1069 BCE, faience. Acc. no. 0000.0657, Opposite, below: Beaver & Purnell Architects, The Leonhard Adam Collection of Flinders Petrie Collection, University of Proposed Dance Hall and Cafe, International Indigenous Culture, Melbourne Art Collection. The Esplanade, St Kilda, 22 June 1922. University of Melbourne Art Collection. University of Melbourne Archives.

Art), VCA Gallery’s Margaret Lawrence Australian Ceramic Collection, several private collections, and artworks created specially for the exhibition under the Baillieu’s Art in the Library program. The launch of the exhibition took place during the 2007 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival and included a day-long symposium on the subjects of tea and the use of tea and teabags in making artists books. This concluded with a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The exhibition was curated by Pam Pryde and Tracey Caulfield of Special Collections, with Andrea Hurt and Morfia Grondas of Art in the Library.

Discovering Egypt and examples of human and animal mummification. Ian Potter Museum of Art Tea:The global infusion 31 March to 26 August 2007 Leigh Scott Gallery, Baillieu Library Missionaries of civilisation: 20 March to 18 May 2007 Curated by Dr Andrew Jamieson, The Commercial Travellers’ Discovering Egypt included artefacts Association of Victoria Tea combined books, paintings, drawn from the University’s own Leigh Scott Gallery, Baillieu Library prints, archival documents, Classics and Archaeology Collection, 18 June to 5 October 2007 photographs, ceramics and other as well as items on loan from objects from a number of the Museum Victoria, the Dodgson This exhibition drew upon the University’s collections: Baillieu Collection of Egyptian Antiquities at University of Melbourne Archives Library Special Collections and Print Queen’s College and several private Collection, enhanced by some loans Collection, East Asian Library Rare lenders. The exhibition gave a vivid from private collectors. It was curated Materials, University of Melbourne impression of everyday Egyptian life by Brian Allison and Master of Art Archives, the Medical History through items such as stone tools, Curatorship student Loretta Museum, Grainger Museum, ceramics, jewellery and textiles, as Shepherd, in association with Helen University of Melbourne Art well as ceremonial and burial artefacts McLaughlin, Principal Archivist, Collection (Ian Potter Museum of including ritual knives, shabti figures University of Melbourne Archives.

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 35 Left: C. Dudley Wood (1905–1980), The lyre bird: Right: Jetter & Scheerer, Germany, Master mimic of the Australian bush, artwork for hypodermic syringe, c.1900, magazine cover Australia To-day: The National nickel-plated metal and glass, supported by metal Annual, 1949, gouache and watercolour, frame and container, suitable for sterilization 47.0 x 31.0 cm. Commercial Travellers’ by boiling and therefore reusable, Association Collection, University of Melbourne syringe: 12.5 cm x 6.0 cm, diameter; Archives. case: 12.8 x 4.5 x 2.8 cm. Acc. no. MHM 4379, Medical History Museum, University of Melbourne.

Below right: head cap used with splint that extended beyond the mouth for stabilising ‘floating’ portion of the jaw. Custom-made cap of stockinet and plaster of Paris bandages. Reg. no. 1470 F, Henry Forman Atkinson Dental Museum, University of Melbourne.

stories, organised thematically around the strongly emotional attitudes which syringes evoke, from fear to hope. The historical component consisted of items from the Medical History Museum and the Henry Forman Atkinson Dental Museum, both in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. Checklists of all these syringes appear in the exhibition catalogue, available online at http//www.nspresearch. models and appliances for the unimelb.edu.au/podcasts.html. A Universities of Sydney, Melbourne catalogue article, also available online, and Adelaide. The display is part of covers the fascinating history of the the original Melbourne collection syringe. that was housed in the museum of the Australian College of Dentistry. It told the story of the commercial Major Kenneth Russell, Now part of the Henry Forman travellers who, before the pioneer dental surgeon Atkinson Dental Museum, the development of retail chains, rode the collection is possibly the only Henry Forman Atkinson Dental Museum, nation’s back roads, dusting off their 5th floor display case, School of Dental remaining example of treatment sample kits in front of the keen eyes Science, from August 2007 techniques from this period. of storekeepers. Commercial Travellers’ Associations sprang up in This small but intriguing display each Australian state to support the looks at the work of Major Kenneth often isolated traveller. Russell D.D.Sc (1885–1945) during World War 1. After serving with the Needle and syringe cultures AIF as a dental officer in Egypt and France, Russell was transferred in Executive Lounge, Level 1, Alan Gilbert Building, 18 to 28 July 2007 1917 to the special face and jaw hospital in Sidcup, Kent, England. Curated by Associate Professor John He cared for patients with jaw and Fitzgerald, VicHealth Senior facial injuries and trained dental Research Fellow in the School of officers in the special methods of Population Health, the core of this treatment as used at that time. He exhibition comprised a series of video also made collections of teaching

36 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Left: The Gold Arch, St Georges Terrace, Perth— one of a series of decorative archways designed by John Grainger to mark the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, 1901, silver gelatin print, 14.5 x 19.5 cm. Grainger Museum Collection, University of Melbourne.

Right: Edison Company, USA, Edison standard phonograph, used by Percy Grainger after 1903 to record folk songs; wood, metal, mixed media, housing: 26.5 x 37.0 x 23.0 cm, bell: 36.5 x 17.0 cm diameter. Grainger Museum Collection, University of Melbourne.

buildings in all states of Australia as well as in Colombo and Auckland. The majority of the displays are drawn from the Grainger Museum Collection. Cypriot antiquities

Ian Potter Museum of Art 1 September 2007 to 16 March 2008

The University of Melbourne’s collection of Cypriot antiquities, part of its Classics and Archaeology interests including his experience as a Collection, represents the human virtuosic concert pianist, his career as history of this strategically important a composer, arranger, and ‘free music’ John Harry Grainger: island. It includes a wide range of experimenter, his pioneering work in Architect and civil engineer bronze- and iron-age artefacts folk song collecting and his untiring

Leigh Scott Gallery, Baillieu Library brought to Australia by the late voice as a social commentator. The 15 October 2007 to 7 January 2008 Professor J.R. Stewart between the exhibition Facing Percy Grainger, 1930s and the early 1960s. The drawn from the Grainger Museum’s This exhibition investigates the life exhibition, curated by Dr Andrew eclectic collection, was originally and works of John Harry Grainger, Jamieson, is based on, and coincides presented in 2006 at the National father of Percy Grainger. It highlights with, the publication of a catalogue of Library of Australia. the extraordinary achievements of this the collection by Sally Salter, gifted architect and engineer who has published by Pan Macmillan. been largely overlooked by history. J.H. Grainger was a bridge builder as Facing Percy Grainger well as architect and he was Ian Potter Museum of Art responsible for the design of 25 October 2007 to 3 February 2008 Melbourne’s celebrated example: Princes Bridge over the Yarra River. Percy Grainger gave the University Other well-known Melbourne of Melbourne a diverse and landmarks designed by Grainger internationally recognised archive and include the Georges Building in artefact collection numbering over Collins Street and the Robur Tea 100,000 items. His collection reflects House building. He designed his many enthusiasms and parallel

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 37 John Harry Grainger Architect and civil engineer Brian Allison

John Harry Grainger, the Australian of much of his life prior to travelling architect and engineer, is now almost to Australia in 1877. A clipping from forgotten by history. He receives a the Argus newspaper of 4 August brief mention in the much examined 1879 states: life story of his genius son, the Australian composer and concert Granger [sic] of Jenkins and pianist, Percy Aldridge Grainger. In Granger [sic] has been in the the various biographical and colony about 3 years. He came autobiographical narratives of Percy’s from London where he worked life, Grainger senior appears as an with Mr Wilson, the well-known estranged husband and a proud but engineer of the Metro. District ineffectual father. At worst he is Railways, and with him made presented as a syphilitic drunkard, special study of iron bridge horse-whipped by his wife. Brief making. mention is made of his prolific output as an architect. The notoriously close Marshall’s biographical dictionary of relationship between Percy and his railway engineers lists a William mother Rose, combined with the Wilson (1822–1898) who acted for likelihood that John infected Rose contractors on the Metropolitan and with syphilis, distanced father from District Railway. Grainger may have son and meant that the father’s story been apprenticed to Wilson or may was not woven into that of his famous have been a junior in Wilson’s convenient as this explanation of offspring. company; either way he received a J.H. Grainger’s origins would be, J.H. Grainger was a gifted and solid grounding in civil engineering unfortunately no direct connections creative man. By the age of 25 he had practices. Where he received his have been discovered between him amassed the skills and experience to architectural training is more obscure. and his influential namesake. design the much celebrated Princes Percy Grainger believed his father Grainger’s recently retrieved birth Bridge in Melbourne. This complex was born into ‘a Northumbrian family certificate lists his date and place of project would have been demanding of builders, architects and engineers’, birth as being 30 November 1854, at for a seasoned practitioner twice his and that one of the family members 1 New Street, Westminster. His age. He allegedly lied about his age to was responsible for the development parents are recorded as being a John inspire confidence in the Public of Newcastle-on-Tyne.2 The city was Grainger, Master Tailor, and a Mary Works Department officials to whom developed in the 1830s by a Richard Ann Grainger, née Parsons. he submitted the original design.1 Grainger (1797–1861) who Winifred Falconer, J.H. Grainger’s Where he gained his initial effectively transformed a medieval companion in the latter part of his training is still unclear, as is the story town into a modern city. As life,3 wrote in an unpublished

38 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Opposite: Bartletto Studio, John Grainger aged 46, photographed in Perth, Western Australia, c.1890, silver gelatin print, 20.5 x 14.0 cm. Grainger Museum Collection, University of Melbourne.

Below: H.W. De Mole, Princes Bridge over the Yarra River, c.1888, heliotype, 33.0 x 42.5 cm. Grainger Museum Collection, University of Melbourne.

manuscript in the 1930s that South Australian musician Herman J.H. Grainger claimed to have been in Grainger had lived with an uncle who Schrader. He states that the uncle Paris during the siege near the end of was an important influence on him took Grainger to the Monday Pops the Franco-Prussian War (in 1870– during his childhood. The gentleman Concerts at the Queens Hall.5 1871).7 This begs the question: what was a personal friend of the great It is not known why Grainger was was the son of a Westminster tailor theologian Cardinal Newman and the brought up in his uncle’s home. His doing at school in France? One young Grainger ‘derived great parents were not deceased—they are possible explanation is that Grainger’s pleasure as well as knowledge from listed as still living in Westminster in uncle—his guardian—may have had listening to their discussions of the the 1881 census. Percy believed that business interests on the continent. world’s affairs’.4 His uncle was also his father received much of his The experience of French culture interested in music and took Grainger education at a monastery school in in his formative years left Grainger to his personal box at the opera. France at Yvetot (between Le Havre with a lifetime love of French Reference to the uncle also appears in and Paris). This detail is confirmed by architecture. At some juncture, early the unpublished recollections of Winifred Falconer.6 John Bird, Percy in his career, he made a very detailed Grainger by another close friend, Grainger’s biographer, states that study of French revival styles—

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 39 particularly Renaissance revival He is also said to have had a strong Gippsland. The late architectural architecture—a style in which he tenor singing voice.9 Herman historian Margaret Pitt Morison proved to be very proficient as a Schrader wrote of him that his ‘love described it as an ‘elegant trussed designer. If, as he claimed, he was in for music was very great and structure in wrought iron with a Paris at age 16, conceivably he may absolutely cosmopolitan, embracing balanced wing span of 45 metres have had an association with an all styles, opera, oratorium [sic], supported centrally by eight pivot architectural atelier where he could orchestral, chamber and solo music cylinders resting on bedrock’.11 It is have received some training. enjoying all according to their believed that Grainger’s bridge was At age 22 John Harry Grainger different merits’.10 the first to use this technology in successfully applied for a position in Grainger’s social circle included a Australia. the South Australian Government as Mr George Aldridge who owned the Grainger maintained a strong an assistant architect and engineer. It Prince Alfred Hotel next door to the connection with South Australia and is unclear why he chose to emigrate. government offices where Grainger in 1881 was contracted to design two In his 1954 memoir ‘My father in my worked. He became a frequent visitor mansions for the wealthy Barr Smith childhood’, Percy refers to his father to the Aldridge family home and in family—Auchendarroch at Mount leaving a girl in England who was 1880 married 22-year-old Rosa Barker and Torrens Park at Mitcham. pregnant to him.8 Falconer says that (Rose) Aldridge. In the same year he designed a his decision to move abroad followed In the year of their marriage Church of England church in gothic a quarrel with his uncle. Whatever his Grainger won the competition to style at Walkerville on the outskirts of motivation, his career decision proved design Princes Bridge over the Yarra Adelaide. to be well made. In addition to his River in association with surveyor and On 8 July 1882, Rose gave birth government position he developed a architect, J.S. Jenkins, with whom he to a son, George Percy Grainger. The thriving private practice in Adelaide. had entered into a partnership family was living in a brick house in Less than 18 months later in 1878 he (though the design is considered to be North Brighton, where they resigned his government position to Grainger’s). Grainger and his wife employed staff. John Grainger’s pursue private commissions. moved to Melbourne where he business was on a firm footing and Grainger developed a strong social completed the finished drawings and their future would have seemed very network in South Australia. He hoped to oversee the construction of positive, yet during their residence in became very active within the musical the bridge. Actual building work did Brighton, Grainger contracted fraternity and organised the first not start until 1885 and the bridge syphilis.12 And, as so often happened, string quartet in Adelaide. The took another three years to be he passed the then almost incurable ensemble rehearsed in his private formally opened. disease on to his wife. rooms. Though not an instrumentalist In the same year that Grainger In 1882, Grainger entered into a Grainger was musically literate and won the Princes Bridge competition partnership with architect and civil collected a library of musical scores he designed a swinging bridge over engineer Charles D’Ebro, and now held in the Grainger Museum. the La Trobe River at Sale in established an office in Collins Street

40 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Interior of Ball Room, Government House, Perth, c.1938, silver gelatin print, 15.5 x 21.0 cm. Grainger Museum Collection, University of Melbourne.

in central Melbourne. In the same designed in the French Renaissance money.13 This may explain the year they successfully submitted a revival style. In the same year the Graingers’ sudden change in living design in a competition for a town partnership won a commission to circumstances. His business hall in Fremantle. Later that year they design Brisbane Town Hall, though partnership was also dissolved at this won first prize for the Masonic Hall the design was never implemented stage. His professional status, Company’s building in Lonsdale and a government architect’s design however, does not seem to have been Street in Melbourne. chosen instead. affected by either event—in 1886 he In 1884 the partnership won first In 1885 the Graingers moved was responsible for the design of the prize in a competition to design from Brighton to the New England Georges Building in Collins Street Auckland’s public library and Hotel in Heidelberg. In a letter to his and the New Masonic Hall, also on municipal offices (now the art father, Grainger states that he over- Collins Street. gallery). This substantial building was speculated in mining shares and lost Grainger’s professional life was

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 41 steady but it is conceivable that his John Grainger wrote to his father: in England—possibly with intentions family life had soured. He drank of reconciliation. He may not have heavily at this stage and John Bird At present he draws well, achieved this outcome as he bought a writes of Rose’s use of a horse-whip immensely well in fact, and it is a return passage to Australia on the to keep his behaviour in check.14 Rose frightful thing to keep him from same vessel. Deck life appears to have over-bonded with her son Percy being always at it, and his mother agreed with him as his health almost from birth—their relationship is most anxious he should be an returned to normal. Grainger has been depicted in Percy’s own artist. I am afraid if he becomes returned to Melbourne but stayed memoirs as being abnormally close. one that he will be dangerous.16 briefly and travelled to Adelaide Conversely, Grainger’s relationship where he had maintained ties with his with his son may have been curtailed Much of what is known about wife’s family. Without a business by his increasingly estranged wife. Grainger’s movements over the next partnership or close family to give One significant area in which decade is sourced from him direction he lived a transient life Grainger senior influenced his son correspondence between Grainger in the first half of the 1890s. was the visual arts. Grainger was a and a young woman, Miss Amy Professionally it was also a lean very competent watercolour painter Black, the sister of one of Grainger’s period. In 1892 he is recorded as and had an extensive knowledge of junior staff members originally winning a prize for the design for the western art history. In his articled to the firm of Grainger and Hamley Buildings in Adelaide. But recollections of his father Percy wrote: D’Ebro. Black lived with her family the following year he was working at in Brighton near the Grainger Hill River Cattle Station near Clare Indeed he was on fire for beauty household and became John in South Australia, remodelling everywhere and all his life he Grainger’s confidante. woolsheds. By 1896 he was living in collected photos of lovely In 1890, Grainger experienced rough conditions in Kalgoorlie buildings, pictures, statues, some sort of breakdown. Percy supervising the construction of bridges and pasted them into believed he suffered from delirium processing plants for gold mining. He albums, himself adding tremens from alcoholism as well as does not seem to have benefitted information about the origin and nicotine poisoning. Writing to Amy financially by the Western Australian history of the works of art Black, Grainger spoke of being gold rush as many did. depicted. This was known as disturbed in mind and body. Finding mining town life hard to ‘Graingerising’.15 Following his doctor’s orders he tolerate, Grainger left for Perth and ceased working and set out for applied for a position with the From a very young age, Percy England on the S.S. Oruba. This Western Australian Government. On spent hours drawing and the virtually put an end to an already 1 March 1897 he commenced Grainger Museum Collection moribund marriage and kept him working as Chief Architect in the includes hundreds of examples of permanently separated from his child. Western Australian Public Works sophisticated juvenilia. In 1890, Grainger visited family members Department on a salary of £600 per

42 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 John H. Grainger, S.S. Oruba leaving Plymouth for Australia, Nov 12, 1890, 1891, watercolour on paper, 16.0 x 28.0 cm. Grainger Museum Collection, University of Melbourne.

annum—a position that was to bring Guildford, East Fremantle and space above, and was ‘slightly Indian stability back into his life. Boulder, the Albany Quarantine in feeling’.17 Grainger’s role was to design Station and an asylum at Whitby. During his time with the Public public buildings or to sign off on the Grainger had little time for Works Department he was engaged work of other architects in his private commissions in his new role, in two projects that gave him department. The mining boom meant yet in 1898 he was persuaded to significant kudos and, he claimed, that substantial building activity was design a large commercial building professional satisfaction. The first, being undertaken—particularly in for a Mr Davies in Colombo, Ceylon started in 1897, was extensions to regional areas. Buildings possessing (now Sri Lanka). Called the Western Australia’s Government Grainger’s imprimatur included the Australian Building, the design was a House which included the design of a Warden’s Court in Coolgardie, public two-storey arcaded structure, housing new ballroom which featured rolling buildings in Kalgoorlie, post offices at ten shops at street level with office Romanesque arches. Percy Grainger

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 43 visited Perth in 1904 during a concert resigned his post as Government secure significant projects. Its tour and wrote to his mother that he Architect due to ill health. He commissions included the State saw the ballroom and that it was of suffered severe cramps in his fingers, Savings Bank and Collins House ‘outerordinary [sic] beauty … pure making drawing and writing difficult. (both now demolished). effect in great sheets of white and red Grainger and Winifred Falconer set Grainger became increasingly brown. (jarrah)’.18 off for an extended journey to Europe troubled by rheumatic symptoms and The second project, which also where Falconer writes he made a his health deteriorated dramatically had a considerable impact on his son, detailed study of the architecture of by the outbreak of World War 1. His was his designs for the Western Spain, Italy, France and Belgium and last building design was for an Australian court at the Paris visited many important European extension to Coombe Cottage, Nellie International Exhibition of 1900. public galleries. The couple also Melba’s house at Coldstream in Amply showcasing the riches of visited Harrogate in England where country Victoria. Melba’s father Western Australia’s natural resources Grainger sought ‘the cure’ for his David Mitchell was the building and designed to highlight native ailments in the town’s sulphurous contractor for a number of Grainger’s timbers, it led to Grainger becoming baths. Melbourne projects and the two men a member of the Société Centrale des Again the experience of travel were lifelong friends. Architectes Français. This is the only seemed to restore Grainger’s health By 1915 Grainger was an invalid professional body of which Grainger and energy. He moved with Falconer and was suffering the last stages of was known to be a member during his back to Melbourne where he entered tertiary syphilis, while his companion working life. into partnership with Phillip Winifred Falconer nursed him. Back in Perth at the end of 1901 Kennedy and John Little. Grainger, Entirely crippled and barely able to Grainger was responsible for lavish Kennedy and Little practised as hold cigarettes, to which he was street decorations to mark the visit of architects and civil engineers and had highly addicted, he spent many hours the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall an office at 123 Queen Street in pumping a player piano for and York for Federation celebrations. central Melbourne.19 entertainment. His son, Percy, wired During this period his health began This last period of his professional him £30 a month from New York as to fluctuate. In 1903 he took three life began with a quite prestigious neither he nor Falconer had any months’ leave of absence to seek the success. Shortly after his arrival in income. He died on 13 April 1917 at curative powers of natural hot baths Melbourne he won first prize in a 71 Stevenson Street, Kew. at Rotorua in New Zealand. He was competition to design a northern Grainger died a pauper and was experiencing symptoms he referred to wing to Melbourne’s Town Hall. His buried in an unmarked grave at as rheumatism. firm was also responsible for the Melbourne’s Box Hill Cemetery. It In 1905 he wrote of being design of St Michael’s Catholic wasn’t until the 1930s that Percy engaged in music again, helping to Church in North Melbourne. By Grainger became interested in his organise the Perth Orchestral Society 1910 the firm was reduced to father’s story, coinciding with Percy’s in his spare time. In the same year he Grainger and Little but continued to development of his autobiographical

44 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 museum at the University of Notes 13 John H. Grainger, letter to his father [ John Grainger], 14 January 1890, GMC. Melbourne. He began to correspond 1 Winifred Falconer, ‘The life and works of John 14 Bird, Percy Grainger, p. 8. with his father’s surviving friends and H. Grainger, architect and civil engineer’, 15 Percy Grainger, ‘John H. Grainger’, p. 15. colleagues, asking for recollections of unpublished manuscript, c.1934, Grainger 16 John H. Grainger, letter to his father, 14 January 1890. John Grainger to be written down— Museum Collection (GMC), p. 1. 2 Percy Grainger, ‘John H. Grainger’, Museum 17 John H. Grainger, letter to Mr Davies, the manuscripts upon which much of Legend, 15 March 1956, published in 19 September 1998, GMC. this essay is based. He also negotiated Malcolm Gillies, David Pear and Mark Carroll 18 Percy Grainger, letter to Rose Grainger, 16 January 1904, in Kay Dreyfus (ed.), The the donation to the Grainger (eds), Self-portrait of Percy Grainger, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 15. farthest north of humanness: Letters of Percy Museum of the Amy Black 3 Grainger met Winifred Falconer in Adelaide Grainger 1901–14, South Melbourne: correspondence. in 1895. Macmillan, 1985, p. 34. 19 Pitt Morison, ‘John Harry Grainger, architect Grainger’s name lived on after his 4 Falconer, ‘The life and works of John H. Grainger’, p. 1. and civil engineer’, p. 9. death in the name of his architectural 5 Herman Schrader, ‘Reminiscences of J.H. practice. Grainger and Little became Grainger and the Adelaide String Quartet’, Grainger, Little and Barlow and unpublished manuscript, n.d., GMC, p. 8. 6 Falconer, ‘The life and works of John H. finally Grainger, Little, Barlow and Grainger’, p. 1. Hawkins—the latter existed until 7 John Bird, Percy Grainger, 3rd edition, Sydney: 1924. Posthumous use of his name is Currency Press, 1999, p. 4. 8 Percy Grainger, ‘My father in my childhood’, perhaps an indication of how this 12 May 1954, from ‘Grainger’s anecdotes’, highly accomplished architect and typescript and manuscript, 1949–1954, in engineer was viewed by his Gillies, Pear and Carroll (eds), Self-portrait of Percy Grainger, p. 25. professional fraternity. 9 Amy Chalk, ‘John Grainger’, unpublished manuscript, 1934, GMC, p. 1. Brian Allison is Curator of Exhibitions and 10 Schrader, ‘Reminiscences of J.H. Grainger and Public Programs at the Grainger Museum at the the Adelaide String Quartet’, p. 8 University of Melbourne. He has held the position 11 Margaret Pitt Morison, ‘John Harry Grainger, of Director of the Horsham Regional Art Gallery architect and civil engineer’, unpublished and curatorial roles with the Port Arthur Historic manuscript, n.d., GMC, p. 1. Site and Museum Victoria’s Immigration Museum. 12 Grainger, ‘My father in my childhood’, p. 25.

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 45 Who was Kimura Kiyoko? Michelle Hall

In Japan during World War 2, people online second-hand bookstore in war, women were required to take would often wear a boku zukin—an Japan for materials relating to air apart their kimonos and remake them air raid hood. It was a padded cotton raids, and among the pamphlets and into trousers, which are easier to work hood, usually hand-sewn from an old books (and even a gas mask, which we in.3 kimono, with a flap over the lower also purchased) was the air raid hood Dr Schencking’s work began after face and shoulders. Although padded (pictured left). his book on the Japanese navy was cotton cannot be said to protect the On the inside front right flap is a completed.4 He began work on World head from much, often the hoods small patch of white cotton fabric on War 2 and the 1923 Kanto were soaked in water and worn to which the owner’s name, age, address earthquake,5 following his research prevent hair or clothing from and blood group are brush-written in interests in disaster management. catching alight from falling embers or ink: This has resulted in the East Asian sparks during air raids. Collection’s acquisition of many items One such hood has found its way Osaka City, Nishinari Ward, from the earthquake and its aftermath into the Japanese Rare and Historical Tengajaya, and about the rebuilding of Tokyo in Collection in the East Asian Amami South Town Association, the inter-war years (followed by the Collection, located in the Baillieu Group 14. destruction of Tokyo during World Library at the University of Kimura Kiyoko, 36 years old. War 2). Melbourne. Dr Charles Schencking, Blood group B. Some other items acquired are lecturer in Japanese history at the special ‘earthquake editions’ of Asia Institute, was searching an Who was Kiyoko,1 and what magazines and newspapers, happened to her? Contact with the collections of photographs, official Osaka City Offices demonstrated that histories of the time, and a series of according to Japanese law, non-family books of stories written by children members may not access a person’s who survived the earthquake. These family register, or koseki.2 Besides, in were submitted to the Education the tumult and confusion of the war, Department in Tokyo as part of a who knows what might have become commemorative event the year of Kiyoko; perhaps she was lost following the earthquake. Written by forever. Or perhaps she lived to a ripe primary school students in years one old age, and her air raid hood ended to six, they are a poignant record of up for sale after she had passed away. the disaster as seen by young eyes. The air raid hood shows us a side Another special item is the gas mask of the war in Japan that is rarely mentioned earlier. It was also seen—the people taking used acquired from a second-hand clothing to manufacture safety bookseller, and is still in the original equipment for themselves. During the cardboard cylinder. Made of rubber

46 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Far left: the hood covered the wearer from well below the shoulders to across most of the face. East Asian Library Rare and Historical Materials, University of Melbourne.

Left: the patch of white cotton fabric inside the hood, displaying Kimura Kiyoko’s details. East Asian Library Rare and Historical Materials, University of Melbourne.

and plastic and looking quite archival box to store the object. The East Asian Library services the information, research and teaching needs of the Asia Institute inadequate for its purpose, it was These unusual acquisitions—the (http://www.asiainstitute.unimelb.edu.au) as well manufactured in Showa 18 (1943).6 It air raid hood, gas masks, materials on as the Chinese studies and Japanese studies is very unlikely that it belonged to the earthquake, hand-written disciplines at the University of Melbourne. The East Asian Library is a member of Asian Libraries Kimura Kiyoko, however much that letters—are an example of the Library in Melbourne (http://alim.monash.org). prospect may appeal. acquiring items in response to the The Library also services the information needs of After acquisition, the hood was needs of researchers. This is the the wider community and therefore members of the public are welcome to use its resources and restored by Ms Thea Peacock, textiles principal role of academic collections facilities. The collection is staffed 8.30 a.m. to conservator at the University’s Centre in action: to support teaching and 5.00 p.m. weekdays, but the general collection may for Cultural Materials Conservation research, with whatever can be be browsed at any time the Baillieu Library is open. Rare and Historical Materials are available (CCMC). Although the hood was obtained, and these primary sources upon request. The East Asian Library is located quite faded, dusty and creased, Thea are an essential part of research. And on the 3rd floor of the Baillieu Library. decided to stabilise the hood rather while an item might be acquired for a http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/collections/asian than attempt to restore it fully. The particular research project, in future hood, therefore, while being able to years it might be the source of be used as an object for research, also information for something very Notes retains intact the integrity and different. An air raid hood acquired evidence of its long existence. for research on Japan during World 1 Japanese names in this paper are written in the Conservation was funded from an War 2 might also be of interest to Japanese form, with family name followed by given name. The character used to write agreement between the CCMC and scholars of textiles, clothing design ‘Kiyoko’ could also conceivably be pronounced the University. and construction, or gender studies. ‘Seiko’ or ‘Sumiko’, but ‘Kiyoko’ is more While the idea of steam-cleaning I still do not know who Kimura common. 2 Osaka City Municipal Offices (Osaka-shi the hood was first considered, Thea Kiyoko is, and we may never find out. Shiminkyoku), email to Michelle Hall, 11 May decided against it as the textile was But the small part of our collection 2007. fairly soiled, and any excess moisture which used to belong to her will 3 Mikio Kanda (ed.), Widows of Hiroshima: The life stories of nineteen peasant wives, translated may have caused staining. Some of continue to help us understand many by Taeko Midorikawa, New York: St Martin’s the creases were due to the way the aspects of Japanese life. Press, 1989. hood was sewn together, and others 4 J. Charles Schencking, Making waves: Politics, propaganda, and the emergence of the Imperial were quite deeply set in the padding, Japanese Navy, 1868–1922, Stanford: Stanford so Thea did not recommend crease University Press, 2005. removal in this case. 5 The Great Kanto Earthquake (Kanto Michelle Hall is the Japanese Studies Librarian in Daishinsai) occurred on 1 September 1923 at Finally, she suggested a padded the East Asian Collection, Baillieu Library. After two minutes to midday. Most of the area insert cut to the shape and size of the first living in Japan as a high school exchange around Tokyo (the Kanto plain) was destroyed. hood to support the object internally student, she has been involved in studying and 6 Japanese dates are often given by the year of teaching Japanese and other Japan-related work the current emperor’s reign. The Emperor and prevent any further creasing ever since. Her other interests include the history Showa (Hirohito) reigned from 1926 to 1989, during storage. Thea also made an of Japanese diet (food) and Japanese textiles. thus we can render Showa 18 as 1943.

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 47 Financial support for the collections in 2006 and 2007 Warren Bebbington

Since adopting its Cultural policy In choosing how to allocate their very generous grant from the statement last year, the University has donations to the 2006 University Miegunyah Trust. It is most fitting been taking steps to address a range Appeal, many alumni, staff, and other that a fund established under the of conservation and cataloguing supporters selected ‘Library and bequest of a benefactor who was also issues across its cultural collections. In cultural collections’. Their a discerning collector, and ultimately 2006 the University, through a contributions were combined with a a generous donor, of rare books, competitive grants scheme, funded a grant from the University’s Cultural prints, paintings, archival material number of projects to benefit the and Community Relations Advisory and decorative arts, Sir Russell cultural collections. The successful Group to support a wide range of Grimwade (and his wife Lady projects included display upgrades for projects in the areas of display Grimwade), should be of such benefit the Classics and Archaeology enhancement, online access and to the care of the University’s Collection in the Ian Potter Museum preservation. Examples include the collections. Projects funded in this of Art, the Surveying and Geomatic purchase of some new display cases first stage include cataloguing of Engineering Collection, the Medical for the Physics Museum; a new historic herbarium specimens, rare History Museum, the Henry Forman database and online collection maps, East Asian books and Atkinson Dental Museum and the interface for the Henry Forman manuscripts, and early earth sciences Physics Museum. Preservation work Atkinson Dental Museum; texts; digitisation of the cassette included rehousing herbarium type preservation measures for the Faculty recordings of the lectures of Frank specimens, historic concert programs, of Music’s two Indonesian gamelan Knopfelmacher; and the conservation orchestral scores, architectural theses, orchestras and the historic technical of physics artefacts, historic dental and rare maps. Drawings created by drawings in the A.G.M. Michell drawings, prints, and Australiana students in the University’s Engineering Collection; digital including books from the Sir Russell architectural atelier from the 1920s to photography of artefacts in the and Lady (Mab) Grimwade collection 1940s were humidified, flattened and Medical History Museum; and other and the Sophie Ducker collection. In rehoused. Many prints in the Baillieu worthwhile projects which will be Spring of 2008 a special university- Library were photographed and the discussed in greater detail in the next wide Cultural Treasures event will be images made available online, as was issue of University of Melbourne held to celebrate the collections and the catalogue of the Surveying and Collections. highlight the benefits received from Geomatic Engineering Collection. On an even larger scale, the the support of the Miegunyah Trust. In 2007, the University’s cultural University’s Cultural Collections Other collections projects funded collections have benefitted further, Committee has initiated a Collections by the Miegunyah Trust in 2007 as a result of generous financial Renewal Project which will require included the commissioning of a new support from the 2006 University substantial funding over a number of integrated archival management and Appeal, the University’s Cultural and years, to address significant backlogs access system for the University of Community Relations Advisory in cataloguing and conservation. The Melbourne Archives, continuing Group, and the Miegunyah Trust. first stage was supported in 2007 by a support for the conservation-standard

48 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Russell Grimwade (1879–1955) at his office in Flinders Lane, 8 October 1931, photographic print, 10.0 x 7.0 cm (detail). UMA/I/3302, University of Melbourne Archives.

Grimwade’s art collection is now in the Ian Potter Museum of Art, his rare books in Baillieu Library Special Collections, and his papers at the University of Melbourne Archives. Always a generous philanthropist, during his lifetime Grimwade gave £50,000 towards the building of the Russell Grimwade School of Biochemistry. Sir Russell and Lady (Mab) Grimwade’s bequests continue to support the School of Biochemistry, and enabled the establishment of the Miegunyah Trust and the Miegunyah imprint at Melbourne University Publishing.

remounting of the Baillieu Library the re-opening of the Grainger Curator of the Classics and Print Collection, and the second Museum. Archaeology Collection. phase of a three-year project to An anonymous donor is funding All in all, the interest shown in digitise the Russell and Mab the creation of a video that will our cultural collections by an array of Grimwade Collection at the Ian interpret the Savory and Moore foundations and individuals has been Potter Museum of Art. pharmacy display in the Medical very pleasing for everyone involved. A substantial grant from the History Museum, demonstrating in It has helped to make the collections Leslie Moira Henderson Bequest will particular the techniques used for much more widely accessible and enable the digital photography of compounding medicines before the usable, for our students, our staff, and many artworks from the Baillieu advent of pharmaceutical mass the public. My sincere thanks to our Library Print Collection and the production. This same donor made supporters on behalf of us all. University of Melbourne Art possible the acquisition from London Professor Warren Bebbington is Pro Vice- Collection (Ian Potter Museum of and installation of the historic Chancellor, University Relations, and Chair of the Art). pharmacy in the early 1970s. Two Cultural Collections Committee. He has been The Baillieu family has donated dental alumni, Dr Jeremy Graham Ormond Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Music since 1991. funds to arrange and describe the and Dr John Brownbill, made collections of University leaders donations to the Henry Forman (chancellors, deputy chancellors, vice- Atkinson Dental Museum. chancellors and deputy An anonymous donor has pledged vice-chancellors) held in the $1 million over the next three years to University of Melbourne Archives. building up the collection of the The Sidney Myer Fund donated Classics and Archaeology Library. $20,000 to Dr Derham Groves, The donor is a graduate of the Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of University who holds a high regard Architecture, Building and Planning, for Melbourne’s standards and staff for the conservation of architectural dedication and has a great passion for drawings by A.W. Purnell (held in Classics. Exhibitions from the the University of Melbourne Classics and Archaeology Collection, Archives) and the creation of a displayed at the Ian Potter Museum Readers wishing to support the University’s website about Purnell, his life and of Art, have benefitted from the cultural collections can visit work. Rio Tinto continues to support generosity of Dr Geoffrey http://www.unimelb.edu.au/alumni/giving or contact: the University of Melbourne Archives Mottershead and Ms Hillary Advancement Office through the position of the Rio Tinto Mottershead, and of Mr Michael Level 3, 45 Barry Street Business Archivist. The Williamson Bartlett. The Chancellor, Mr Ian The University of Melbourne Victoria 3010 Australia Foundation has provided a generous Renard, has also supported the tel: 8344 1751, fax: 9348 0013 grant towards programs supporting activities of the R.E. Ross Trust email: [email protected]

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 49 Collections news from across the University

Forthcoming exhibition: Chemistry collection returns Joe Burke’s legacy: Art history’s to the University history in Melbourne The University recently ‘repatriated’ In January 2008 the University of one of its collections, which had been Melbourne will host the 32nd placed on loan in 1980 with the Congress of the International Science Museum of Victoria Committee of Art History: (subsequently subsumed into Crossing cultures: Conflict, migration, Museum Victoria). This was a wise convergence. This major event is move at that time, as the collection expected to attract over 1,000 was well cared for by the Museum, VCA Art Collection delegates from 68 countries, with during a period in which the School keynote speakers including the of Chemistry did not have the space On 1 January 2007 the Victorian directors of Amsterdam’s or resources to manage this College of the Arts was fully Rijksmuseum, the J. Paul Getty historically significant material. incorporated as a faculty of the Museum in Los Angeles and the The School of Chemistry University of Melbourne. The VCA British Museum in London. Collection comprises over 300 items Art Collection therefore joins the To coincide with the conference, used for chemistry teaching and University’s 32 other Cultural an exhibition on art history teaching research at the University of Collections. The collection recently and research at the University of Melbourne from about the 1850s to made an exciting new acquisition: Melbourne will be staged in the the 1960s. It includes glassware, Archive, by Penelope Davis. Davis Baillieu Library. To be curated by measuring and experimental makes moulds and casts of objects in PhD student Ben Thomas, the apparatus, burners, bottles of clear resin and then places these exhibition will draw upon the chemicals, balances, catalogues and moulds on photographic paper, papers of seminal figures such as lecture notes. Many items are of exposing them to coloured light to Joseph Burke (the first Herald historical significance due to their produce a highly saturated, colour Professor of Fine Arts), Ursula Hoff, association with key figures in the photogram. Archive was acquired Margaret Manion, Franz Philipp, history of science in Australia such as through the generosity of the ANZ Ludwig Hirschfeld-Mack and Frederick McCoy, Henry Joseph Visual Arts Fellowship Award 2007. Leonhard Adam, all held at the Grayson, Ernst Johannes Hartung, This $5,000 award is open annually University of Melbourne Archives, David Orme Masson and John to all final year VCA art postgraduate as well as works from the University MacAdam. students. Davis joins past recipients Art Collection, including the Since its return to the University and fellow artists, Chris Barry, Leonhard Adam Collection of in 2007 the collection has been in the Stephen Haley, Viveka Marksjo and International Indigenous Culture. care of the University of Melbourne David Ralph. Archives.

50 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 Opposite: Penelope Davis, Archive, 2007, lightjet print, 120.0 x 150.0 cm. VCA Art Collection, purchased through the ANZ Visual Arts Fellowship Award 2007. © Penelope Davis 2007.

Below: Grainger Museum, construction of second stage, 2 November 1938, sepia-toned silver gelatin print, 8.5 x 14.5 cm. Grainger Museum Collection, University of Melbourne.

Grainger Museum redevelopment

The University has allocated $1.9 million to the conservation and refurbishing of the Grainger Museum building, which has been closed to the public since late 2003. Heritage architects Lovell Chen will supervise the conservation and repair works. Throughout the closure, the collection has been accessible to researchers through the Cultural Collections Reading Room in the Baillieu Library. On 7 December 2007 a symposium, organised by the Faculty of Music to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Grainger’s birth, will be held at the Ian Potter Museum of Art. The symposium will also Australian experts will speak on the coincide with the Potter’s season of conservation and handling of these the Facing Percy Grainger exhibition important texts. The University’s own (25 October 2007–3 February 2008) significant collection of Middle that made its debut in 2006 at the Eastern manuscripts (from Special National Library of Australia in Collections in the Baillieu Library) Canberra. will be highlighted and masterclasses and workshops are also part of the Care and conservation of program. The first day’s program is Middle Eastern manuscripts designed to be of general interest, and is suitable for secondary school From 26 to 30 November 2007, the students. To register interest, please University’s Centre for Cultural contact Associate Professor Robyn Materials Conservation will host a Sloggett, Director, Centre for symposium on the care and Cultural Materials Conservation, conservation of Middle Eastern University of Melbourne, email manuscripts. International and [email protected]

University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 1, November 2007 51