New Perspectives through Photographic Portraits: The Duparc Family Collection
Our Collections Manager, Emma Treleaven, was awarded an Understanding British Portraits Network Research Fellowship for 2023-24. The funding allowed her to spend additional time on a specific project related to a collection linked to portraits. Her project for the Museum was based on the extensive collection that we acquired in 2022 from the Duparc family who lived in Little Chalfont from 1924. Their time capsule of a house, The Bynn on Village Way, included a wealth of material that told the family’s history. We were fortunate to be given permission to collect a range of items for the collection including objects, archival material and photographs. The focus of Emma’s fellowship was the collection of over 300 family photographs and negatives that we now care for.
Through 2024, Emma has worked with our collections volunteers to undertake thorough cataloguing of these photographs and related items that the Museum acquired from the family. The wider project explored the role of photography in the Duparc’s lives, setting it into the broader context of photography history and collections.
Artwork by Stony Dean pupils
This included working alongside our Learning Officer, Sarah Minty, on an art project with Stony Dean School, based in Little Chalfont, very close to where the Bynn House was. Although we work with pupils from Stony Dean quite regularly, the school was really excited to take part in a workshop based on part of our collection so local to them. Twelve boys, aged from 11 to 16, all with specific communication and interaction needs were inspired by portraits in the collection to create their own images.
The finished portraits are now framed and hanging in the school.
Emma was awarded additional funding for a special project working with the Museum’s Young Curators’ group, and Anthony Duparc. They learned hands-on about historical photographic techniques, taking their own images with vintage cameras, supported Emma to record an oral history interview with Anthony, and celebrated with their own portrait party at which Anthony was the guest of honour! This film, produced by Ed Avern, tells the story of the project entwined with story of Anthony Duparc and his family.
Filmmaker Ed Avern captured with a vintage camera
Emma gave a public talk about the project in August, and a selection of highlights from the Duparc photographic collection will form part of our upcoming new collections online section of our website – watch this space!
Anthony Duparc, photo by a Young Curator using a vintage camera
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