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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The personal and the historical

Where do we draw a line between the personal and the historical? Although she died in Melbourne in 1975, when I was not quite eleven years old, I have the vividest memories of my maternal grandmother Helen Borthwick.

More information on The personal and the historical

Selected images

19 images
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Helen Borthwick née Pearson
Helen Borthwick née Pearson
Helen Borthwick
Helen Borthwick
Curtiss Model H amphibious aircraft
Curtiss Model H amphibious aircraft
Gladys Cooper and Dennis Eadie in "The Pursuit of Pamela", 1913
Gladys Cooper and Dennis Eadie in "The Pursuit of Pamela", 1913
Portrait of Miss Marie Tempest as' Kitty, entrancing her husband'. Black and white illustration, 1902 McCann Collection
Portrait of Miss Marie Tempest as' Kitty, entrancing her husband'. Black and white illustration, 1902 McCann Collection
Never Say Die, Apollo Theatre
Never Say Die, Apollo Theatre
Gerald du Maurier, seated with a dog
Gerald du Maurier, seated with a dog
Sári Petráss
Sári Petráss
Victoria Palace Theatre, London
Victoria Palace Theatre, London
Hippodrome, London
Hippodrome, London
Pygmalion at His Majesty’s Theatre
Pygmalion at His Majesty’s Theatre
The Cinema Star
The Cinema Star
The Belle of New York
The Belle of New York
The Lyceum Theatre
The Lyceum Theatre
Lieutenant Keith A. Borthwic
Lieutenant Keith A. Borthwic
Seal of The Union Bank of Australia
Seal of The Union Bank of Australia
Royal Navy Second Class Cruiser HMS Arrogant
Royal Navy Second Class Cruiser HMS Arrogant
Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Argus on Saturday 16 November 1918
Argus on Saturday 16 November 1918
19 images
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The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

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