Sandy Pearce scrapbooks, ca. 1908-ca. 1921

MLMSS 9613/Boxes 1X-2X

fonds

ca. 1908-ca. 1921

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Ephemera, Clippings

1248668

0.36 metres of textual and graphic material (2 outsize boxes)

Sidney Charles (Sandy) Pearce (1883-1930), footballer, was a pioneer Rugby League player who played rugby union before joining the breakaway League in 1907. He played in the first match of the newly formed League and represented Australia in the first international tour by an Australian rugby league team in 1908. Pearce went on to play 176 first-grade rugby league games for Eastern Suburbs, represented New South Wales and played for Australia in 16 test matches in the position of Hooker or Prop Forward. At 38 years of age, in his final Test on 5 November 1921, he became the oldest player ever to represent Australia, but broke his leg and retired as Australia's most-capped rugby league player. Sandy Pearce continued to coach rugby league for the University of Sydney until his untimely death of myocarditis on 14 November 1930 outside the Royal Oak Hotel, Double Bay. He was buried in the Anglican section of South Head cemetery, survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. His elder son Sidney (Joe) played 150 first-grade Rugby League games for Eastern Suburbs and eleven Tests in 1932-38; they were the first father and son to represent Australia in Rugby League.

Reference:
http://adb.anu.edu.au (accessed 17/11/2014)

Two scrapbooks compiled by Sandy Pearce, ca. 1908-ca. 1921, with probable later additions by Joe Pearce, ca. 1932

BOX 1X
Scrapbook album including mainly clippings and match reports from British newspapers related to the Australian Rugby League tours of the United Kingdom in 1908 and 1920. Also includes:
Large photograph of Joe Pearce in Kangaroo jersey, ca. 1932; Large photograph that appears to be the funeral procession for Sandy Pearce, ca. 1930; congratulatory letters from the NSW Rugby League Secretary and James Giltinan to Pearce, ca. 1920, that discuss the formation of the League in 1907; printed programme for the First Test match between Australia and Northern Union at Royal Park on 12th December 1908 listed erroneously as a Rugby Union programme; extracts from Rugby League News 1920-1921; Various British newspaper reports, ca. 1908 and ca. 1920;
SS Oucvio Menu, 16th April 1909 backed with Prince of Wales Hotel Southport Dinner Menu 1st January 1909; An Appreciation of The Late Les Darcy, ca. 1917; Match programme Australia v England Celtic Park Official Programme 3rd February 1909

BOX 2X
Scrapbook album including postcard photographs of many players from the Kangaroos tour of Great Britain in 1908-1909, being the first international tour by an Australian representative rugby league team. The photographs include portraits of players, several group photographs, and two pictures of Sid Pearce in hospital. Some of the photographs are annotated in various hands including Sid Pearce, James Davis, Dan Frawley, Bill Hardcastle, and Arthur Hennessey. Includes a group photograph of three Kangaroo players from Newtown: Jack Barnett, Charlie Russell, and Paddy McCue; a postcard from Sid Pearce to his daughter Jean, ca. 1921; and a group photograph of footballers in civilian clothes, ca. 1921

Copyright status:: In copyright. This collection has multiple copyright owners.
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales