Allen family photographs, papers and other material

fonds

approximately 1880s-1950s

Graphic Materials, Photographs, Textual Records, Ephemera, Cartographic Materials

9673364

15 albums (2874 photographic prints)
498 photographic prints
approximately 1214 negatives
4 negatives - glass
10 postcards
1 drawing
0.17 metres of textual material (1 folder, 1 box)

Arthur Wigram Allen (1862-1941) was the grandson of George Allen (1800-1877), the first solicitor to receive their training in NSW and be admitted by the Supreme Court of New South Wales. George Allen founded what has become Australia’s oldest law firm, Allens. Arthur Wigram Allen took control of the firm at the age of 23. Fascinated by photography, Arthur captured images of his friends, the city and its surrounds, events of the time, and his four children: Joyce, Denis, Margaret and Marcia.

The albums in this collection largely document the life and family of Denis Allen (1894-1967). Denis was educated in England. During the First World War he joined the Royal Naval Air Service in England in 1916 and then transferred to the Royal Air Force. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1922 and became a partner in the family firm. The same year he married Mary Beatrice Dangar, known as Mollie, with whom he had three sons.

William Boyce Allen (1848–1929) was the uncle of Arthur Wigram Allen. He married Adelaide Hamburger (1853–1928) in 1883. The collection includes photographs and papers associated with his sons Ronald Henry Boyce Allen (1892-1948), including correspondence written during the First World War, and a large number of photographic negatives that appear to have been taken by Cecil William Boyce Allen (1890-1971).

References:
Rutledge, Martha, 'Allen, Arthur Denis Wigram (1894–1967)'. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Accessed 20 July 2023. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/allen-arthur-denis-wigram-9335
Library acquisition file

By descent. Hugh Allen is the grandson of Arthur Denis Wigram Allen.

Series 1: Allen family photograph albums
Series 2: Photographs and papers, possibly relating to Cecil William Boyce Allen
Series 3: Ronald Henry Boyce Allen First World War papers and photographs
Series 4: Photographs of the Chapel at Toxteth Park, Glebe
Series 5: Mascher stereoscope portrait, possibly of George Allen
Series 6: Allen family photographic negatives
Series 7: Allen family cartes de visite, postcards and commercial photographs

MAPS
Catalogued separately at call number (to be advised):
3 subdivision plans of the Toxteth Estate;
1 booklet with subdivision plan for the Etham Estate;
1 map titled Australian Capital Territory and Environs;
1 map titled Railway, Postal and Telegraph Map of Queensland;
2 small subdivision maps pasted to card.

Copyright restrictions may apply:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales