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William Boyd Childhood Collection
Image: Locomotive - Royal Scot
Source: Museum Victoria
The William Boyd Childhood Collection includes most of the childhood possessions of William (Bill) Boyd.
Most of us have a few treasured mementoes from our childhood, but Bill Boyd had over 700 of them. His mother Lillian carefully preserved mementoes of his childhood in Maryborough, in central Victoria, in the late 1940s and 1950s. Bill suffered ill-health as a child, and his long hours in bed encouraged him to also become a collector.
The collection was passed onto Bill after his mother's death. He eventually donated it to the Museum of Childhood at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. When the Museum of Childhood closed it was transferred to Museum Victoria.
Encompassing toys, books, clothing and other items, the William Boyd Childhood Collection is rare in its comprehensiveness: even ephemera such as the back of a Cornflakes box is included. The Collection demonstrates a range of prominent themes in the lives of postwar Victorian children, such as the ability to 'make do' under austere circumstances; the shift in toy manufacture towards plastic materials and mass production; the continuing cultural influence of Britain; the increasing embrace of American popular culture; the prominence of gender roles; and the popularity of transport and war themed toys for boys.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 31 - 40) 216 items
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Bib - Lace Trim, White Cotton, circa 1950s
White cotton bib. Used and owned by Bill Boyd in the 1950s. The William Boyd Childhood Collection includes most of the childhood possessions of William (Bill) Boyd, who was born in 1947 ...
From: Churchlands, Australia Images: 1 -
Bib - Pluto, Terry Towelling, circa 1950s
Terry towelling bib with image of Pluto. Used and owned by Bill Boyd in the 1950s. The William Boyd Childhood Collection includes most of the childhood possessions of William (Bill) Boy ...
From: Churchlands, Australia Images: 1 -
Bicycle Clips, circa 1950s
Pair of metal bicycle clips. Used and owned by Bill Boyd in the 1950s. The William Boyd Childhood Collection includes most of the childhood possessions of William (Bill) Boyd, who was b ...
From: Churchlands, Australia Images: 1 -
Bonnet - Cream, circa 1950s
Cream knitted bonnet. Used and owned by Bill Boyd in the 1950s. The William Boyd Childhood Collection includes most of the childhood possessions of William (Bill) Boyd, who was born in ...
From: Churchlands, Australia Images: 1 -
Bonnet - Cream, circa 1950s
Cream knitted bonnet. Used and owned by Bill Boyd in the 1950s. The William Boyd Childhood Collection includes most of the childhood possessions of William (Bill) Boyd, who was born in ...
From: Churchlands, Australia Images: 1 -
Bonnet - Layette, Cream, circa 1950s
Used and owned by Bill Boyd in the 1950s. The William Boyd Childhood Collection includes most of the childhood possessions of William (Bill) Boyd, who was born in 1947 and raised in the ...
From: Churchlands, Australia Images: 1 -
Bonnet - Layette, Cream, circa 1950s
Cream layette bonnet. Used and owned by Bill Boyd in the 1950s. The William Boyd Childhood Collection includes most of the childhood possessions of William (Bill) Boyd, who was born in ...
From: Churchlands, Australia Images: 1 -
Bootie - Cream, circa 1947
Cream bootie. Used and owned by Bill Boyd in the 1950s. The William Boyd Childhood Collection includes most of the childhood possessions of William (Bill) Boyd, who was born in 1947 and ...
From: Churchlands, Australia Images: 3 -
No Image Available
Bootie - Cream & Pink, Knitted
Pair of cream and pink knitted booties. Used and owned by Bill Boyd in the 1950s. The William Boyd Childhood Collection includes most of the childhood possessions of William (Bill) Boyd ...
From: Churchlands, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Bootie - Pink, Knitted
Pair of pink knitted booties. Used and owned by Bill Boyd in the 1950s. The William Boyd Childhood Collection includes most of the childhood possessions of William (Bill) Boyd, who was ...
From: Churchlands, Australia Images: 0
