Summary

Black and white photograph of three 'Gerry Gee Junior' Dolls in different outfits and a 'Geraldine' Doll.

This photograph relates to products and promotions of the L.J. Sterne Doll Company (1939-1971), a Melbourne doll and toy manufacturer founded by Austrian migrants Leo and Hilda Sterne.

Description of Content

A 'Gerry Gee Junior' footy fan doll in a St. Kilda football team supporters costume, featuring a football jumper and beanie in team colours, is displayed with three further dolls resting upon the platform on which he stands. The doll on the left is a 'Gerry Gee Junior' doll dressed in a check shirt and pants, with a card at his feet. This cardl reads 'THE NEW LOOK / ' GERRY GEE JUNIOR '. In the middle a 'Gerry Gee Junior' doll is dressed in pants, shirt, white bow tie and a dinner jacket with a small label reading 'Gerry Gee Junior'. He is identified by the card at his feet as 'THE FIRST AUSTRALIAN / ' GERRY GEE JUNIOR ' / SPECIAL'. To the right is 'Geraldine Gee' who wears a belted dress with a solid top half, and checked skirt. The card at her feet identifies her as 'GERRY'S SISTER / GERALDINE'.

Physical Description

Black and white photograph on paper.

Significance

This item is part of a growing collection of material relating to the migration and settlement experiences of Leo and Hilda Sterne who arrived in 1939. They immediately established a business that became one of the most successful doll and toy manufacturers in post-war Melbourne.

The L J Sterne Doll Company collection (1939-71) is significant as one of the few surviving collections related to an Australian toy and doll manufacturer, a once thriving industry in Australia. Only at the A. L Lindsay and Co. Archive at the Powerhouse Museum and the Jakas Toys Collection at Museum Victoria are comparable.

This collection of photographs, business and promotional documents, dolls, and toys enables the exploration of many historical and social themes including: local television and manufacturing industries; design and production innovation; marketing and merchandising; childhood; gender and cultural representations; leisure and sport; and key cultural and historical events.

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