ACT Heritage Library Manuscript Collections
HMSS 0489 Lorna and Norman Crawford Collection
| Call Number | HMSS 0489 |
|---|---|
| Collection | Lorna and Norman Crawford Collection |
| Date Range | ca. 1951 - 1971 |
| Quantity | 0.18 m (1 manuscript box) |
| Access Conditions | open |
| Copying Conditions | with attribution |
| Related Collections |
Lorna Betty Amoore was born in Brisbane on 29 December 1925, the only daughter born to Vera Jane (nee Phythian) and George Wilkinson Amoore. Lorna was educated at Brisbane Girls Grammar School, where she was a junior champion in singles and doubles tennis. Lorna was very active in the YWCA in her youth, and was working as the Business Secretary at the YWCA in Brisbane when she accepted an appointment as Director of Youth Activities with the YWCA Canberra in March 1952.
Norman Lindsay Crawford was born on 23 July 1921 in Delegate, NSW, the youngest son born to Martha Isabella (nee Robinson) and Francis Patrick Crawford. Norman Crawford served with Australian forces during the Second World War, enlisting for service with the 2/33 Australian Infantry Battalion on 14 March 1942. He was discharged on 21 February 1947. He later trained as a painter and decorator, gaining his qualifications from Canberra Technical College in 1950.
Lorna and Norman were married at Reid Methodist Church on Saturday 6 March 1954. The marriage was celebrated in front of 120 guests by the Reverend J Lavender. The bridesmaids were Beryl Holt and Lois Newman, and the groomsmen were Jim Curthoys and Tom Bailey. Lorna was well known in Canberra as activities secretary at the YWCA, and the reception was held at the YWCA, Civic Centre. The bride and groom honeymooned in Jervis Bay before returning to take up residence in Griffith, ACT. The wedding was unique in that a recording and film of the wedding were produced by Lorna’s brother, Cecil Amoore.
Norman died on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, on 10 March 2009 aged 88. Lorna died on 29 November 2015, aged 89.
This collection consists of items relating to Lorna and Norman’s engagement, wedding and honeymoon. There are also a small number of items relating to the birth of their children and life in Canberra. The collection was donated to the ACT Heritage Library by Lorna and Norman’s daughter, Glenys Kempe.
Series List:
Series 1: Engagement
Series 2: Wedding
Series 3: Honeymoon
Series 4: Family Life
Series 5: Souvenir Items
Series 6: Film
Box List
Series 1: Engagement (1953 - 1954)
Collection of items relating to the engagement of Lorna Amoore and Norman Crawford. Includes a collection of colourful cards with handwritten messages of joy and support for the married couple. Also includes a number of engagement notices cut from newspapers in Canberra and Brisbane
| Series Number | Folder Number | Item Number | Description | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Engagement cards | 20 items |
| 1 | 1 | 2 | Engagement notices (news cuttings) | 4 items |
Series 2: Wedding (1953 – 1954)
Collection of items relating to the March 1954 wedding of Lorna Amoore and Norman Crawford. Includes a copy of the wedding invitation, wedding photographs, news cuttings, and items of realia, including a sample of the broderie nylon lace used for Lorna’s wedding dress and the bridal horseshoe worn by Lorna. Also includes loose pages from a notebook titled” A wedding has been planned”. The handwritten pages include all the details of the wedding, including the bridal party, the order of service, the reception menu and all the gifts the couple received.
| Series Number | Folder Number | Item Number | Description | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 1 | Loose pages from notebook titled “A Wedding has been arranged” detailing all the arrangements for the wedding | 1 item |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | Wedding invitation and envelope | 2 items |
| 2 | 2 | 3 | News cutting, Married on Saturday, The Canberra Times, 9 March 1954 | 1 item |
| 2 | 2 | 4 | News cutting, Wedding, Crawford – Amoore, The Nundah Express, 18 March 1945 (2 copies) | 2 items |
| 2 | 2 | 5 | News cutting, Wedding Filmed, unknown, no date | 1 item |
| 2 | 2 | 6 | News cutting, Movie Film and Tape Recording of Wedding, unknown, no date | 1 item |
| 2 | 3 | 1 | Colour photograph of Lorna in her wedding gown. A note attached to the photograph reads “Dress No 2 modeled [sic] by Cassie ROBY is “Lorna CRAWFORD” of 1954 wedding” | 1 item |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | B/W Photograph of Lorna and Norman cutting the cake with bridesmaids and guests in the background | 1 item |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | B/W Photograph of Lorna and Norman | 1 item |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | B/W Photograph of Lorna and her bridesmaids | 1 item |
| 2 | 4 | 1 | Framed b/w photograph of the bridal party | 1 item |
| 2 | 5 | 1 | Sample of lace for wedding dress | 1 item |
| 2 | 5 | 2 | Bridal horse shoe worn by Lorna | 1 item |
| 2 | 5 | 3 | Paper bag from Howes & Howes Pty Ltd, Pitt Street Sydney (A Century of Tailoring) | 1 item |
Series 3: Honeymoon (1954)
Collection of items relating to Lorna and Norman Crawford’s honeymoon at Jervis Bay, ACT.
| Series Number | Folder Number | Item Number | Description | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 6 | 1 | Postcard and envelope addressed to Mrs G. W. Amoore (Lorna’s mother) from Lorna and Norm, 11 March 1954 | 2 items |
| 3 | 6 | 2 | Selection of blank postcards showing various views of Jervis Bay, ACT | 4 items |
| 3 | 6 | 3 | Pocket Card Map of Nowra and Jervis Bay District | 1 item |
Series 4: Family Life (1954 - 1971)
Collection of items relating to Lorna and Norman Crawford’s family life following their wedding. Includes images of their children and family home in Griffith, ACT. Lorna and Norman had three children in Canberra. Also includes an engagement notice for Lorna’s brother, Cecil Amoore.
| Series Number | Folder Number | Item Number | Description | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 7 | 1 | Collection of slides showing family life, including children and family home | 1 item |
| 4 | 7 | 2 | Envelope from R. G. Heaney Chemists Kingston | 2 items |
| 4 | 7 | 3 | Receipt for developing 2 photographs, 7 December 1971 | 1 item |
| 4 | 7 | 4 | Birth announcement (news cutting) following the birth of Lorna and Norman’s daughter, unknown, no date | 2 items |
| 4 | 7 | 5 | Engagement announcement for Lorna’s brother, Cecil Amoore to Connie Saedder, unknown, no date | 1 item |
Series 5: Souvenir Items (ca. 1951 – 1960)
Collection of Canberra related souvenir items collected by Lorna and Norman Crawford. Includes photographs, postcards and images of local Canberra sights and places of significance.
| Series Number | Folder Number | Item Number | Description | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 8 | 1 | Photographs of the official unveiling of the King George V Memorial, 4 March 1953 | 4 items |
| 5 | 8 | 2 | Postcard showing Hotel Wellington, Canberra, ca. 1951 | 1 item |
| 5 | 8 | 3 | Photograph showing the Molonglo River below Government House. Inscribed to “the President and Members Y.W.C.A Canberra. Good wishes for Christmas from Captain and Mrs Bracegirdle” | 1 item |
| 5 | 8 | 4 | Collection of 12 selected views of Canberra in a folder entitled “Canberra”, Caps Publicity, 1960. Includes handwritten notes from Lorna describing the scene in each view | 1 item |
Series 6: Film (1954 - ca. 1970's)
Collection of 8 mm film reels kept by Lorna and Norman Crawford. Includes a film recording of their 1954 wedding, which was a notable occurrence for the time, being mentioned in local and interstate newspapers. Also includes film of the Queens visit to Canberra and film of their children as babies. A VHS video of the recordings on the 8 mm reels is also included.
| Series Number | Folder Number | Item Number | Description | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1 | 8 mm film reels | 13 items | |
| 6 | 2 | VHS cassette labelled “original family movies + copy Queens visits; Norm and Lorna Wedding; Karenne & Paul – babies”. This is a VHS copy of the film recorded on the 8 mm reels. | 1 item |