Series 01: Photographs, negatives and slides of MumShirl [Mum Shirl], approximately 1979-2000 / photographs by Elaine Pelot Syron

PXE 1763
ON 647
SLIDES 338

series

approximately 1979-2000

Graphic Materials, Photographs

9640706

961 photographs (4 folders)
1048 negatives (3 folders)
111 slides (1 folder)

Mum Shirl (nee Perry) was a Wiradjuri woman born in 1924 at Cowra, her family lived on the nearby Erambie Aboriginal reserve. She moved to Sydney after her marriage in 1940 and lived the rest of her life in the inner-west. She eventually became committed to social work, at first visiting and assisting prisoners. She later extended her support to Aboriginal families from around Sydney and newcomers looking for accommodation, work and financial assistance. Mum Shirl was Catholic and a friend of Father Ted Kennedy. She went on to foster more than 60 Aboriginal children. She received an MBE in 1977 and AM in 1987. She died in Sydney in 1998 aged 73.

Mum Shirl was also influential in land rights struggles, including the Aboriginal Embassy, the Aboriginal Legal Service, a detoxification centre at Wiseman's Ferry, and Aboriginal housing issues. In particular, she is well remembered for her role in helping to found the Aboriginal Medical Service in Redfern, where she was later employed and continued her valuable community work.

Elaine Syron and MumShirl began their friendship in the 1980s working together on projects documenting the lives of Aboriginal women. These projects were supported by the Aboriginal Arts Board. Syron accompanied Mum Shirl at a number of official and social events.

Source: Library correspondence file.

This collection of the later life and career of Colleen Shirley Smith, better known as “MumShirl" [Mum Shirl]. MumShirl was an important figure in Sydney’s Aboriginal community. The images show MumShirl’s family and personal life as well as the variety of social causes, people and organisations MumShirl was associated with in Sydney during the 1980s up to her death in 1998.

As well as official and public events the collection also includes family portraits, and photographs that show the daily domestic reality of MumShirl’s role as a foster mother – whether doing laundry or arranging kid’s birthday parties or caring for grandchildren.

SUB-SERIES 1
Photographs of MumShirl [Mum Shirl], 1979-2000 / photographs by Elaine Pelot Syron

SUB-SERIES 2A
Negatives of MumShirl [Mum Shirl], probably 1980s / photographs by Elaine Pelot Syron

SUB-SERIES 2B
Photographs of MumShirl [Mum Shirl], ca 1981-ca 1989 / photographs by Elaine Pelot Syron

SUB-SERIES 3A
Negatives of MumShirl [Mum Shirl], 1979-approximately 1990 / photographs by Elaine Pelot Syron

SUB-SERIES 3B
Photographs of MumShirl [Mum Shirl], ca 1980-ca 1990 / photographs by Elaine Pelot Syron

SUB-SERIES 4A
Negatives of MumShirl [Mum Shirl], 1981-probably 1990s / photographs by Elaine Pelot Syron

SUB-SERIES 4B
Photographs MumShirl [Mum Shirl], ca 1980-ca 1999 / photographs by Elaine Pelot Syron

SUB-SERIES 5
Slides of MumShirl [Mum Shirl], ca 1980-ca 1999 / photographs by Elaine Pelot Syron

Arrangement of photographs and negatives from photographic packets and Elaine Pelot Syron.

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 647 and SLIDES 338

Copyright status:: In copyright
Copyright holder:: Elaine Syron
Rights and Restrictions Information:: No copying or publication with the written permission of Elaine Syron
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy Elaine Syron

Some photographs have inscriptions on verso.