Summary

Alternative Name(s): School Bag

Leather satchel, used by several members of a Melbourne family as a school bag. The first users were the three Wood sisters - Kathryn, Elizabeth and Christine - who attended Murumbeena State School, Melbourne in the 1940s and 1950s. The name 'C. Wood' still appears on the inside of the satchel. Later, in the 1970s, the satchel was used by Kathryn's sons. Their names are not marked on the inside, since school policy was that all bags should have an externally visible label, especially for the younger classes. The external label is no longer extant.

The donor's older sister first used a school bag that their father had used as a boy - probably one with two shoulder straps. It was later replaced by a larger, single-strap satchel, of which the family owned two.

The satchel was kept supple with regular polishing by their father or the girls themselves, using shoe polish or similar.

Donated to Museum Victoria with a collection of material reflecting the economic life of the donor's parents, who lived in suburban East Malvern, in south-east Melbourne.

Physical Description

Leather satchel, rectangular, with flap secured by two straps with buckles. Long leather shoulder strap with leather buckle. All straps have multiple piercings for length adjustment. Leather cracked overall, with loss of polish on sections of surface.

More Information