J. S. P. Ramsay collection

Tourist guide [Gilbert F Rogers], The Grampians Victoria 1928. Photographer: Charles Petrie HP.82.19.149

John Simeon Pierson (Jack) Ramsay was the son of E. P. Ramsay, curator of the Australian Museum from 1874 to 1894. Jack Ramsay took his first bird photograph in 1905 and continued photographing birds until the mid-1940s. He established a photographic business Ramsay Photo Works in 1925. His use of 35 mm film format was then revolutionary, and allowed him to photograph birds without disturbing them. He developed new systems of remote shutter operation and rewinding, hides and climbing apparatus to photograph birds in a natural setting. He pioneered photographing birds in their natural habitat.

c1890-c1930; containing 2174 negatives, most of which are glass plates; c.1600 contact prints pated into a reference album. Photographs of birds, field trip views and family photographs. Includes the work of J S P Ramsay and other well known Australian natural history photographers. Donated in 1984 by J. P. (John Pierson) Ramsay. Reference catalogue available for viewing. HP84/52

1933-1943; 146 rolls of black and white film negatives accounting for approximately 3470 images. Subjects photographed are predominantly birds in urban and rural settings. HP87.6
NOTE: The roll-films were nitrate negatives, and soon after acquisition were copied as 35mm transparencies (3470 mounted transparencies – both positive and negative sets).