John W. Lyons negatives of Sydney life, ca. 1940-1972

ON 359

fonds

ca. 1940-1972

Graphic Materials, Photographs

839782

Approximately 1200 negatives - 35 mm. - (33 sheets)

John William Lyons (born 23 November 1914) was a press and candid photographer in Sydney, 1930's-1970's. Perhaps because he used crutches, he was twice robbed of his photographic equipment. His preferred camera was a Leica.
He photographed social occasions and this collection is important for documenting the famous Prince's Restaurant. He also photographed many of the American servicemen who became lifelong friends and on his overseas trips he always photographed. Princess Margaret paused for a photograph and on one occasion he was arrested and taken to Scotland Yard after leaving his equipment under a pew in Westminster Abbey.
Lyons was born in Haberfield. His siblings were Thomas (who later also had a photographic business after being taught by John) and Mary. At school at St Anthony's, Clovelly, he contracted poliomyelitis which ended his formal schooling.
He was a happy man with many friends and was buried at Botany Cemetery on 20 January 1983 after his sudden death on the 18th.

Reference:
Information from a biography written by his sister on the Library correspondence file

Ambassador's Hotel
Anzac Day, Bondi Junction RSL, ca. 1960
Bonnie Vale
Charlie Saunder's Gym & Turkish Bath, Bondi
Circular Quay
Coral Sea March for Time, 1968
Danny Kaye, 1959
Edward Lombe - recovery of anchor
Fernhill
Gladswood Gardens
Hobby room, Ingleburn
Hotel Astra
Hotel bars
Irish independence demonstration, 1972
Jim Buckley's hippie express Vauxhall
Kings Cross & Potts Point
Light Brigade Hotel
Lyons Barmitzvah, Double Bay, 1969-70
Maccabean/Ajax Games
Beehive medol on a Falcon
Peace, Kings Cross, 1945 (portraits of couples)
Phahlert's Hotel
Pope's visit, 1970
Portraits
Prince's Restaurant
Royal visit, 1954
Shops
University Club
W.E. Woods factory and Hang-a-Handle promotion

The collection was received as rolls of 35 mm film negative. Although the rolls were numbered and the boxes they were housed in were divided into pigeon holes and numbered, there was no register and the rolls were not in the correct position in the box.¶As much of the collection was therefore unidentifiable, it was weeded

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Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder