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Lantern Slide - Map No: 2 Guam, 'Key of the Western Pacific', circa 1920 Reg. No: SH 881019

Summary:: Part of a collection of magic lantern slides relating to British naval history originating from the St John's Home for Boys. These slides were produced in Melbourne after the First World War with images from books and other sources. They are believed to have been used to illustrate lectures to the children in St John's Homes. Several of the slides are marked with the name 'Boreham'. This may indicate a link to Reverend Frank William Boreham (1871-1959), a noted Baptist writer and preacher who used lantern slides to illustrate talks in Melbourne and Tasmania however St John's was an Anglican institution.

Established as St John's Home for Boys in 1923, the home was located in Balwyn Road, Canterbury at 'Shrublands', a mansion formerly the property of investor & businessman John Hindson (1839-1919). His widow Alice Hindson (nee Henty) donated 'Shrublands' to the Anglican Church as a memorial to her husband and William, her late son, to be used as a home for "needy and destitute' boys on the condition it was named 'St John's'. It was officially opened on 22 November 1924 after extensive renovations to accomodate 30-40 boys, also paid for by Alice Hindson. There was a physical link with British naval history as Dame Nellie Melba donated a chapel lantern to St John's Home supposed to be one of those used by Admiral Lord Nelson in the cabin of his flagship HMS Victory. She also donated a cabin bell and wooden spars from HMS Victory. The latter were turned into candle holders.
Description:: Standard format black and white Lantern Slide with black binding tape.
Description Of Content:: Map of the central Pacific Ocean showing Guam, the Philippines and the Marshall and Caroline Islands. Possibly taken from a book the map illustrates the strategic significance of the island of Guam to the naval defence of the region. The Marshall & Caroline Islands were formerly German colonial possessions ceeded to Japan in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles to be adminstered under a League of Nations mandate and are so marked on this map. This move was strenuously opposed at Versailles by Australian prime minister W.M 'Billy' Hughes who regarded the Japanese occupation as a direct threat to Australia's security. At this time Guam was a United States territory.
Acquisition Information:: Donation from Miss Appleby - St John's Homes for Boys & Girls, 1988

Discipline:	History
Dimensions:	82.0 mm (Height), 83.0 mm (Width)

More information

Tagged with:	wars conflicts, lantern slides, community organisations services, children s homes, orphanages, maps, defences, world war i armistice 1918, pacific colonialism, pacific islands, phar lap, world war i 1914-1918
Themes this item is part of:	St John's Home for Boys & Girls, Canterbury, Victoria, Childhood & Youth Collection, Domestic & Community Life Collection, Public Life & Institutions Collection
Primary Classification:	MILITARY HISTORY
Secondary Classification:	Service
Tertiary Classification:	illustrations
Inscriptions:	Map No. 2/ GUAM: The Key of the Western Pacific
Format:	Lantern Slide: Black & White; Standard (3¼ in. x 3¼ in.)
Manufacturer:	Alexander Gunn & Sons, 1919-1920
Place & Date Used:	St John's Home for Boys and Girls, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1924-1940