Archifdy Ceredigion Archives
MUSEUM COLLECTION

Ref: MUS/310

Reference: [GB 0212] MUS/310
Date(s):
Level: Fonds
Extent: items
Scope and content: Family photographs, the settings of many of which can be located in the West Midlands, including Stirchley and Wellington, others depicting holiday locations in Weston-super-Mare, Llandudno and Aberystwyth. There are also a number of Canadian and other North American examples, some of whose subjects can be traced back to the West Midlands. A joint donation by members of the Butler, Mills and Powell families (1984). Additional postcard from Aberystwyth Yesterday (MUS/310/11).

Acc. 2415

MUS/310/1
Four photographs illustrating the experience of emigration on the Queen Mary, which plied the North Atlantic routes between 1936 and 1967.

1. Photograph showing a well-dressed man seated on a bollard in front of the prow of the Queen Mary. May be one of subjects of MUS/310/2/13, also in MUS/310/2/9-10.

2. Photograph printed as a postcard and mounted in an embossed card folder, showing section of departing ocean liner, passengers thronging the decks, one figure, marked with a cross, waving his hat.

3. Snapshot on Velox paper showing ocean liner, note on reverse: 'Queen Mary was just leaving'.

4. Snapshot of Southampton harbour with flying boats, ships' masts and gasometers.


MUS/310/2
Photographs from Canada and the northern United States. The Canadian examples were taken in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the small towns of farms along the Fraser River, including Port Haney and Hatzic, as well as the Tranquille Sanatorium. Many show individuals from a trio of men, possibly brothers, who were caught together on camera at Charles Street, Vancouver, in June 1933 (see 13).

1. Snapshot showing young people sitting astride a bench with older man standing. Farm buildings in background. Labelled on reverse: 'Berry-picking at Hatzic B.C. a year before I came here'.

2. Snapshot showing older man from previous, standing on a timber house porch.

3. Snapshot of a five in front of the timbered buildings of the Tranquille Tuberculosis or King Edward VII Sanatorium, which operated between 1907 and 1958. Note on reverse, 'Playing croquet in front of 'San'. Sep. 1923'.

4. Photograph of Tranquille Tuberculosis or King Edward VII Sanatorium.

5. Snapshot of ten young women posed in line. Note on reverse, 'Tranquille B.C.- 1925'.

6-10. Five snapshots with crinkled edges, stamp of Illinois Camera Shop, Galesburg, Ill. on reverse, all but one dated 20 March 1933.

6-7. Two snapshots of same family group posed by car outside timber house (composition reminiscent of MUS/310/4/19-20).

8. Woman carrying toddler, note on reverse, 'Loraine and Douglas'.

9. Man, who also appears in 6-7, with horse.

10. Reprint of previous, dated 25 March 1933.

11-12. Two snapshots with stamp of Stearns Studio, Rochester, Minnesota, on reverse.

11. Two men in open-top car.

12. Men (and one woman) stand outside grand city building, its scale suggesting St Paul, the state capital, rather than Rochester.

13. Photograph showing three bareheaded men outside front porch of house numbered 1749 (Charles Street, Vancouver - see 28). One of these may be subject of 9-10, 31, as well as MUS/310/1/1. Another is the subject of 14 and appears in 23 and 30. The third also appears in 30. See MUS/310/4 for British appearances of these men. June 1933.

14. Snapshot of one of three men in previous, wearing same suit jacket, but with hat.

15-22. Eight snapshots on Velox paper, numbers stamped on reverse.

15-18. Snapshots of part of three men with strings of fish, forest and lakeside settings.

19. Snapshot of timber-clad house with porch and basement.

20. Snapshot of couple with toddler. Note on reverse, 'Front of Cyril's Log Cabin, Port Haney'. September 1938

21. Seated old couple with young children. Note on reverse, 'Grandparents! - holding Daphne Gail ?Cocking (and) Frederick Herbert Sankey'. Man can also be identified in 22, 26, 32-33.

22. Extended family group posed in same setting as previous and including all from 18 and 19. Note on reverse, 'Dolly Clayton on left, Daphne's mother on right. You know the rest! Port Haney'. 1938

23. Photograph of couple with infant, seated in armchair, note on reverse, 'Jan/June 24th 1938 Vera's home'. Man is same as in 14 and 13. 1938

24. Photograph showing woman with infant on porch steps. August 1938

25. Snapshot of scree and pine-scattered mountain slope falling into lake. 25 July 1939

26. Photograph showing three men from 13, with older man (from 21-22, 32-33) and infant. Location appears to be the Charles Street house (see 13, 28).

27. Snapshot of child in garden with snowman. Note on reverse, 'Thuddie and his first Snowman. Taken sometime in Feb’.

28. Snapshot of house. Pencil note on reverse, '1749 Charles St. (Vancouver)'.

29. Snapshot of party of four young people. Note on reverse, 'Fred May Myrtle Nolland Westley (the one that when will ?feed'. Appears to include man from 13, 14.

30. Snapshot of party of four young men on snowy mountaintop. Includes at least one of the men from 13.

31. Snapshot of a mixed group of young people, one, holding a banjo, also appears in 13 and 9-10.

32-33. Snapshot of old man fishing, with enlargement of same. May be old man from 21-22, 26.

MUS/310/3
Two postcards with North American subjects.

1. A Canadian Mountie.

2. Yellowstone Park from the air.

MUS/310/4
Photographs showing some of same subjects of Canadian images. Probably taken in England (West Midlands?) prior to emigration or else on return visits.

1. Three boys or young men in swimming costumes, possibly same as in MUS/310/2/13. Note on reverse, 'Just off for a swim in the River Severn at Shrewsbury, Whit Monday 1919. Herbert, Freddie, Barnie'

2. Mixed group of young people, some in straw boaters, one in military uniform, reclining in meadow. Figure on far left can be recognised from 1. See also 23.

3. Group of three, two in WWI vintage uniform, one possibly from 2., the other possibly a child, and one civilian, possibly one of those in 1. Printed on half postcard, note in pencil, 'Captain Head: ?aynis for collar bone'.

4-6. Three photographs of a wedding party, mounted in card folders. c. 1920s.

4. The bride and ?father.

5. Bride, groom, father of the bride and ?bridesmaid. Groom is familiar from MUS/310/2/9-10, 13, 31 (see also 7-8, 18, 20-22).

6. Extended wedding group.

7-13. Series of sepia snapshots with common backdrop of rear of house row to right. July 1920

7-8. young man familiar from MUS/310/2/9-10, 13, 31 (see also 5-6, 18, 20-22, 24-27), two copies.

9-10. Young woman, two copies. She may also be the subject of MUS/310/5/22, probably taken at 1749 Fordhouse Road, Stirchley (Birmingham). See also MUS/310/6.

11-12. Young woman from 9-10 with older woman and more bashful young woman.

13. Older woman and bashful young woman.

14-15. Two larger format sepia snapshots.

14. Young man similar to 7-8, with young woman and girl, the former possibly the bashful young person from 11-13.

15. Older couple, possibly in same location as 7-13.

16-17. Two blurred snapshots.

16. Middle aged or elderly couple with young girl or woman, possibly same location as 7-13.

17. Woman feeding chickens, house backs beyond.

18. Snapshot of group comprising six young women, five in white dressing gowns or coats, an older man and the young man familiar from MUS/310/2/9-10, 13, 31 (see also 5-8, 20, 21-22). Industrial or institutional setting.

19-20. Two snapshots on Velox paper showing mother, then father (familiar from MUS/310/2/9-10, 13, 31, see also 5-8, 18) posed with children by car, brick house in background. The composition is similar to one of the Canadian scenes (MUS/310/2/6-7).

21-22. Two formal wedding photographs, possibly later 1930s, mounted in card folders by Percy Taylor of Handsworth, Birmingham.

21. The groom and best man, the latter familiar from MUS/310/2/9-10, 13, 31, see also 5-8, 18).

22. Larger wedding group.

23. Four young people, two couples, on the beach at an unidentified sea-side resort (not Aberystwyth). Includes at least one individual from 2.

24-28. Four photographs that appear to feature the same young man as 5-8 18, 20-22.

24. The young man seated in deckchair with puppy. September 1925.

25-6. In family groups.

27. Same or similar young man stands on beach with woman and other young man. The young woman may be the mother of the children in 19-20.

27-28. Two group portraits of a male choir or school group, with common personnel, one includes the young man in question.


MUS/310/5
Images of or associated with a family living at Fordhouse Lane, Stirchley (Birmingham).

1-9. Nine snapshots taken in a suburban garden mounted in card folders. September 1936

1. A dog in a deckchair, September 1936.

2-4. Woman with same dog and deckchair

5. the woman holds the dogs as she would a child (see 24)

6. she is joined by an older woman and a second dog

7. the old woman stands with an ornate cake

8. she, or another old woman, is joined by two old and one younger man, a babe in arms and the dog

9. an old woman is joined by two moustachioed men and the dog.

10. Photograph in card folder, moustachioed man, possibly one of those in 9., with shopping at suburban house gate, 'Grand View'.

11. Large format print, old woman, same as in 6, 7, stands on a newly constructed patio by birdbath, rockery behind.

12. Large format print, printed as double postcard. Old woman from 6, 7, 11, stands with the dog in front garden of suburban house. Note on reverse, 'Roy, 211 Fordhouse Lane'. The woman may be the same as in MUS/310/4/12-13.

13. Snapshot of a car outside same house as previous. Note on reverse, June 30th 1936 Fordhouse Lane’.

14. Snapshot of motorcyclist at rest in what is recognisable as Fordhouse Lane.

15. Photograph mounted on card. One of the moustachioed men from 9 poses in front a pigeon coop, 'Hazelwell Lofts' together with small girl.
The late twentieth century Hazelwell Crescent runs behind Fordhouse Lane.

16. Same man as in previous in pigeon coop, holding bird.

17-18. Snapshot of 'Hazelwell Lofts'. Two copies.

19-21. Three snapshots of individual pigeons, taken within the coop.

22. Snapshot of young woman in front of coop. The woman could be the same as in MUS/310/4/9-10 and its sepia appearance hints at a kinship with the sequence MUS/310/4/7-13, taken in July 1920. See also MUS/310/6.

23. Large format print, portrait of old couple, the woman recognisable from 8, the man from 8-9 (and 15?).

24-27. Four images that can be related to Lily Butler:

24. Woman recognisable from 2-6, holding child in posture recognisable from 5

25. younger visage of same woman, head and bust cut from photograph, annotated, 'Yours only. L-', on reverse, 'Portrait by the Hudson Studios Ltd., Birmingham'

26. Portrait of young girl printed as a postcard and mounted in a card folder by the Hudson Studios of Birmingham. Notes on reverse, 'To Uncle Len and Auntie Emily from Lily Butler'; 'Lily Butler's mode of dress in childhood (died c. 1968)'.

27. Two women in floral dresses and hats walk together down a busy city street. Note on reverse, 'Lily & Norah'. See MUS/310/8/3.

28. Portrait of a middle aged woman in late nineteenth-early twentieth century costume, by Earnest Spencer, the Craig-y-Don Garden Studio, Llandudno, mounted on card and in paper envelope on the last of which is written in pencil, 'Mrs Butler, 1 large'.

28. Photograph mounted on card of Butler's Drapers and Hosiers shop, Berlin House, Rose Place. A small child stands in the shop doorway and the photographer's reflection can be seen in the shop window, in which is a card, 'Useful Presents'. Rose Place could be located in Warstone Lane, Hockley (Birmingham), which has, unfortunately, been recently rebuilt.

30. Cutting from magazine or similar, picture with caption, 'Feathers and fur, judges and winners at a competition'. Text on reverse refers to educational activities in Birmingham.


MUS/310/6
Photographs showing scenes around an old farmstead and/or printed in a distinctive (home made?) fashion (8-16). Several (1-7) feature a young woman who could be the same as in MUS/310/4/9-10 and MUS/310/5/22.

1-2. Family group, mother, father, daughter, son, posed at farmhouse gate. September 1919

3-6. Young woman:

1. on horse

2. standing in meadow

3. standing with horse and trap, farmhouse in background, two copies, all printed as postcards.

7. Young woman with older in trap.

8. Two dogs. Message on reverse begins, 'Dear Auntie, to save a postage stamp I have sent this in Mother's letter, I think the dogs look alright'.

9. Four schoolboys or young men, seated smoking below tree. Printed as postcard with poorly executed wide black border.

10. Young woman and boy (daughter and son from 1-2?) theatrically feeding chickens.

11. Two small boys seated on five bar gate at entrance to farm.

12-13. Boy on horse or pony. Two copies.

14. A young football team in vertically striped shirts.

15. Collage postcard with horse or pony at centre surrounded by boys/scouts/men, in crude horseshoe surrounds.

16. Collage postcard, image from 11. flanked by ponies and people.


MUS/310/7
Photographs of medical subjects.

1. An older and a younger man, captured in a dispensary or similar. On reverse, ‘G.H.B.’ and date. September 1921

2. A theatrical operation.

3. Mixed medical group at ward doors.

4. A group of patients on and around a hospital bed.

5. Snap shot of hospital ward.

6. Large group portrait of nurses, matron at centre.


MUS/310/8
Holiday photographs, see also MUS/310/4/23, MUS/310/5/27.

1. Tourist group (?) at bunker entrance, note on reverse, 'German Hospital, Jersey C.I'. 1947

2. Two women on lakeside, identified on reverse as Lake Vyrnwy. 11 July 1954

3. Snapshot of couple on dam, identified by Lily (Butler?) on reverse as Elan Valley. See MUS/310/5/24-6. August 1961

4. Party of men outside Harlech Castle.

5. Small format card with caption, 'Arthog Lake and Cadair Idris, Barmouth'.

6. Extended family group outside guesthouse, 'Dolegwyn'. This is likely to be Aberystwyth as Dolegwyn is located not far away near Tre'r-ddol.

7. Two men with waterfall, printed as postcard, tentative identification on reverse, 'Furnace?'

8. Three women walk arm in arm along the prom, man one step ahead. Printed as a postcard by Jacksons Faces Ltd., Weston-super-Mare.

9. Snapshot of municipal gardens, note on reverse, Fountain, "Old Steine" (Brighton)'.


MUS/310/9
Images of generally unidentified men, women and children.

1. Snapshot of young couple, standing back to back, he with a pipe, she with a happy smile. Printed as postcard.1920s?

2. Baby in pram. c. 1900?

3. Group portrait of young girls. 1900-1920?

4. Young girl in elaborate card mount. Notice on reverse, ‘The price of this photo is two pence. Should you wish for more than one copy of it, write the extra number you want, in the space below, and give the money to your teacher … Mayze Bros., Bromley, Kent’.1900-1920?

5. Group of scouts posed in front of a bell tent. Printed on half a postcard. 1907/8+

6. Young woman poses with her younger ?sisters in a studio portrait. Printed as postcard, message on reverse, 'Dear Uncle Leonard, trust that you will have a happy time … Yours, Ada & Will', addressed to Mr B..., Ridge Hill. 1900-1920?

7-8. Young girl poses with infant in studio portrait. Printed as postcard by J. Ritchie, Selly Oak. Two copies. 1900-1920?

9-10. Informal portraits of group of children, in one seated at 'patio' table. One or more of the boys may be those identified elsewhere in this collection (see MUS/310/4/1). 1900-1920?

11-12. A bright young thing poses atop a garden ornament and then sits upon it and laughs. 1920s?

13. Women in elaborate flapper dress, in garden with dog. 1920s

14. Woman with the look of an early film star, reclines amongst the bracken. 1920s-1930s.

15. Snapshot of young woman. Pencil note on reverse, 'taken in the front. You would not think it me, would you?'

16. Snapshot of young woman posed in front of (municipal?) fountain. 1920s-1930s

17-18. Women in summer dresses with parasol in garden(s). 1920s-1930s

19. Three women in the garden. 1920s-1930s

20. Two women lean against a wall, sea beyond.

21. Young woman in hat.

22. Young woman, without hat, in dress with cherry print.

23. Woman reclines on hillside (wearing hat).

24. Young woman seated on boat at seaside, cottages at foot of cliffs in background.

25. Hatless woman admires municipal flower beds, against a backdrop of modern hotel or apartment block and older (seafront?) terrace.

26. Three women posed against hedge.

27. Two women posed against a palisade of hollyhocks.

28. Young soldier (NCO?) posed in front of barracks building. 1910-1920?

29. Young man seated in chair, Blackpool photographer's stamp on reverse. 22 August 1915

30. Studio portrait of young man and boy. Printed as postcard by Walter Harper of Ludlow (Telephone 80).

31. Blue-tinted photograph of young man wearing boater seated in coracle with his trousers rolled.

32. Young man seated, reading at desk by window, with flowers. Printed as small postcard.

33. Man stood outside grand townhouse.

34. Man, seated in armchair with ashtray.

35. Well dressed young man posed with elder dressed for toil below hedge. A suburban rather than a rural setting is hinted at by the presence of a pavement and the house corner peeping from behind hedge.

36. Snapshot of young man seated on fence or gate in front of marshy field.

37. Young man in soft hat and cardigan stands before hedge.

38. Portrait of man wearing bowtie.

39. Man turning handstand/holding up field.

40. Two young men dressed for tennis and seated on bench (outside clubhouse or pavilion), strike humorous poses whilst smoking cigarettes.

41-42. Action shots of opponents at game of back lawn tennis, serve and return.

43. Three young men posed in front of ivy covered wall.

44. Single young man leans against brick wall.

45. Unhappy family group on beach in front of Lobster Merchants.

46. Young woman with infant, photographed in back garden.

47. Young girl, snapped in back garden.


MUS/310/10
Unidentified portrait groups and similar.

1. Infant in ornate perambulator. c. 1900?

2-3. Two family portraits, mounted on card, father with distinctive moustache appears in both. c. 1900?

4. Post World War II formal costumed group, mayor, judge, minister, schoolmaster and two be-medalled soldiers shouldering ceremonial maces, taken in Much Wenlock and with stamp of the Wellington Journal and Shrewsbury News on reverse.

Acc. 2551

MUS/310/11
Postcard with coloured photograph of house on hillside, 'Hafod Wen, Harlech', sent from that place to Miss N. Butler of 211 Fordhouse Lane, Stirchley:
'Dear Norah
Thanks very much for letter I was very pleased to receive it, it is the first and only one we'd let you know more later
Yours Dad'
c. 1920s.