Ayers family : SUMMARY RECORD [PRG 67] • Mixed material
Sketches and caricatures by Florence Fowler, with related papers
Artworks (not dated) by Florence Fowler including three types of small sketches; caricatures, landscapes and portraits. It appears most sketches were made in times of leisure, for example at the Ayers family home 'Dimora' or on holidays abroad, as they are most often drawn on the backs of cruise ship menus or hotel menus, on scraps of loose leaf sketchbook papers or other watermarked papers. This also suggests they were easily portable. There are approximately 408 sketches in total, most less than 30 x 20 cm. The artist may have used the caricature sketches towards compiling collages. Also comprising a letter to Florence re her sketches, photographs and souvenirs, plus other miscellanea. See CONTENTS for more information.
Printed invitations, souvenir menus and toasts programmes
Records collected by Sir Henry Ayers comprising 31 invitations, programmes and souvenir menus from various concerts and social occasions. These occasions include items like the South Australian commission of Philadelphia centennial exhibitions banquet 1877, a luncheon on the occasion of opening the bridge at Port Adelaide 1878, city of Adelaide mayor's banquet in honour of the Australian eleven 1880, an invitation from the mayor of Adelaide to a banquet to celebrate the opening of the town hall in Unley 1880, and a banquet in honour of the Prince of Wales 1880, invitation from the commissioners of the national gallery of South Australia to an exhibition by Governor Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois 1881, a farmer's association annual dinner 1881, a Caledonian gathering on St. Andrew's day 1882, numerous invitations to events at the Adelaide Town Hall, Young Mens' Christian Association of Adelaide members banquet in connection with the opening of the new building 1884 and invitation to the Acacias programme of music 1887. The majority of invitations to banquets include a full menu with entree, main and entremets or desserts accompanied by a wine tariff or list, as well as a list of people to be toasted. Records also include a wedding invitation, a Warburton reception and an Old Colonists' Association night.
Invitation to the opening of the bridge at Port Adelaide
Invitation to a luncheon on the occasion of the opening of the bridge at Port Adelaide, 6th February, 1:30 pm 1878. The event was to be hosted by His Excellency the Governor Sir W.F.D. Jervois in the Town Hall at Port Adelaide. The invitation features a menu or bill of fare, and lists of toasts and music. The invitation design consists of a one-page item folded in the centre, printed on pink embossed paper.
Sir Henry Ayers
An early (daguerreotype) portrait of Henry Ayers, accompanied by a note signed by Ayers explaining the photo was taken a few years after his appointment as Secretary of the Burra Burra mines in 1845: 'This was taken by a travelling Artist at the Burra sometime in 1847 or 1848 when I was 26 or 27 years old. It was greatly esteemed by my Dear Wife as a capital likeness of --- H.A.'
Photographs relating to the Ayers family.
Comprising a collection of 145 portraits and family photographs of Ayers family members and relatives; Sir John Fisher and Morphett family and relations, the children of Sir Henry and Lady Ann Ayers, Sidney and John Ayers sons of Harry and Ada, other children of Harry and Ada who died in infancy, Seafield Tower at Glenelg - summer residence of Harry and Ada, riding on Glenelg beach, Cowle family relations at Hamper Mill, England and unknown relatives. The collection also includes photographs of the Ayers family residences 'Dimora' East Terrace, Adelaide and 'Seafield Tower' at Glenelg. See CONTENTS for more information.
Ursula Ayers' photograph album
A photograph album compiled by Ursula Ayers following a family holiday on Kangaroo Island in 1915. The album shows the family enjoying themselves on the beach and in boats, with the women in slacks most of the time. Apart from 35 photos pasted in the album, along with home-made 'scraps' on each page, there is also a loose photograph of five women.