Albert Evans memoirs of the Spanish Influenza Epidemic, 1919 and the Great Depression, 1930s

MLMSS 11220

fonds

approximately 1979-1985, transcribed 2000

9659217

0.01 metres of textual material (1 folder) - typescript

Albert Evans (1900-1989) lived in the southern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales during the Spanish influenza epidemic and the Great Depression. He recorded his account of the epidemic when he was approximately 85 years old in 1985. His memoirs of the Great Depression was based on his earlier writings and personal journal. Evans started writing his family history around 1979. Transcripts were made by his son, Raymond Evans in 2000.

The 1918 influenza pandemic spread worldwide during 1918-1919, whereby approximately one-third of the world's population was infected with the virus. It is estimated that at least 50 million people died worldwide.

The Great Depression began with the Wall Street stock market crash in the United States in October 1929, which negatively impacted economies worldwide. Australia's unemployment rate reached 30% that year.

References:
Library correspondence file
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2018. "Influenza (Flu): History". Accessed 19 January 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-commemoration/1918-pandemic-history.htm
Reserve Bank of Australia. "Research guide: The Great Depression". Accessed 19 January 2022. https://unreserved.rba.gov.au/nodes/view/46377

By descent from Albert Evans to his son Raymond Evans

18 page typed transcript (made 2000) of Albert Evans experience of the Spanish influence epidemic, 1919 and the Great Depression of the 1930s as a young man in Sydney, New South Wales. Evans details the daily situation of living through the epidemic and the experience of being infected with the virus. He also details the economic hardship living through the Great Depression and the challenges in finding employment.

In copyright:
Copyright holder:: Albert Evans
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy Albert Evans

Original held in private ownership, 2022