Protest!

The John Ellis Photographic Collection was bought from the artist, a documentary photographer, by the University of Melbourne Archives (UMA) in 1999. This incredible collection of about 12,000 images taken between 1971 and 1996 documents the peace, anti-nuclear and progressive movements, mainly in Melbourne, but also elsewhere in Australia and overseas. Issues covered include reconciliation, anti-war, uranium mining, unions, the environment, refugees and other typically ‘left’ issues.

Professor Stuart Macintyre said of the collection when it was handed over, ‘In these many striking images of activism and activists, there is an extraordinary record of radical life in this city. We often have ideas, but John has sustained his over 30 years.’ Though now retired, John Ellis’ photographic work is ongoing, as protest movements continue today as strongly as ever.

This invaluable collection for researchers of Australian and Victorian politics and history  is indexed with names, dates and events, and over a thousand of the images have been digitised and are accessible at UMAIC (University of Melbourne Archives Image Catalogue), http://buffy.lib.unimelb.edu.au/cgi-bin/mua-search, and PictureAustralia, www.pictureaustralia.org.

John Brant Ellis, Photographer, (top) May Day march in Melbourne, 1975; (bottom) Palm Sunday rally, 1988,  University of Melbourne Archives.