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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 1 - 10) 1036 items
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Lantern Slide - Grand Fleet, Battle of Jutland, circa 1924
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 Worl ...
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Artwork - 'CFA is the Best', Healesville Primary School, 2009
This artwork was created by Rory, a Grade 3/4 student from Healesville Primary School, as part of an art project that took place during the time of the 2009 Victorian bushfires. The art ...
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Artwork - 'Animal Rescue', Healesville Primary School, 2009
This artwork was created by Allyson, a Grade 6 student from Healesville Primary School, as part of an art project that took place during the time of the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. H ...
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Artwork - 'Embers Burning', Healesville Primary School, 2009
This artwork was created by Waularna, a Grade 5 student from Healesville Primary School, as part of an art project that took place during the time of the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. ...
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Artwork - 'Blackened', Healesville Primary School, 2009
This artwork was created by Paige, a Grade 6 student from Healesville Primary School, as part of an art project that took place during the time of the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. I ...
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Artwork - 'The Black Shadow', Healesville Primary School, 2009
This artwork was created by Grace, a Grade 6 student from Healesville Primary School, as part of an art project that took place during the time of the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. I ...
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Photograph - Travelling to Australia, MV Johan Van Oldenbarnevelt, 1957
Black and white photograph from an album containing a personal story of Julius Toth's immigration experience and a collection of 40 photo reproductions. Julius left Hungary late in 1956 ...
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Lantern Slides - 'Precious Pigs' Series, circa 1860-1900
Set of 12 lantern slides depicting a children's story titled 'Precious Pigs'. This set of lantern slides are part of the Francis Collection of pre-cinematic apparatus and ephemera, acq ...
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Lantern Slide - 'Precious Pigs', No.1, circa 1860-1900
Number 1 of a series of 12 lantern slides depicting a children's story titled 'Precious Pigs'. This set of lantern slides are part of the Francis Collection of pre-cinematic apparatus ...
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Lantern Slide - 'Precious Pigs', No.2, circa 1860-1900
Number 2 of a series of 12 lantern slides depicting a children's story titled 'Precious Pigs'. This set of lantern slides are part of the Francis Collection of pre-cinematic apparatus ...
Images: 1
