Queen Adelaide Collection

Collection

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Description:

A collection of 25 objects relating to Queen Adelaide. Most of the objects are a sub-collection of the Historical Relics collection and many were donated to that collection by Queen Mary (wife of George V) in 1945.

The objects are largely personal items and include a handkerchief, devotional card and funeral instructions. Some of the objects are more closely connected to the Wood family, whose portraits form part of the collection. John Francis Adelbert Wood, son of John Ryle & Harriet Wood, was cousin and godson to Queen Adelaide.

Significance:

The city of Adelaide was named after Queen Adelaide, and it is likely that this was the reason for the donation of these objects initially. The Queen Adelaide Collection is one of a number that illustrate the strong links between the early British colony in South Australia and the Empire of which it was a part. The objects in the collection demonstrate this link both in broad terms of the colony and for some early migrants they represent a direct connection of individuals to Queen Adelaide, through gifts received. This collection is also part of a wider collection of royal memorabilia kept by History SA.

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Queen Adelaide Portraits

Images

Photograph of Queen Adelaide, 1830

Image Courtesy of City of AdelaideArchives, HP0838, Adelaide Picture Collection

Portrait of Queen Adelaide

Courtesy of the City of AdelaideArchives HP1046, Adelaide Picture Collection

Items

Coronation Jug

This jug commemorates the coronation of William IV in 1831. It had symbolic significance for the colonists of South Australia and the city of Adelaide, named after the wife of William IV.

Cup

This cup was presented to the Art Gallery of South Australia by Queen Mary as part of Empire-wide celebrations for the Silver Jubilee of George V in 1935.

Devotional Card

This devotional card, written by Queen Adelaide in 1841, quotes Psalms 100:5

Urn

Urn made by Henry Tijou and carried in Queen Adelaide's funeral procession.

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Catherine Manning says:

Fri, 26/02/2021 - 13:12

There is also a letter from John Ryle Wood which you can see here - https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/covering-letter-penned-by-john-r...

Catherine Manning says:

Fri, 26/02/2021 - 13:04

Hi McCall Humes,
In our collections we appear to have portrait photographs of Mrs Harriet Wood and John Ryle Wood. There is limited information in our catalogue on them, and they're not published online yet but if you e-mail me at adelaidia - at - history.sa.gov.au (replacing at with the ampersand symbol) I can send you what we do have on file.

You might also try the City of Adelaide Archives who also hold a Queen Adelaide collection - https://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/community/creativity-culture/city-arch...

McCall Humes says:

Thu, 25/02/2021 - 12:36

I am researching a Victorian-era portrait artist called Emily Charlotte Way (neé Batt.) She was the niece of John Ryle Wood and he was one of two relatives left in charge of her and her siblings’ care after her parents died. I have found census evidence that her sisters lived with him for some time and am trying to understand his role in their lives.

I am curious if she painted any of the portraits in “The Queen Adelaide Collection” or if you might hold anything else linked to the Wood, Batt or Way families. Any answers you can provide or advice you can give to further my research is greatly appreciated.

Adelaidia