Item HT 19167 Satchel - Brown Leather, 1950s

Summary

Alternative name: School Bag

Part of an extensive collection of material documenting the life of William (Bill) Boyd, who grew up in central Victoria in the 1950s. He suffered from ill-health as a child, and Bill and his mother kept a remarkable number of items - including toys, clothing and books - reflecting the experiences of Bill's childhood.

Physical Description

Brown leather school satchel with single shoulder strap and metal buckle fastenings.

Significance

Encompassing toys, books, clothing and other items, the William Boyd Childhood Collection is rare in its comprehensiveness: even ephemera such as the back of a Cornflakes box are included. The Collection demonstrates a range of prominent themes in the lives of postwar Victorian children, such as the ability to 'make do' under austere circumstances; the shift in toy manufacture towards plastic materials and mass production; the continuing cultural influence of Britain; the increasing embrace of American popular culture; the prominence of gender roles; and the popularity of transport and war themed toys for boys.