Stephanie Stroh chose….

Photographs

I chose these photos because I documented them, along with over 100 more, whilst volunteering at the Herbert.

Although my background is in art I found working with these photos fascinating. I felt a real connection to this family and found myself being drawn into the story of their lives and wanting to find out more, especially about Stella. I felt I got to know the family through the photos and postcards so it was especially sad to learn of the fate of Stella's brother Raymond.

Stephanie Stroh volunteered with the Curatorial team at the Herbert

What the curator says:

Photographs

These photographs and postcard are part of a large collection of documents, photographs, postcards and ribbon designs relating to a Coventry family, the Averns.

1. This is a photograph of Stella Averns in 1915.

2. The photograph is probably of Stella's brother, Raymond. The postcard was sent whilst he was serving in the First World War. Raymond Averns died while being held as a prisoner of war in France on 30th July 1918, aged 22.

3. These are photographs of the Coventry Red Cross distributing Canadian food aid during the Second World War. Stella Averns was the social welfare officer of the Coventry Red Cross.