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Collectors

Guest curator Donovan Cresdee describes growing up seeing collectors working for deaf organisations, and explains their role and their impact.

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A “Graduation Pageant and Ball”

Did your school or Deaf Society organise “Graduation Balls” or “Debutante Balls” in the past? These have mostly been

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Timeline of Australian Deaf History

This timeline traces key moments in the history of Deaf people and communities in Australia, highlighting their achievements, advocacy, and

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John Carmichael

One of the first European deaf people who came to Australia in the early 19th century was John Carmichael. He

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1909 Deaf Leaders Series

In 1909, the South Australian Deaf Monthly News published a series of articles on Deaf Community leaders from around the

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Samuel Showell

Guest curator Bobbie Blackson introduces Samuel Showell, a leading figure in the Deaf Community of the early 20th Century.

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John Fitzgerald, Deaf Convict

Curator Breda Carty introduces John Fitzgerald, a deaf convict who was transported to Australia in 1818. 

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Daisy Muir

Guest curator Melissa Anderson explains the early life and significance of Daisy Muir.

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Mystery
The Mystery of John Fitzgerald’s Grave

John Fitzgerald appeared at the Old Bailey in London in September 1818, accused of “feloniously assaulting” a man in company with two others, and stealing from him a watch, three seals and a key.

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Heritage in our Hands 3

School Days 2

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Artefact

Trial of Elizabeth Steel

Old Baily trial record 1787

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Artefact

South Australian Deaf Monthly News 1909 Vol.4 No.8 – Excerpt

An article on John Edward Muir.

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At Home in the Past

Deaf customs before smartphones.

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At Fern Tree Gully, 1922-1923

From the album of Jim and Eva Johnston. Jim is at the top left.

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Heritage in Our Hands 4

Employment

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John Fitzgerald’s petition to the Governor

1822 attempt to plead for freedom

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South Australian Deaf Monthly News 1909 Vol.4 No.9 – Excerpt

An article on Emanuel Solomon.

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Alfred Eaton

Deaf leader in the 1930s

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Letter from T Goss to Gibbs, 22/6/1878
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At Warrandyte, 1923 (A)

From the album of Jim and Eva Johnston.

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Heritage in Our Hands 5

Deaf Community 1

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Ticket of Leave, 1843

1843 ticket of leave

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South Australian Deaf Monthly News 1909 Vol.4 No.12 – Excerpt

An article on Lily Showell.

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John Paul

Missioner with the Queensland breakaway association

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Letter from Moore Hesketh to Gibbs, 17/5/1877
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At Warrandyte, 1923 (B)

From the album of Jim and Eva Johnston.

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Heritage in Our Hands 6

Deaf Community 2

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Running away, 1831

1831 John Fitzgerald ran away

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South Australian Deaf Monthly News 1909 Vol.5 No.1 – Excerpt

An article on Eugene Salas.

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Ernest Quinnell’s Card

Described by Della Bampton

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Herbert Hersee
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Picnic, 1923

From the album of Jim and Eva Johnston.

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Heritage in Our Hands 7

Home and Society

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Artefact

“N.S.W. Deaf Mutes”

Photo taken at a picnic.

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South Australian Deaf Monthly News 1909 Vol.5 No.2 – Excerpt

An article on Martha Overend Wilson.

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Gustave Damman, Daisy’s Brother

Daisy’s brother Gustave Damman was also deaf.

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Deaf Action Books, 1984

Deaf Action Books began in 1984 as a project of the ‘Concerned Deaf’ group in NSW, selling deaf-related books. It had an office and shop space in the Deaf Society of NSW building at Stanmore, soon moving into a space

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Group at Long Gully Adelaide, 1926

From the album of Jim and Eva Johnston. Jim is at the back, fourth from the right.

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Heritage in Our Hands transcripts

Translation into English

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Visit of Helen Keller to Australia

1948 visit of Helen Keller

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South Australian Deaf Monthly News 1909 Vol.4 No.6 – extract

An article on F.J. Rose.

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Golf at Warburton

Daisy Muir, Dorothy Johnston and Nora Mansfield playing golf at Warburton in Victoria

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Artefact

Deaf Action Books Logo

This was the logo of ‘Deaf Action Books’, the fore-runner of Deafness Resources Australia and The Auslan Shop. It was stamped in all the books and products they sold. Do you know who designed this logo? If so, please let

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Artefact

Onbard the Hygeia at the Marina, 1926

From the album of Jim and Eva Johnston. Jim is on the right. The Hygeia was a steamer built in the UK in 1890. It operated in Port Phillip Bay between Melbourne and Sorrento until demand for passenger trips plummeted

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Deafblind man Edward Cork reading braille book

At Blackburn, Victoria

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John Yeoman petition

Petition to the Governor for land.

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“Nimble fingers which are her fortune”

1933 Article about Ella Doran

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Daisy Damman c. 1901

1900s

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Welcome to the Deaf History Collections

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of Country throughout Australia and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors to our site, recognising the long, rich, complex and unjustly disregarded histories of First Nations peoples in Australia.
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