Biographical entry Thomson, Gladys (1900 - ?)

Summary

Gladys Thomson was a trained scientist with a talent for precise, detailed illustrations. In 1929 and again in 1932 she travelled to Cape York with her husband Donald where they carried out ethnographic research on local aboriginal people and made substantial collections of mammals, birds and reptiles. Upon her return to Melbourne Thomson would make pen-and-ink illustrations of the specimens and writings about their trips. She prepared illustrations for many of her husband's anthropological works which were published in widely. She also prepared a series of tinted photographs and illustrations for Alfred Ewart's book The Flora of Victoria. Much of her work is housed as part of the Donald Thomson Collection at the Museum of Victoria.

Details

Events

1928

Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc) completed at the University of Melbourne

1929

Career position - Expedition to Cape York

1931

Career position - Illustrated The Flora of Victoria by A. Ewart

1932 - 1933

Career position - Expedition to Cape York

Related entries

Archival resources

The University of Melbourne Archives

• Donald Fergusson Thomson - Records, 1930 - 1970; The University of Melbourne Archives. Details

Published resources

Edited Books

• McKay, Judith (ed.), Brilliant Careers: Women Collectors and Illustrators in Queensland, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, 1997, 80 pp. Details

Online Resources

• National Library of Australia, 'Thomson, Gladys', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1475869. Details