Reference
  • 2005/010
Archive collection
  • British Empire & Commonwealth
Level of description
  • Collection
Date
  • 1920-1969
Description
  • This collection contains a mixture of photograph albums and loose prints taken by the Moreys between 1920 - 1969, mainly 1958-1969. The photographs cover large areas of the Commonwealth, including Australia and the Pacific, Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. They feature scenery, wildlife, places of interest, local people and customs. Approximately half the album photos were taken by Geoffrey and half by Yvonne. Many of them were commissioned by tourist offices in the countries represented, and the Moreys passion for travel and exploration of other cultures is clear throughout the collection. This catalogue was produced with support from the National Cataloguing Grants Programme for Archives
Extent and medium
  • 19 volumes, 13 files
Creator
Biographical history
  • Geoffrey Morey was an ENT surgeon at Lincoln County Hospital and a keen photographer. With his wife Yvonne, he spent his 6 weeks annual leave each year employed by international companies or organisations to take films and photographs of their overseas operations. This was common in the days before such organisations had photographers on the staff. Morey had seen service in both WW1 and WW2, and visited over 116 countries. He was a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, the Royal Zoological Society and the Royal Society of Medicine, and had a special expertise in Australian animals. He began making colour films as soon as the technology was available, and already by the 1960s stated on his resume that he had 32 years experience of filming in colour. Although there are fewer available details about Yvonne Morey, she was clearly a talented photographer who received commissions in her own right, and approximately half the photographs in this collection were taken by her.
Access status
  • Open
Access conditions
  • None