MS 9060
Papers of Earl Ewers
Scope and Content Note
Papers
1884 - 1979
1.58 m (10 boxes) and one folio package
Available for reference
In 1994 the National Museum of Australia transferred to the Library some
material which Earl Ewers had offered first to the Mitchell Library in Sydney
and then to the Museum. It consisted of documents, photographs and objects
which remained after the two previous institutions had made a selection. The
National Library in turn made selections of items for its manuscript and
ephemera collections. Earl Eers made a samll addition to the papers in July 2003 (Series 6, Pieces 2-4) and a further addition in July 2006 (Series 6, Folder 5).
The Ewers Papers include correspondence, diaries, notebooks,
photographs, family documents and publications relating to several members of
Ewers' family. The main focus of the papers is Latvian migration to Australia,
but there is also a good deal of general information Australian social life and
economic conditions. Much of this is revealed through documents of Ewers'
grandfather, J.S. Anderson, who owned several businesses. Also significant are
papers of William M. Nixon, Ewers great-great grandfather, who was an
early Australian photographer.
The families mentioned in the papers include Ewers, Anderson, Nixon and
Ludlow.
Series List
1 Correspondence
2 Diaries, notebooks, autograph books etc.
3 Photographs and postcards
4 Family documents
5 Printed material
6 Miscellaneous
Series Description
Series 1: Correspondence
Folder/Item/Piece
1 - 2 Letters to Earl Ewers from his mother, 1960s and 1970s
3 - 4 Business letters and family photographs of D.A. Ewers
5 - 7 Letters relating to Nixon and Ewers families
8 - 11 Letters, greeting cards and Anderson papers, including wedding
and funeral cards
Series 2: Diaries, notebooks, autograph books etc.
Folder/Item/Piece
1 Diary of Frank Ewers, 1894
2 Diary of Frank Ewers at Ungary, 1895
3 Diary of Frank Ewers (black covered) 1895
4 Diary of Frank Ewers, 1908-22 (long thin 'ledger' type)
5 Autograph book (Earl Ewers' grandmother)
6 Buff coloured commonplace book of William M. Nixon 1814-1893 (early
Australian photographer) containing writings, poems, cuttings and articles
written by Nixon
7 Birthday book belonging to Mr and Mrs David Nixon
Series 3 Photographs, postcards
Folder/Item/Piece
1 Leather bound photograph album, 1884, belonging to Anne Ludlow (nee
Nixon, or Nixon nee Ludlow?), daughter?, wife? or sister? of W.M. Nixon and
great- great grandmother of Earl. It contains many Nixon/Ludlow photographs,
including an original image of Catherine Helen Spence
2 Red leather album of Australian postcards which belonged to Mr and Mrs
D. Nixon
3 Miniature photograph of daughter of E.A. Ewers (Evangelist)
4 Small black photograph album with photos, postcards and cuttings
5 - 6 Loose family photographs, including: J.S.A. in Latvia and Moscow
Photographs of Latvian family and friends in Latvia Photo of J.S.A at
Czar's barracks, Moscow Latvian timber cutters at Cangai Latvian copper
miners at Cangai Latvians clearing forest at Cangai Louise wearing
knitted suit J.S.A.'s son Titus (killed in action during WW2) J.S.A. in
Lodge uniform Souvenir postcard featuring Menzies 'Greetings from
Canberra'
7 - 12 Photographs including the following:
Photos of Nixon/Ewers/Ludlow families including country show exhibition
- wheat samples with CSIRO 1908 Photo of interior of Gunbar (property
between Hay and Hillston) ca. 1910 Photo of David Nixon with rye grass
exhibits WW1 nurse in uniform WW1 fundraising auction at Kingaroy
13 - 16 Numerous photographs of the Anderson family, including pictures
of New York at night, letters/postcards, snapshot envelopes containing
negatives and photos, wedding of J.S.A. and Louise
17 - 19 Postcard albums put together by Earl Ewers:
17: Red, 1906-1920s, all of Latvian postcards and translations
18: Green, postcards from Australia and USA from early 20C to WW2
(includes cards sent by J.S.A to Louise Grissler in Latvia before her marriage,
coastal ships etc.
19: Green, Propaganda postcards, WW1, Latvian, Independent Latvian, St
Petersburg Winter Palace, postcard/photo of J.S.A. wearing cap and one holding
cap, many family photo postcards from Grafton and Latvia and postcard of ship
on which Louise came to Australia, postcard from J.S.A. to Louise courting her
in Latvia, mourning card for Tolstoy, postcards from Bremen and Bremmerhaven
(port from which most North Europeans embarked for Australia)
20 Enlarged photograph of Ewers family, ca. 1888
21 Large album containing: Imperial Russian money; an example of the
first Latvian banknote (FUNF RUBLI); various bookmarks and 'name day' (or
birthday) cards in Latvian and Russian; calling card belonging to Earl Ewers'
grandmother Louise Grissler; ornate menus from the ship on which Louise
Grissler emigrated in 1910 and married J.S. Anderson the day after her arrival
in Australia; dressmaker's (or tailor's?) business card from Japan where Earl
Ewers' grandfather Janis (John) Sarin Anderson bought a suit on his way to
Australia after he had fled Russia in 1905, arriving Sydney in May 1906 on
Japanese ship Kumono Maru; newspaper cuttings from Cangai (near Grafton) local
newspapers 1906-18 relating to Anderson's store; part of Louise Grissler's
passport (purple and buff coloured documents) - very rare official
travel/identity documents; green cloth badge of the Miners' association, 1900
(reputedly in the possession of J.S Anderson [check date, which is before his
arrival in Australia]; 1915-16 calendar from Langton & Co., Grafton,
purchased by J.S. Anderson ca. 1915; various receipts from Anderson's
businesses; WW1 postcard (related to 'comforts fund' fundraising?); insurance
rating cards relating to Anderson's business; advertising flier for Bushell's
Tea; auction sale notice (including list of home contents) for sale of
Anderson's home 'Strathmore', South Grafton, Ca. 1918; Grafton hospital Report,
1916; Grafton? Autumn Flower Show Catalogue, 1917; Country exchanges phone book
(NSW), 1916
22 Large album containing: Bus timetable to Port Kembla 1923 (one of
Anderson's businesses and the first bus service between Wollongong and Port
Kembla); various accounts relating to J.S.A.'s businesses; driver's licence and
registration, 1925; tender document (unused); public vehicle licence -
Anderson's Bus Service (with handwritten bus timetable on reverse) 1923;
temporary licence as above; six Public Vehicle licences for both J.S.A. and his
brother Charlie covering 1926 28; Pearson's Australian Road Guide and
cover; driver's licence for Charlie Anderson; two small printed bus timetables
and scale of fares; photo of first bus and Anderson family; photo of J.S.A.'s
Port Kembla store (built by J.S.A. in 1918 and run until 1923) with first two
buses and J.S and C.S.A. in front of store; sale notice for the bus service,
1928; Dunlop tyre advertisement; terms of sale - bus service; letter re sale of
land associated with bus service; postcards - Anderson's seed warehouse for
Anderson's store 1919; photograph of an Orrery (a kind of mini-planetarium)
which C.S.A. purchased, displayed and toured schools with; envelope from Latvia
associated with Louise Grissler/Anderson; 1922 Department of Education
permission to display orrery and details of what could be charged; handwritten
astronomy notations to use with orrery (2p.); list of schools at which orrery
was displayed; letter from SCEGS inviting C.S.A. to display orrery, 1922; store
labels re J.S.A.'s Port Kembla store; invitation to laying of C of E foundation
stone at Port Kembla, 1922; bank draft, 1923, in Louise's name; undated
contribution cards to Port Kembla Lodge; letter to J.S.A. from Manchester Unity
1926
23 Large album containing: photo of Mrs Plabbin (Latvian friend of
Anderson family); two coupon books, Sydney; assorted loose papers and ephemera;
birthday cards; personal letter to J.S.A. from his daughter, 1925; envelope
from USA; letter from daughter to J.S.A announcing her forthcoming marriage
(did not eventuate); letter-card from daughter, 1949; letter from Elgar
Grissler(?), Grafton; greeting card to Wanda Anderson (daughter -
schoolteacher) from a pupil: three envelopes (Lodge?); invitation to attend
party for Latvian Consul, 1933; farewell to Wanda Anderson from her pupils, ca.
1928; invitation from Latvian Consul 1923 to attend the Latvian Lihgo
(festival); newspaper clipping reporting on the Lihgo; Sydney Latvian Club 1937
donation receipt (J.S.A. was Secretary from ca. 1928 when it began until
1939/40 when it finished(?);press clipping 1930s on Latvian music; carillon
recital invitation to above; subscription card to Friendly Society of Nations
for Regina Anderson (Earl Ewers' mother); invitation to social dance for above
society; newspaper article re Latvian Independence Day celebrations; 1929
Pocket calendar from Loco Hotel, Auburn (one of Anderson's businesses);
brochure for 'Stae-on' eyeglasses; house whisky and rum labels for the Loco
Hotel, Auburn; 'How to Vote' card for J.T. Lang (Lang lived in Auburn in the
1930s and was a real estate agent); Christmas greeting cards 1951-52 and 1957
from Latvian Consul; Latvian card 1948; Andrys Leepa Repatriation(?) fund -
Sydney Latvian Club with list of donors and club members; envelope to J.S.A,
Port Kembla, from Latvia; labels with Latvian text; envelope addressed to
J.S.A.; Mother's Day greeting card; newspaper cover from Latvia; business card
for Emily Ceilava (Latvian music teacher and member of Latvian Club; photo of
J.S.A. and Louise's grave; Church of England flower show schedule (Earl Ewers'
mother was Secretary); newspaper Ashfield Argus 1951 containing article
on Louise's 100th birthday and details of her life and family; envelope from
Mildura to Sydney Latvian Club; TV Today guide, 1966; letter-card from
Regina to family 1960; two calling cards (possibly Latvian Club members); 1958
diary (unused); 1932 calendar with kangaroo on cover; greetings cards; 1932
invitation letter; letter and photo of motor car; transcript of tombstone for
Louise Anderson 1851- 1956; Sunday School book 1950s; letter from Francis
Anderson in RAAF, Townsville 1945; invitation to dinner; Intermediate
Certificate for Max (cousin of Earl Ewers) who committed suicide in 1965;
various newspaper clippings; colour postcard of spinning wheel; timber
merchant's sheet written in Latvian; mourning cards, Louise 1908-56; stencils
for lion and griffin (Latvia's coat of arms) used for 1938 Australian
sesquicentennial celebrations; photograph of J.S.A. taken soon after his
arrival in Australia (notes on back by Earl Ewers)
24 Large album containing: pages of letters from Latvia about family
matters and information on Latvia - 1906-49 mostly sent by Lisa Krumins (niece
of Louise) and Peter Pontag (brother-in-law of J.S.A.). Each letter is
accompanied by a translation; letter from J.S.A. to arrange for Louise to come
to Australia in 1910
25 Large album containing: two Latvian children's books, 1932 and n.d.;
various Latvian clippings 1920s and 1930s; Latvian concert festival programs
and tourist information, 1920s and 1930s; documents associated with Sydney
Latvian Club; funeral notice in Latvian, 1959; 1934 Christmas greetings from
Latvian Consul; 1939 newspaper clipping re death notice; Lhigo sonnet in
Latvian; card from Port Kembla Latvians; recital sheets - carillon 1937 and
1938; letter from NSW Premier's Department acknowledging Latvian community's
loyalty, 1939; newspaper cuttings re above; booklet on Latvia and Latvians with
notes by Wanda Anderson; letter from Government House, Sydney, from
Governor-General, acknowledging Latvian community's loyalty, October 1939; many
newspaper cuttings re Louise's long life (died aged 104); letter from
Government re death of Earl Ewers' uncle on active service in WW2; 'New
Australians' Cultural Association' 8th meeting 1951 at Sydney to honour
Louise's 100th birthday; translation of article on Tobago(?); 1956 and 1957
Latvian calendars autographed by Louise G.Z. Anderson; newspaper cutting of
Latvian wedding, TV Times 1969 with article on one of Earl Ewers' cousins
winning $9,000 on Coles Quiz
Series 4 Family Documents
Folder/Item/Piece
1 Will of Alice Taylor (Earl Ewers' grandmother) Invoice relating to
store owned by A. Ewers, 189?
2 - 3 Personal papers of Anderson Family, including clippings, letters,
school photos, brochures, greeting cards, stamps and a letter from Latvia in
1910 on British Empire Exhibition
4 Ornate Lodge certificate for T.C. Anderson
5 Poems by D.A. Ewers Autobiography of J.S.A. typed by Earl
Ewers
Series 5 Printed Material
Folder/Item/Piece
1 Red covered worship book - Ray S. Ewers
2 Miniature New Testament
3 Newspaper Church Scene, 8 March 1979
4 - 5 Two sports guides, 1928 and 1929, 'With Compliments From J.S.
Anderson Locomotive Hotel'
6 Red-covered bound Zeltina 1933 (Young Lady's magazine)
published in Latvia and containing article on Australian youth and photos of
Anderson sisters
7 The Story of Latvia: a historical survey by Professor Dr Arveds
Schwabe, Stockholm, 1950
8 A little book of toasts and maxims, London, George G. Harrap,
reprinted by Choice Books, n.d.
Series 6 Miscellaneous
Folder/Item/Piece
1 Box of price tags in £ (from one of Anderson's stores?)
2 Turkey and Russia, their races, history and wars. Embracing an account of the Great Crimean War and of the Russo-Turkish War by Robert Gossip, 1879, together with handwritten notes and newspaper cuttings (added July 2003)
3 Small album of postcards showing scenes from trans-Siberia and Vladivostok (added July 2003)
4 Papers, 1906-1990, including handwritten and typed notes, postcards, funeral notices and programs, newspaper cuttings and other documents (added July 2003)
5 Photographs of 'Hazelwood' (c. 1914), CD of images on 'Hazelwood' and family members (c. 1880-1912) together with descriptions of each image, and two sketches by Kathie Gorman (1968?) (added July 2006).
Box list
| Series |
Folder/item/piece |
Box |
| 1 |
1-7 |
1 |
| 1 |
8-11 |
2 |
| 2 |
1-7 |
3 |
| 3 |
1 |
3 |
| 3 |
2-6 |
4 |
| 3 |
7-12 |
5 |
| 3 |
13-17 |
6 |
| 3 |
18-19 |
7 |
| 3 |
20 |
Folio |
| 3 |
21-25 |
8 |
| 4 |
1-3, 5 |
9 |
| 4 |
4 |
Folio |
| 5 |
1-8 |
9 |
| 6 |
1 |
9 |
| 6 |
2-5 |
10 |
|