Summary
Glass plate negative portrait of Jean and Edythe Ellison Havie in a garden with a seated woman. Ellison, as she was commonly known, is probably between the ages of 16 and 20 years and stands behind the other two girls. Jean is probably between the ages of 14 and 18 years and is seated on the ground.
It is thought that this photograph was taken by their father, studio photographer, Robert William Harvie. Harvie regularly used his daughters as subjects for his photographs, a large number of which are taken in gardens, presumably at the family's various residential addresses.
Robert Harvie was a professional photographer who, with his business partner Albert Sutcliffe, owned a photography studio named Harvie & Sutcliffe between 1898 and 1908, located in the Cromwell Buildings, 366a Bourke Street, corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Streets, Melbourne.
The Harvie Collection includes examples of Robert Harvie's private and professional photographic practice. A number of the photographs depict the family life of four generations of the Harvie family, including the Lang family.
The Harvie and Lang families had social significance in Melbourne through their active involvement in early Australian vegetarian movements, early moving film, photography and architecture, as well as various other cultural societies and clubs in Melbourne.
Description of Content
Three women in backyard with a shed, tree and wooden fence behind them. One woman is dressed in a white shirt and dark skirt, and stands behind the other women with her hands on an unknown woman's shoulders. This woman is wearing all white and seated in a chair with her right arm around the third woman, seated on the ground, also dressed in all white.
Physical Description
Glass plate negative, black and white, portrait format.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
Images & Image Making, Clothing & Textiles, Home & Community
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Place & Date Depicted
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1918 - 1922
Originally the image was assigned an estimated date range circa 1920s-1940s, however, further research into the relative ages of Ellison and Jean indicates a date range circa 1918 - 1922, assuming this photograph was taken by their father, Robert Harvie, before his death in 1922. Ellison was born in 1902 and it is estimated that in this image she is probably between the ages of 16 and 20 years. Jean was born in 1904 and it is estimated that in this image she is probably between the ages of 14 and 18 years, For the dates during which it is thought this photograph was taken, the family was living at 27 Chanack Street, East Malvern, however it is unclear at which address this photograph was taken. -
Person Depicted
Miss Jean W. Harvie, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1917 - 1922
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Person Depicted
Miss Edythe Ellison Harvie, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1917 - 1922
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Creator (Possible)
Mr Robert W. Harvie, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1918 - 1922
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Individuals Identified
(standing); Harvie, Edythe Ellison; (seated); unknown; (foreground):; Harvie, Jean
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Format
Glass Negative, Black & White
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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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Image Dimensions - Negative/s
80 mm (Width), 140 mm (Height)
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Keywords