Summary
Postcard featuring colour image of an Aboriginal man with a boomerang and includes a handwritten message.
It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 1904 to 16 April 1907, all addressed to James Baird Scott and his family living in Paisley, Scotland. Fifty three of the cards are sent from Victoria, Australia, by Marion Flinn and her family and feature Melbourne landmarks and suburbs, scenes from Victoria and New South Wales. Fourteen postcards are sent from various international locations including South Africa, Nigeria, India, Singapore and western Europe apparently by extended members of James Baird's family either holidaying or working.
Physical Description
Colour postcard, with image of an Aboriginal man holding a boomerang. Hand writing around the image. Reverse side with hand written address and date stamp. Stamps were removed.
Significance
This collection of early 20th century postcards provides an invaluable pictorial record of urban and rural landscapes in Melbourne,Victoria and New South Wales. It also captures the social and political attitudes and observations of one Melbourne family, relating to domestic and social life, literature, politics, and Australian culture. Themes such as nationalism, the postiion of women and prejudices surrounding Aboriginal Australians, global shipping and communication are also referenced by both the visual iconography and the commentary on the postcards.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
Home & Community, Leisure, Information & Communication, Images & Image Making, Public Life & Institutions
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Moreen Shields, Jun 2011
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Sender
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Addressed To
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Inscriptions
Printed: Australian Aborigine, with Boomerang. Handwritten text: Melbourne 16.4.07 'My Dear Anna, Here is a real Australian husband for you, but beware! if you offend him the slightest wee bit he will strike you with his boomerang or gidgi stick and most likely split your ear in two. the poor lubras have a very bad time. nearly all of them have their ears split and so scarred with blows. We see none in Melbourne. Indeed there are not many in Victoria, but they are not so scarce in other states. Still they are dying out as all native races do before the march of civilization. with kindest love to Mamma and Papa. from your Australian cousin who is not black Marion' Miss Anna Scott 12 Hillview Paisley Scotland
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
90 mm (Width), 140 mm (Height)
horizontal
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Keywords
Aboriginal Depictions, Aboriginal People, Correspondence, Postcards, Scottish Communities, Scottish Immigration
