Linda Young

Linda Young is a historian and retired academic, with a special interest in personal and domestic goods in the British World in the 19th century. She came to material culture studies via art history, historical archaeology and an earlier career as a museum curator. A 1980s responsibility for the clothing and textile collection at the WA Museum educated her to the significance of cloth. This focus transformed via a long practical and research career in historic house museums and cultural heritage management. Further research fields include 19th century jewellery and international exhibitions. Her retirement project is a history of the Australian colonial international exhibitions, 1879-99. 

Relevant publications

Young, L. Historic House Museums in the United States and the United Kingdom: A History. Rowman & Littlefield: New York, 2017. 

Young, L. ‘Souvenirs of Global Gold-Seeking’, in Bling: 19th Century Goldfields Jewellery (exhibition catalogue), ch.2, 9, 12. Museum of Australian Democracy Eureka: Ballarat, 2016.

Young, L. ‘Magic Objects/Modern Museums: Heroes’ house museums.’ In S. Dudley et al (eds). The Thing about Museums: Objects and Experience, Representation and Contestation. London: Routledge, 2012.

Young, L. ‘Subversive jewellery: Challenges to conservative power from the Victorian goldfields.’ ReCollections 7/1, May 2012.

Young, L. ‘How like England We Can Be: International Exhibitions in Australia.’ In Kate Darian-Smith et al (eds). Seize the Day: Exhibitions, Australia and the World. Monash E-Press: Melbourne, 2008.

Young, L. ‘Extensive, Economical and Elegant”: The Habitus of Gentility in Early Nineteenth Century Sydney.’ Australian Historical Studies 36/124, October 2004.

Young, L. Middle Class Culture in the Nineteenth Century: America, Australia and Britain. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2003.

Young, L. ‘Interested, Entertained and Instructed: Looking at the Exhibition.’ In Peter Proudfoot (ed). Colonial City, Global City: Sydney’s International Exhibition 1879. Sydney: Crossing Press, 2000.

Young, L. ‘Decency and Necessity: Material Life in South Australia, 1859.’ Journal of Interdisciplinary History, XXV/1, 1994.

Young, L. ‘The Experience of Convictism: Five pieces of convict clothing from WA.’ Costume 22, 1988.

Young, L. ‘Westralian Digger Brooches: Souvenirs of a technology.’ Technology and Culture 28/1, January 1987