Page 24 - Luce 2016

Fro m the A rchives

From the Archives life towards the end of the nineteenth

century. Gertrude enrolled at JCH in
Digitisation of the archives 1896 and completed her BA (Hons),
majoring in French from 1896 to
In Semester 2, 2016, the College 1900. She had an illustrious career in
participated in the Faculty of Arts education and continued to set the
Internship Program and was able to French examination paper at Oxford
enlist the help of an archival assistant, until 1968 when she was in her 80s.
Stephanie James, to begin the process
of digitising the College’s photographic Art collection
collection. Stephanie was enrolled Stephanie completed an audit of the
in the Master of Art Curatorship and College’s art collection and some of
contributed 100 hours of placement the notable works include an extensive Jenny and Stephanie with
at the College. With her valuable collection of original paintings by Dr Yvonne Aitken paintings
assistance, over 270 photographs were Yvonne Aitken AM (1930), a celebrated server linked to an archival management
digitised. alumna who was resident tutor at JCH system. At this stage, access to the
from 1951-1976 and the first woman records will be through the College
The University Digitisation Centre was Doctor of Agricultural Science at the Librarian.
also instrumental in digitising three University of Melbourne.
albums of College photographs and Book restoration project
various other important documents, Archival storage The Senior Common Room is home to
including three books of Trinity College With the addition of lockable doors, a vast, old book collection including
Hostel and JCH Committee Meeting two shelving areas on levels 1 and 2 of a large donation from Dr Alexander
minutes from 1950 to 1994. the College have been transformed into Leeper, Trinity College’s first Warden.
secure storage areas for the College’s Many of the books are in a state of
The College Librarian, Jenny Martin, archival collection. These new shelving disrepair. The cost of proper book
has also digitally scanned a donation of areas will provide an appropriate restoration is prohibitive so the College
letters from Gertude Spencer (1896), environment for our valuable records. is opting to take steps to prevent further
alumna of the College. These letters In addition to physical storage, digitised deterioration by gradually boxing the
provide some insight into university images will be stored on a dedicated books or having them re-bound.

Social life at Janet Clarke Hall

In 1907, the Social Club Committee of Recollections performance of a
Trinity College provided a hint of the of Janet Clarke Greek tragedy in
importance of social activities in College Hall remarked Victoria. Florence
life, publishing in Fleur de Lys: on the popularity Towl (1896) (aka
of play readings Madame Ballara)
‘Turning to a more elevating and pleasing and debates. and Ada Lambert
topic, we are glad to report that our tried The 1950 edition (1897) were two of
social successes are as dependable as of Fleur de Lys the College actors.
ever. Their glories are mostly displayed acknowledged Florence went
on Sunday afternoons, when there is Miss Joske’s role on to become
time for social relaxation, and when in facilitating these an opera singer on the international
frock coats and top hats – the latter play readings: stage and Ada spent her life dedicated
worn with a striking tilt to larboard – to teaching and learning with a focus on
are almost vulgarly common.’ ‘This year the main activity for the Club kindergarten education.
has been the fortnightly play readings
The Trinity College Hostel Social Club held in Miss Joske’s sitting room at J.C.H. In 1910, the students performed Cranford,
echoed these sentiments in 1919: On the whole, these have been a great a comedy in three acts by Elizabeth
success; the standard of reading has Gaskell. Hilda Bull, Zoe Dixson, Ethel
‘The Hostel, forgetting pro tem its fabled been high, and an attempt has been Bage, Enid Joske, Freda Bage, Noela
name for exclusiveness, and being bitten made to keep the programme as varied Gilbert and Amy Skinner featured in
by the prevailing craze for dancing, went as possible. Attendances have been the production.
so far as to start a class, which was, excellent throughout the year, and we
breathe it not in Gath, mixed! ! Hence would like to record our appreciation of Aside from theatrical productions, the
one night a week was made hideous, the steady interest maintained in these College’s social activities extended to
for those studiously inclined, and on readings by the Trinity Dramatic Club.’ sporting activities with a twist. The
Monday evenings the welkin, or rather College students engaged in a spot
the bulpadock, rang with the strains of Over the years, there have also been of hockey (circa 1945-47) in some
fox-trot and jazz, sadly disturbing the numerous theatre productions. One of interesting costumes that in one instance
peaceful slumbers of the College cows.’ the notable events in the Hostel calendar challenged political correctness. The
back in 1898 was the performance of line-up of students was: Lilian White,
The importance of ‘social relaxation’ is The Alcestis of Euripides by the students Anne Troup, Judy Nixon, Anne Baillieu,
also reflected in the strong tradition of of Trinity College Hostel, which Dr Sylvia Frost, Anne Moore, Fay Ellis, Joan
the theatre arts at Janet Clarke Hall. Miss Leeper produced in Greek at the Beavis, Judy Skeat, Anne Mitchell and
Enid Joske, Principal 1928-1952, in her Melbourne Town Hall. It was the first Lorna Wallis.
24 LUCE Number 15 2016