Mitchell Dame Roma (1 results)

Condition: Fine. [1962]. Two vintage gelatin silver photographs (visible image size 237 × 187 mm), matted, glazed and framed to match (external dimensions 366 × 306 mm). Both photographs and frames are in fine condition. Dame Roma Mitchell (1913-2000) was Australia's first female Queen's Counsel, judge, university chancellor and state governor, among other achievements. Mitchell was particularly proud of her appointment as Queen's Counsel in September 1962, considering it a highlight of her career, and these fine portrait photographs must have been commissioned to mark this occasion. Both show her in court dress, against an identical backdrop and with similar props. In one she wears her everyday bar wig and bands, and in the other she wears full ceremonial dress (with lace jabot and cuffs, and full-bottomed wig), worn only on formal occasions. Mitchell's appointment attracted scant media attention, but an article in 'The Australian Women's Weekly' on 10 October 1962 makes more ado of her new full-dress regalia than it does of her already-distinguished legal career and pioneering advocacy of women's causes: 'Miss Mitchell, an easy-to-talk-to, elegantly dressed woman of 48, is tall and will wear full dress with distinction'. For women QCs, 'full dress is laid down thus: "Coat made of black superfine cloth in the same style as a man's coat except that it should not be skirted but instead be short as in a lady's ordinary suit . black flexible buttons. Plain white blouse . lace frill and ruffles at wrist. Plain black skirt of superfine cloth. Black silk stockings . black patent-leather ladies' court shoes . cut-steel buckles. Black silk gown . full bottomed wig . black silk "wig-bag" . white gloves"'. The State Library of South Australia holds examples of both images (PRG 778/57/5 and PRG 778/57/6), but does not identify the photographer. [2 items].