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Sigalas Family Collection

Image: Movie Camera & Case - Bell & Howell

Source: Museum Victoria

The Sigalas family's immigration story is a rich narrative, told by over 80 objects, which relates to a number of themes in the social and immigration history of Melbourne. The curtain and collar represent the precious items brought by immigrants to Australia - in this case symbolising Lili's connections to Istanbul and the family left behind. The wedding dress is an evocative symbol of a key immigration motivation for many young European women - being brought out to Australia to marry men from similar cultural backgrounds, islands and villages. The 'flapper' dress represents the more affluent social life of some people in Melbourne during the 1920s, the kinds of functions people attended as well as a taste for French couture which could be obtained in select Melbourne stores. The documents represent both Lili's life before immigrating and after settlement.

The Sigalas family story explores migration as a continuous experience for some people: of shifting from country to country until finding the right place to settle; of the strong ties to homelands which draw some people back again and again; of chain migration whereby one family member (usually male) established himself before sending for the rest of the family; and of finding brides in home countries in order to establish families in the new.

Items per page: 10 50 (showing 31 - 40) 77 items

Postcard - Letho Sigalas to Lili Vrahamis, Cairo, 29 Aug 1921

Postcard from Letho Sigalas to his fiancé Lili Vrahamis. It was written on the 29th August, 1921, while Letho was travelling from Greece to Cairo, as he returned to Melbourne. Letho w ...

Images: 5
Passport - Issued to Mrs L. Sigalas, Commonwealth of Australia, 8 Aug 1977

Australian passport, issued by the Commonwealth of Australia, to Lili Sigalas in 1977 in Athens. Lili Sigalas (nee Vrahamis), born in 1904, migrated to Australia in 1922 to marry Letho ...

Images: 6
Newspaper - Farrago, 29 Mar 1951

Copy of the newspaper Farrago for the 29th of March 1951, pages 1 to 8. It has an article about Nicos Dimitracopoulos and his production of 'Antigone'. In 1951 Nicos Dimitracopoulos dir ...

From: Carlton, Australia Images: 8
Newspaper - Farrago, 4 Apr 1951

Copy of the newspaper Farrago for the 4th of April 1951, pages 1 to 2 and 7 to 8. It has an review of 'Antigone'. In 1951 Nicos Dimitracopoulos directed a production of Sophocles' 'Anti ...

From: Carlton, Australia Images: 4
Score boards - Bezique, mid 19th Century

Two score boards for Bezique, circa mid 19th century. They were brought to Australia by Lili Sigalas (nee Vrahamis), when she migrated in 1922 to marry Letho Sigalas. They were original ...

From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 1
Train Ticket - Athens to Stampoul, 28 May 1930

Ticket for the Athens-Stampoul line, issued on the 28th May 1930. Used by the Sigalas family during their European trip in 1930. This trip included a return visit to Greece for the fami ...

From: Athens, Greece Images: 2
Passenger Ticket - SS Orama, Orient Line, 1930

Passenger Ticket for the SS 'Orama'. It was used by the Sigalas family during their European trip in 1930. This trip included a return visit to Greece for the family to see Lili's paren ...

Images: 1
Certificate - Constantinople Central Greek High School, Lili Vrahamis, 1918-19

School certificate received by Lili Sigalas (nee Vrahamis) for her schooling at Constantinople Central Greek High School from 1918-1919. The Subjects listed are Greek, French, Mathemati ...

Images: 1
Certificate - Chourmouze High School, Lili Vrahamis, Athens, 1919-1920

School certificate received by Lili Sigalas (nee Vrahamis) for her schooling at Chourmouze High School in Athens from 1919-20. The Subjects listed are Civics, French, Cosmology, Health, ...

From: Athens, Greece Images: 1
Movie Camera & Case - Bell & Howell, Chicago, circa 1939

Bell & Howell Movie Camera and case, purchased by Letho Sigalas in America in 1939. In 1939 Letho and his wife Lili went on a tour which included America. Letho was the son of James Sig ...

From: Chicago, United States Images: 2