Photographs by Professor John Smith

PXA 7843
ON 738

fonds

approximately 1850 to 1870

Graphic Materials, Photographs

52844

48 photographic prints - gelatin silver - 25 x 21 cm
45 negatives - acetate - 23 x 4 cm

John Smith was born on 12 December 1821 in Peterculter, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. From 1839, he studied medicine at the Marischal College, Aberdeen, and in 1847, he sailed to Australia for personal health reasons, acting as the ship's surgeon during the voyage. He then returned to Scotland as Lecturer in Chemistry and Agriculture at Marischal College. On 8 September 1852, he arrived back in Australia, having been appointed foundation Professor of Chemistry and Experimental Physics at the University of Sydney, the first Professor of Chemistry in Australia. He established a laboratory at Sydney College and, on 25 March 1853, was appointed to the National Board of Education, contributing to the reforms in the Henry Parkes's Public Schools Act of 1866. His strong interests in water analysis and pollution, public health and education led to his serving in various organisations including the Council of Education, on the Legislative Council, the Australia Mutual Provident Society and the Royal Society of New South Wales. Smith was also a highly talented amateur photographer and took a series of photographs from 1855 during the construction of the University of Sydney. On 11 June 1872, during leave overseas, he married Mary (Minnie) MacLeod (1842-1930) in Birkenhead, England, with whom he had an adopted daughter, Nora. John Smith died on 12 October 1885 and is buried in Waverley Cemetery, Sydney, with a monument erected by his wife.

References:
Australian Dictionary of Biography. "John Smith (1821-1885)". Accessed 20 September 2024. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/smith-john-4608

The University of Sydney School of Medicine Online Museum. "Smith, the Hon. John". Accessed 20 September 2024. https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine/museum/mwmuseum/index.php/Smith,_The_Hon._John

PXA 7843
48 photographic prints of original images taken by Professor John Smith of buildings of the University of Sydney, and residences and families in Sydney from about 1850 to 1870.

0. Photographic print of original typed cover page
1a. Believed test exposure of 'New' dry plates (mid eighties); three men and one woman sitting on a verandah
1b. Believed test exposure of 'New' dry plates (mid eighties); two men posed in a garden
2. Sydney University under construction - stonemason carving gargoyles, c.1859. (from left to right: John Popplewell, Prof. John Smith, James Barnet and Robert Melville).
3. Sydney University under construction - stonemason carving gargoyles, c.1859. (Stonemason -- John Popplewell).
4. One of the two northern doorways of the great hall, the University of Sydney. (Professor Smith is seen timing the exposure, the occasion probably being the installation of the stained glass windows in the late fifties or early sixties).
5. Completion of main block Sydney University c.1860.




6. 'The Wright Home, 'Drummoyne'.
7. Professor Smith at 'Drummoyne'. (At extreme right, timing the exposure).
8. Untitled. [Large sandstone house with three men posed on the front path].
9. The Wright home, 'Drummoyne', c.1862 ..... The garden newly planted.
10. View west from 'Quiberee' Lavender Bay. (Probably members of the family of Matthew Charlton Jnr.) Later residence of R. Gilfillan.
11. Century-old stone houses at the head of Lavender Bay all were still in good preservation in 1956 built by stonemason Montgomery for Matthew Charlton Jnr., c.1858.
12. Residence of William Bowman 'Toxana', Richmond.
13. Dr. Selkirk's surgery and house, Richmond, N.S.W. (To the right Professor Smith is seen timing the exposure- to the left the Martins; Father and son are engaged in repairing the surgery roof).
14. The George Wigram Allen home ('Strathmore' near 'Toxteth') (some years later)
15. George Wigram Allen and family. (Photographed outside their home believed to have been in Ferry Rd., Glebe).
16. Group at Dr. J. Mitchell's house. (Father of D.S. Mitchell).
17. Wife of Professor Morris Birkbeck Pell outside her home at Glebe Pt.
18. Professor Morris Birkbeck Pell and his wife, outside their home at Glebe Pt. c.1857. Professor Pell was First Professor of Mathematics.
19. Home of James Conrie 'Northfield' Kurrajong Heights.
20. Macquarie St., Sydney looking towards 'Burdekin House (The 'portable' building in the foreground was originally a Presbyterian Church, then the Free Public Library and now again at Presbyterian Church at Lidcombe.)
21. Kiama, looking South. (Presbyterian Church to right).
22. Free Presbyterian Church, Richmond (The Bowman Church).
23. Original Bridge Headwaters of Lane Cover River (now de Burgh's)
24. Penrith (St. Stephen's Church of England).
25. The Big Rock Lavender Bay (looking S.E.) [two duplicate prints]
26. A family picnic at the head of Lane Cove. To the left- probably men from a wood-burning Harbour craft about to load firewood.
27. Picnic at Lane Cove.
28. Professor Smith (right) and Rev. William Scott.
29. Picnic at Lane Cove River.
30. Picnic at Clontarf. November, 1859.
31. Mr. and Mrs. Wright, with visitors, on the verandah of their home, 'Drummoyne' (early sixties).
32. Untitled. [Three women, three generations, posed in a conservatory or greenhouse]
33. Hon. Francis Lewis Shaw Merewether, B.A., photographed outside his home (Mr. Merewether - then Auditor General - was Vice-Chancellor from 1854 to 1862 afterwards becoming Chancellor)
34. Members of Dr. John Woolley's family.
35. Dr. J. Woolley (standing).
36. Group at Professor Smith's home in Macquarie St.
37. Group at Professor Smith's home in Macquarie Street
[there is no photographic print numbered 38]
39. Believed B.C. Rodd's daughters at the Wright's home Drummoyne c.1862 - a very early interior group.
40. Mr. and Mrs. Wright, with visitors (daughters of B.C. Rodd) on the verandah of their home 'Drummoyne' (early sixties).
41. Untitled. [A woman and young girl posed in a conservatory or greenhouse]
42. Miss Emmeline Wooley and a friend. [two duplicate prints]
43. Untitled. [Group of three men, three women, a young girl and a baby. Two duplicate prints]
44. Untitled. [Family of two men, four women and four children posed on a verandah]

ON 738
45 negatives of the original images in the Smith Collection at the University of Sydney.

Numbering based on original annotations and contents list.

This material is held in cold storage and requires 3 working days notice to retrieve. Please submit your request through Ask a Librarian - Applies to ON 738

Out of copyright:
Reproduction Restricted:
Approval for reproduction required: Registrar, University of Sydney
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and University of Sydney

Copy: reprints made in 1966 from originals made around 1850 to 1870