Cirrus@Austlit

'In this issue of the La Trobe Journal, we celebrate the fascinating lives and achievements of some lesser-known Victorian women, including the first female voter recorded in Victoria, the nuns of North Melbourne's Ukraininan-language printing press, and rediscover early professional female photographers. And in a first for the journal, we invite you to enjoy creative responses to the State Collection through poetry and fiction by leading Victorian writers.

'Nina Whittaker and Dr Natalie Senjov-Makohon build a history of the Sisters of St Basil and the Prosvita Press, a community printing press in North Melbourne that served the Ukrainian community for decades. Susan Long delves into the photographic archive to uncover hte lost names of Victoria's earliest female photographers. Ana-Maria Traian traces the story of Mrs Fanny Finch, the first woman known to have cast a ballot in Victoria. Dr Anna Welch looks at new acquisitions from the Women Writers Fund and also shares the joys and discoveries to be had from dedicated research time in one of the world's greatest print collections at the British Museum. And we go behind the scenes with the Library's preservation team to find out how items entering the State Collection are assessed and treated before they hit the shelves.' (Publication summary)

'In this issue we observe artist Eric Thake’s clever use of windows, reflections and shadow play in his work. We discover a 13th-century manuscript leaf within the binding of a 16th-century volume and follow its journey to Melbourne, and we open up a series of exquisite Japanese fairy tale books made with textured crepe paper pages.

'We trace the lives of two mid-20th century Melbourne women who were leaders in their professions, and we explore the Library’s rich collection of football material, which illuminates the little known story of Australian Rules football in regional Victoria.

'And impresario George Coppin’s 19th-century ‘face book’ album of carte-de-visite portraits of celebrated people, and a German-Australian collection of postcards are each discussed as forms of ‘social media’ of their eras.' (Publication summary)

'In issue No 103 of the La Trobe Journal, Nikita Vanderbyl looks at the work of Aboriginal Australian artist William Barak, while Myles Russell-Cook gives a personal reflection on the artist.

'Catherine Padmore revisits the archive of Joan Lindsay, author of Picnic at Hanging Rock, and Patricia Clarke tells the story of Frances Taylor, founder and editor of the journal Woman's world. Edited by Shona Dewar, the reminiscences of Ursula O’Connor look back at her influential 38-year career as a librarian at the Library.

'Libby Melzer describes the production and likely origin of a remarkable 13th-century pocket Bible, one of the first medieval manuscripts acquired by the Library. Finally, the editor of this issue, Shane Carmody, tells the story of the library of Carlos Barron Lumsden, one volume of which was recently acquired by the Library.' (Journal abstract)

'Issue No 102 of the La Trobe Journal celebrates arts and popular culture, from the Melbourne premiere of Gustav Holst's opera Savitri in 1926, to the 1966 tour down under by stars of the British soap opera Coronation Street.

'The issue also looks at the career of Peter Hansen, who decorated the mansion Labassa, and tells the story behind the 'State of Victoria' gown designed for Victoria's centenary celebrations of 1934–35.

'The issue compares 19th-century illustrations and photographs capturing ancient sites in Egypt and Syria, and takes us from local commemorations of the poet Adam Lindsay Gordon to the pre-WWI courtship of left-wing activists Maurice Blackburn and Doris Hordern. It also provides an account of two countercultural bookshops established in Melbourne in the 1970s.' (Publication abstract)

'Issue No 101 of the La Trobe Journal goes behind the scenes and into the history of State Library Victoria, via the memoirs of four former staff members.

'The period covered spans around two-thirds of the 160-plus years since the Library first opened its doors in 1856 as the Melbourne Public Library.'  (Publication abstract)

'Issue No 100 celebrates 50 years of the La Trobe Journal. Fittingly, this special edition is jam-packed with 50 articles exploring the treasure trove of collection items acquired thanks to the efforts of the Friends of the Library and its predecessors, and donors who have generously contributed to the Library's fundraising appeals.

'The varied items described range from the portrait of William Buckley purchased in 1967, one of the Friends' earliest acquisitions, through to the recent completion of the Library's set of Banks' Florilegium prints.

'Largely written by current or former staff members of the Library, the articles highlight the significance of each item and reveal the stories behind their acquisition. From Rare Books and Pictures to Australian Manuscripts and Children's Books, the Library's collections have been enhanced by items as diverse as the Fawkner Papers, the Times Digital Archive, the Blinky Bill Collection, the Rennie Ellis Collection and the Howard Arkley Archive.

'The edition celebrates not only the Library's commitment to our wonderful collections, but also the extraordinary contributions of the Friends and the Foundation in supporting the Library to continue to acquire unique and rare collection items for all Victorians to enjoy.

'Become a Friend of the Library and receive a free annual subscription to the La Trobe Journal. Friends also receive a 10% discount if they purchase additional copies of the Journal.' (Editorial introduction)

'Edited by John Arnold, issue 99 of the La Trobe Journal has a biographical flavour, and includes articles on a range of individuals with a diversity of interests and experience.

'Amongst those featured are explorer and linguist Alfred Howitt, and writers Marcus Clarke and Henry Lawson.

'Less well-known figures include:

James Miller Marshall, a visiting English artist resident in Victoria in the 1890s, seen through the eyes of Norman and Lionel Lindsay as boys

Ina Higgins, garden designer and first wave feminist

Allan McKay, publisher and proprietor of the Specialty Press

Frederick Sinclaire, socialist, utilitarian minister and WWI anti-conscriptionist

a German émigré family who returned to their homeland on the eve of WWII

(Publication summary)