A.J. Shearsby collection of photographs, sketchbooks and other materials

PXA 7764 MIN 585 MIN 586 MIN 587

fonds

1876-1961, predominant 1889-1917

Graphic Materials, Photographs, Drawings, Textual Records

9677566

1 album (248 photographic prints) - 29 x 24 cm
10 photographic prints - 21 x 18 cm and smaller
3 photographs - ambrotype - 12 x 10 cm and smaller
5 sketchbooks (216 drawings) - watercolour, pencil, pen and ink - 19 x 28 cm and smaller

Alfred James Shearsby was born on 14 November 1872 in Glebe, New South Wales. After being educated in Sydney, he joined the Australian Joint Stock Bank and, in 1899, he was posted to Yass, where he settled permanently. On 10 March 1908, he married Ethel Grace Chambers (1878-1927) with whom he had one daughter, Grace Ethel Shearsby (1910-2004). He then partnered with Charles Howard to found Howard and Shearsby photography studio. Known as a polymath, Shearsby also had a practised interest in philately and geology, writing extensively on the Yass district and compiling photographic collections about the residents who served in World War 1 and the construction of the Burrinjuck Dam. He formed a lifelong association with the University of Sydney at which the AJ Shearsby Prize for Geology was established in 1958. He died on 26 June 1962 in Yass.

Source:
The Glebe Society Inc. "Alfred James Shearsby". Accessed 8 April 2024. https://glebesociety.org.au/street/alfred-james-shearsby/

By descent from A.J. Shearsby to his nephew, the donor

PXA 7764 - Box 1
10 photographic prints of A.J. Shearsby and family members. Several prints identified as Margaret Shearsby and inscribed "from Grace Emmett 13/2/86". One candid portrait inscribed "To A.J. Shearsby from E. K. Chaffer ; Taken on top Bowning Hill 18th April 1954".

130 stereoscopic prints, many hand-tinted, depicting scenery and persons at Yass, Katoomba, Jenolan Caves and various places in rural New South Wales, the United States and other countries. Prints were mainly taken by Howard and Shearsby photography studio, and also by Kilburn Brothers; Underwood and Underwood; Herry & Jones; George Rose, Melbourne. Most are captioned and dated, predominantly 1915-1917.

1 folder of textual material including letters from A.J. Shearsby to his niece, Doris Shearsby, dated between November 1960 and August 1961; marriage certificates and family history lists detailing the births and deaths of members of the Shearsby family.

PXA 7764 - Box 2
1 album of 248 photographic prints, each numbered and captioned, some dated between 1890 and 1898. Predominantly locations around Sydney and the Hawkesbury River, Georges River and rural New South Wales including Gulgong, Mudgee and Hay.

5 sketchbooks of 216 drawings, most annotated and many dated between 1876 ad 1901, of scenery and locations in rural New South Wales.

MIN 585
Ambrotype portrait of a man and a woman holding hands.

MIN 586
Ambrotype portrait of a woman in a lace collar and jacket.

MIN 587
Ambrotype portrait of a bearded man with a bow tie.

Access via appointment - Applies to MIN 585, MIN 586, MIN 587 and PXA 7764/Box 2 due to detached cover and pages in photographic album and sketchbooks.

Copyright restrictions may apply:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder