Documents and objects
Documents and objects tell their own story. The school reports of both Edith and Marie tell of girls who at times were a little restless in class. Passports show travels, and floor plans show how they lived.
Please let me know if you spot errors or would like to add more information.
Telegram to Australia from the German family with congratulations on the birth of Marie in 1936
A lock of Marie's hair from 1940. She was just six years old.
Marie created a little Christmas book for her parents one year.
Edith's passport from 1924. It has stamps show her visa allowing her to travel to Australia in 1929. The cover page identifies her as Prussian.
Reference for Edith from Zittau in 1922. It notes she was "a quick and accurate worker and she did her work to our satisfaction. Her conduct was good in every respect. Miss Brandenburger is leaving us of her own accord and we are wishing her the best of luck for her future."
This Sailors book from 1917 details the sailing career of Sverre.
An extract of the registry of births from Kronstadt documenting the birth of Edith.
Floor plan for a house where Edith and Sverre lived briefly in Sydney in the mid 1930s. The house belonged to members of the Chaffer family, who were their close friends for many years.
Copy of school report for Marie from 1950 (the whole page did not fit on the scanner).
School report for Edith from 1917. The note at the bottom right says "Has in recent time become a little restless and talkative during classes"
Sverre lodged this form to apply for Edith's admission to Australia. From the National Archives of Australia
Passenger list for the Largs Bay in Fremantle. Identifies Edith Brandenburger as a passenger scheduled to depart the ship in Sydney. From National Archives of Australia
Newspaper clipping which Edith sent to her family in October 1929. The arrows show where the steamer entered the harbour and the X marks the spot where she first saw the Norwegian flag Sverre was waving to welcome her to Australia