Item HT 59508 Matchbox & Matches - 'Redheads', Australia, 1971-1975

Summary

Matchbox and 47 safety matches, 'Redheads' made by W.A.Match Co. Australia, 1971-1975.
This object forms part of a small collection of items used in the collection management of the Entomology Collection at Museums Victoria during the twentieth century.

Physical Description

A small, blue cardboard box with a slip cover of blue card with a label on one face of white paper with text printed in black ink and a cartoon drawing of a woman's head in black ink with red hair. Carborundum strips of paper are affixed to the two narrow sides of the slip cover. The box contains 47 unlit wooden matches with red heads.

Significance

This collection of office, stationary and storage supplies from the Entomology Department of Museums Victoria captures the manual, paper based approach to collection management in the twentieth century. It includes all manner of labelling including inked stamps, specimen labels for transporting and exchange and the very small square 'National Museum of Victoria' labels which were adhered to all mounted specimens when the Natural Sciences were a distinct and seperate institution. Particularly interesting objects such at the First Aid book reveal the approach to collections hazards and OHS before either of those things became a focus of process. And a series of cigar boxes and medicine conatiners reveal the make-do approach to transporting collection specimens in the period before standarizard storage. Overall this small collection is a significant contribution to the history of the museum, documenting the very practical work behind the scences, caring for the collections.