Why are private collectors important?

PART OF THE NATIONAL TRUST HERITAGE FESTIVAL , COME AND HEAR ABOUT  WHY WE SHOULD VALUE PRIVATE COLLECTORS 28 APRIL, 2021 11AM AT THE ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA, SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS
We all collect, and some of us collect for the commonwealth.

In their own time, collectors achieve what curators and other institutional collectors dream about; comprehensive records of an aspect of our history developed over many years, sometimes decades. Who are they? What have they collected?

This is an opportunity to see highlights from private ephemera collections of colonial Christmas cards, dance cards, Eight Hour Day celebrations, badges, mechanical ephemera and confectionery tins.

Ephemera? Ordinarily not kept. Eclectic, yes. Important, yes. Vast collections? Yes, sometimes. Often comprehensive even when that amounts to say 50 Australian Christmas cards collected over 50 years.

What are the differences between a private collector and an institutional collector? How can we understand each other and share that commonwealth of ephemeral items and expertise? Lots of questions and some answers. The Royal Historical Society of Victoria will offer comments from its many years of experience working with private collectors.

Event Details

Address: 239 A’Beckett Street, Melbourne, Victoria (Close to Flagstaff railway station)

Times: 11am – 12pm

Entry Fees: Free

Booking: Prebooking required mmbede810@gmail.com

Attendance Limit:

50 – 100

Website: ephemerasociety.org.au/

Onsite Facilities: Refreshments Available Toilets

You Need To Know: The Officers’ Mess is up a flight of stairs.