Issue Details: First known date: 2020... 2020 Dreamer and Visionary : Discovering Costume Designer Thelma Thomas Afford
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'On display for the first time in 2019–20 in State Library Victoria’s Victoria Gallery is the only surviving costume commissioned by the International Club of Victoria for the Pageant of Nations performed in 1934 and 1935 to celebrate Victoria’s centenary. The costume designed for the pageant’s protagonist, ‘Victoria’, was donated to State Library Victoria in 1998 by Jessie Clarke (nee Brookes),1 who played that role on the stage of Melbourne’s Town Hall for the three performances in 1934, and two additional enactments in 1935. Clarke also donated a hand-coloured studio portrait of herself wearing the costume (shown on page 28). The dynamic ensemble included a hand-painted hooped skirt and a shimmering silver bodice over which trailed a long green cloak veined with silver markings. The entire ensemble was crowned with a striking metallic headdress. State Library Victoria had no record of the identity of the costume’s designer until my own research into realia, manuscripts and pictures in the collection in 2013 led me to discover the story of a woman with talent and ingenuity who contributed an enduring legacy to Australia’s performing arts. This article adds to the previous La Trobe Journal article about the Jessie Clarke costume' (Introduction)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The La Trobe Journal no. 104 March 2020 19045064 2020 periodical issue 'A glittering silk and velvet pageant costume worn for the centenary of Victoria celebrations in 1934 and 1935 is currently a centrepiece of State Library Victoria’s Velvet, Iron, Ashes exhibition, and is our cover image for this issue. The story of Jessie Brookes (later Clarke), who wore the costume, featured in issue number 102 of The La Trobe Journal. Annette Soumilas now takes us behind the scenes and introduces us to the designer of the costume, Thelma Thomas. Thomas had an extraordinary talent for creating allegorical costumes that are as innovative today as they were when she conceived them.' (Sally Heath : Editorial introduction) 2020 pg. 26-38
Last amended 16 Apr 2020 10:55:55
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