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Memories on Glass: the Macpherson family collection

Memories on Glass: the Macpherson family collection


Extraordinary images of late 19th and early 20th century Sydney in transition, captured by the Macpherson family over a 50-year period.

Exhibition
Saturday 6 October 2018 to Sunday 5 May 2019
  1. Today
    1. 9 am to 8 pm
  2. Tomorrow
    1. 9 am to 5 pm
  3. Saturday
    1. 10 am to 5 pm
  4. Sunday
    1. 10 am to 5 pm
  5. Monday
    1. 10 am to 5 pm
  6. Tuesday
    1. 9 am to 5 pm
  7. Wednesday
    1. 9 am to 5 pm
Admission: Free
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Memories on Glass: the Macpherson family collection


Extraordinary images of late 19th and early 20th century Sydney in transition, captured by the Macpherson family over a 50-year period. The recently acquired Macpherson photonegative collection provides a rare personal record of one Australian family’s life and the world around them. Over 70 images, including original glass-plate negatives, will be on public display for the first time.

A family's memories, captured on glass.
 

 

Photograph of blue latex gloved hands, holding a glass plate negative.

A Library conservator holds one of the Macpherson glass plate negatives, during the exhibition documentation process. 

 

Black and white photograph of family sitting on the grass next to a sandstone homestead.
Macpherson group (right) with the Samora family (left), Warringah Lodge, North Cremorne, c 1886
c 1886
William Joseph Macpherson
Call # ON 588/Boxes 1-6
Digital ID: 
c071770002
View collection item detail
Black and white photograph of a man with an old camera on a tripod photographing a site where whale bones lie on the ground.
Edward Hume Macpherson photographing whale processing works at Cascade Bay, Norfolk Island, c 1904
c 1904
William Joseph Macpherson
Call # ON 588/Boxes 7-28
Digital ID: 
c071670001
View collection item detail
A black and white photograph of a crowded beach. Most people are fully clothed in 19th Century dress.
Beach scene, with man in bowler hat and tram on horizon, Bondi, c 1900
c 1900
Call # ON 588/BOX 02/10
Digital ID: 
c071150010
View collection item detail
Black and white photograph of a cascading waterfall. A man sits on a rock in the foreground.
Waterfall cascade, with [Macpherson] male seated on rock, c 1905
c 1905
William Joseph Macpherson
Call # ON 588/Boxes 7-28
Digital ID: 
c071850013
View collection item detail
Black and white photograph of tall ships moored in a harbour.
East Circular Quay, looking south to tall-masted ships, wharves, and Hill, Clark & Co wool store, 1890
c 1890
William Joseph Macpherson
Call # ON 588/BOX 02/13
Digital ID: 
c071150013
View collection item detail

Meet the curator

Photographic portrait of a red haired smiling woman, wearing glasses.

Margot Riley

Margot has curated numerous exhibitions and displays for the Library and contributes expertise across a variety of collection functions including research, acquisition and interpretation. She is a cultural historian with a special interest in popular culture, photography and dress and has written and lectured extensively about the Library's collections.

Memories on glass: extraordinary images of late 19th and early 20th century Sydney

by Margot Riley

In the days before digital and film photography, images were often taken on glass. But from the 1880s, development of ready-to-use 'dry plate' negatives and simpler cameras saw the rise of amateur photography.

Box 04: Glass negatives of Sydney and Manly areas, ca 1890-1910

Photography - Sydney exposed

Photography - Sydney exposed takes the first step in providing an online gateway to thousands of images highlighting the history and changing nature of Sydney, Australia's first and largest metropolis.

Australian Photo Review

by Geoff Barker

 The longevity of the Australian Photo-Review marks it as the most significant in terms of insights into the development of photography in Australia 1894 through to the last issue which appeared in December 1956. It is now available online.

Australian Photo Review Journal Covers

Crowd source

by Margot Riley

These “hidden camera” photos of Sydney street life from the 1880s instantly transport us back in time.

Show more


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