Day: September 19, 2009

The case of prisoner Francis SHEARAN

September 19, 2009

An eventful week …. June 26, 1879 Francis Shearan, Photo by T.J. Nevin 1878 The Hobart newspaper The Mercury of June 26, 1879 was a special edition in many ways for Thomas Nevin. It contained a dramatic account of the riot at the Town Hall the previous evening, details of which may well have been … More The case of prisoner Francis SHEARAN

The case of prisoner Francis SHEARAN

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Thomas J. Nevin (1842-1923)

Thomas J. Nevin with stereoscopic viewer and white gloves. 1860s. KLW NFC Private Collection.

Professional photographer Thomas James Nevin snr (1842-1923) produced large numbers of stereographs and cartes-de-visite within his commercial practice, and prisoner identification photographs on government contract. His career spanned nearly three decades, from the early 1860s to the late 1880s. He was one of the first photographers to work with the police in Australia, along with Charles Nettleton (Victoria) and Frazer Crawford (South Australia). His Tasmanian prisoner mugshots are among the earliest to survive in public collections, viz. the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston; the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart; the Tasmanian Heritage and Archives Office, Hobart; the Port Arthur Historic Site, Tasman Peninsula; the National Library of Australia, Canberra; and the Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Sydney. Thomas J. Nevin's stereographs and portraits are held in public and private collections in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Switzerland.

Click here for key dates 1842-1923

In his own words …

“I hope that you have not got it in your mind that I am implicated with the ghost“.
The Mercury, 4 December 1880

“Defendant said that he was the father of a large number of children, and did not know which one was referred to. (Laughter.)”
The Mercury, 11 August 1886

“Mr. Thos Nevin was under the impression that the police should be under stricter supervision.”
The Mercury, 19 July 1888.

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Thomas Nevin's women clients 1870s

John Nevin snr (1808-1887)

Soldier, journalist, teacher and poet John Nevin snr (1808-1887). in the Royal Scots 1825-1841

Disclaimer

We have not voluntarily contributed to any publication which supports the misattribution of Nevin's prisoner/convict photographs (300+ extant) to the non-photographer A.H. Boyd, nor do we condone any attempts by public institutions or private individuals to co-opt the work on these Nevin weblogs and associated sites to apply the misattribution.

Old Chinese saying: "When you drink the water, remember who dug the well".

Mugshots by T. J. Nevin 1870s

DAVIS, Daniel TMAG Ref: Q15625 Photographer: Thomas J. Nevin

Prisoner SEWELL, William TMAG Ref: Q15573 Photographer: Thomas J. Nevin

SMITH, Job alias CAMPBELL alias BRODIE TMAG Ref: Q15572 Photographer: Thomas J. Nevin

Constable John Nevin (1851-1891)

Constable John ( W. J. ) Nevin, photo by older brother Thomas J. Nevin ca. 1880

Poster boys

Mugshots taken at the Hobart Gaol by Nevin 1870s-1880s

Nevin collection SLNSW

Nevin's thirteen prisoner portraits at the Mitchell Library State Library NSW

Thomas J. Nevin’s stereography

TMAG Ref: Q16826-21

TMAG Ref: Q1994-56-2

TMAG Ref: Q16826-31-1

TMAG Ref: Q16826-38

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TMAG Ref: Q16826-7

TMAG Ref: Q16826-5

On the Rocking Stone Mt Wellington Hobart Stereograph by Thomas J. Nevin 1860s TMAG Collection Ref: 16826.4

TMAG Ref: Q16826-1-2

TMAG Ref: Q1994-56-34

TMAG Ref: Q1994-56-33

TMAG Ref: Q1994-56-31

TMAG Ref: Q1994-56-30

TMAG Ref: Q1994-56-29

TMAG Ref: Q1994-56-27

TMAG Ref: Q1994-56-25

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TMAG Ref: Q1994.56.22

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TMAG Ref: Q1994-56-13

TMAG Ref: Q1994-56-12

TMAG Ref: Q1994-56-7

TMAG Ref: Q1994-56-6

TMAG Collection Ref: Q1994-56-5

TMAG Ref: Q1994-56-4

On board the City of Hobart January 1872 Stereograph by Thomas J. Nevin VIP visitors’ trip to Adventure Bay, Bruny Island. TMAG Collection Ref: Q1994.56.2

TMAG Ref: Q16826-3

KLW NFC Photography

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