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Childhood & Youth Collection
Image: Knucklebones (1950s)
Source: Museum Victoria
Childhood is common to all humans, but with all the individuality that this brings. The Childhood and Youth Collection contains objects made by children, which reflect their world views, and collections about children and childhood. It also encompasses photographs, documents and audiovisual material, as well as recording material culture and intangibles such as play lore, experiences and ideas.
The collection was begun in the 1980s, and in 2009 comprised around 2237 objects, including games, dolls, toys, school material, clothing and costumes, domestic items, and information on child-related organisations and issues.
A significant component of the collection is the Australian Children's Folklore Collection (ACFC), acquired in 1999. This comprises over 10,000 card files listing children's games, rhymes, riddles, jokes and superstitions, from the 1940s to the present. The collection contains 500 photographs; extensive video and audio collection; over 300 play artefacts; research files and fieldwork files.
The ACFC was placed on the UNESCO Australian Memory of the World Register in 2004, which recognises collections of long-term and wide-ranging international significance.
Other significant items:
- The Le Forgeron Marionette Theatre collection - a rare surviving example of the travelling marionette/puppet troupes that regularly toured throughout Australia until the 1960s.
- Sterne Doll Company Collection, including Gerry Gee puppet and paraphernalia, and doll-making materials and equipment.
- The Panaroos Playthings Doll and Toy Museum Collection, featuring items made by Australian companies during the 1930s-1950s.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 41 - 50) 108 items
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Catalogue - Cycle Components Manufacturing Company, 'Tricycles and Wheel Toys', circa 1950
Catalogue for Children's Tricycles and Wheel Toys, issued by the Cycle Components Manufacturing Company (C.C.M.C.), circa 1950.
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Certificate - Merit, Elsternwick Ladies' Physical Culture Guild, 1922
Certificate of merit awarded by the Elsternwick Ladies' Physical Culture Guild to Miss Josie Ryan for General Proficiency in Physical Culture, for the 1922 season. Lithographic print b ...
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Programme - Ladies' Night Dance Program, RHMS Ellinis, Chandris Lines, circa 1960s-1970s
Programme for a Ladies' Dance Night on the Chandris Line ship the RHMS Ellinis, circa 1960s-1970s. The Ellinis was built in 1931 as the Lurline for the US Matson Line, she was used for ...
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Letter - My Story of Phar Lap, Sam Paynor, 1999
One of 26 letters hand written by the Year 3F students at Henschke Primary School, Wagga Wagga, NSW in 1999. Sent to the Museum in 1999 by the class's teacher, who thought the Museum w ...
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Letter - My Story of Phar Lap, Bobby Tye, 1999
One of 26 letters hand written by the Year 3F students at Henschke Primary School, Wagga Wagga, NSW in 1999. Sent to the Museum in 1999 by the class's teacher, who thought the Museum w ...
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Greeting Card - Jonathon, Bulleen Heights School, to Alfred Hospital Burns Unit, 2009
Sympathy card created by Jonathon, a student at Bulleen Heights School, for patients in the Burns Unit of the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne in the days following Black Saturday in Februa ...
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Greeting Card - Kristian, Bulleen Heights School, to Alfred Hospital Burns Unit, Blue with ...
Sympathy card created by Kristian, a student at Bulleen Heights School, for patients in the Burns Unit of the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne in the days following Black Saturday in Februa ...
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Folder - `Phar Lap: The Wonder Horse', Henschke Primary School, Wagga Wagga, 1999
Cardboard folder hand made and decorated by the Year 3F students at Henschke Primary School, Wagga Wagga, NSW in 1999. Sent to the Museum in 1999 by the class's teacher, who thought th ...
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Certificate - Young Workers' Patriotic Guild, Framed, circa 1917
Young Workers' Patriotic Guild certificate, framed. Made by Harold Herbert, during or before 1917, in the course of World War I. The certificate was awarded to Bobbie Burns a pupil of K ...
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Advertisement - 'Two Rooms Available...Must Like Cats', circa 1991-1992
Circular white leaflet advertising two rooms available in 'a house with a large yard' in North Fitzroy-East Brunswick, with the proviso 'Must Like CATS'. Symbols indicate that either ga ...
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