Summary

Paper envelope containing paper letter sent to James Saunders from the Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia in relation to the retired members' association dated January 7th 1974. The letter is dated the year that its receipient, James Saunders, died.

Part of a collection of objects, documents and photographs from the Saunders family home in Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne. Elizabeth Jane Taylor Saunders (nee Elliott) (1894-1971) and James (Jimmy) Farr Saunders (1888-1974) bought the house in 1928, financed by the State Savings Bank of Victoria. James was a stevedore, working on the Melbourne docks, notably Station Pier, and was actively involved in the Port Phillip Stevedores Association and later the Waterside Workers' Federation. Elizabeth Jane was a skilled seamstress, making clothing for her family, mending, creating soft furnishings such as cushions and blankets, and doing decorative needlework. They had five children, of whom four survived to adulthood. After Elizabeth and James passed away their daughter Elizabeth Euphemia, a dental nurse and later language teacher, became the sole occupant of the house, carefully preserving its contents as decades passed. Her niece proposed the donation of the household contents to Museum Victoria, a rare and significant record of 20th century family life in Melbourne.

Physical Description

Rectangular, off white paper envelope containing a single sheet of folded, off white paper. Part 1-Envelope: Rectangular off white paper envelope featuring black printed text and red ink stamps on upper right corner. Bottom centre is a small logo with Australian outline and the words 'UNION / LABEL / THE / PRINTING / TRADES'. Envelope is torn along upper edge. Part 2- Letter: Single rectangular sheet of off white paper. Features extensive black printed text. Centre top is a printed logo with 'WWFA' surrounded by black printed text: 'WATERSIDE WORKERS FED OF AUSTRALIA' in a circle. Paper has been folded three times.

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