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Young crew of the White Star Line on deck with cat
Young crew of the White Star Line on deck with cat

Young crew of the White Star Line on deck with cat

Photographer (Australian, 1899 - 1953)
Date1905-1911
Object numberANMS1032[055]
NamePostcard
MediumPaper
DimensionsOverall: 138 x 87 mm
ClassificationsPosters and postcards
Credit LineANMM Collection donated through the Australian Government Cultural Gifts Program by the Williams family, descendants of Beatrice Kerr
DescriptionThis postcard, featuring a black and white photograph of four young sailors, was sent to Beatrice Kerr. It depicts four young crewmembers wearing White Star Line jumpers posing on deck with a cat. HistoryBeatrice Maude Kerr (like rival Annette Kellerman and contemporaries Fanny Durak and Mina Wylie) was an exemplar of the fit modern woman in the early 1900s at a time when physical culture movement was just being established. Kerr had a fastest swimming time of 1 minute 21.4 seconds for the 100 yds (91.4 m) and 27.5 minutes for the mile (1.6 km). Although Kerr did not hold world records or swim at the Olympics like Fanny Durak and Mina Wylie she was highly regarded as a swimmer and entertainer and inspired many young women to take to the water.SignificanceThis collection documents the professional swimming and vaudeville career of Australian champion swimmer and diver Beatrice Maude Kerr in Australia and Britain between 1905 and 1911. It includes vaudeville posters, theatrical contracts, correspondence, postcards, scrap books, publications, news clippings and photographs.