Summary

Glass negative portrait of Mrs Alice Harvie and Edythe Ellison Harvie, commonly known as Ellison, a few months after Ellison's birth on the 18th May 1902. Also see MM 043422, for another image of Mrs Harvie and baby Ellison.

Mrs Harvie's husband and Ellison's father, Mr Robert William Harvie, was a professional photographer who, with his business partner Albert Sutcliffe, owned a photography studio named Harvie & Sutcliffe. Harvie & Sutcliffe operated between 1898 and 1908, and was located in the Cromwell Buildings, 366a Bourke Street, corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Streets, Melbourne. The misspelling of 'Harvey' in the inscription on this glass negative, however, indicates this photograph was not taken by Mr Harvie or the Harvie & Sutcliffe studio.

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

A young mother holding her baby resting in her arms and lap. The woman looks down lovingly at her baby dressed in a white gown, possibly a christening gown. The woman sits on a chair, the back of which can be seen on the right of the image. The woman is dressed in a long sleeved, lightly coloured gown with lacy frills around the shoulders and a high collar. Her hair is neatly done up in what appears to be a bun.

Physical Description

Glass plate negative, black and white, portrait format.

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