Frances Derham Art Centre

Frances Derham and Preshil

The Frances Derham Art Centre was opened by Professor Virginia Spate at Preshil’s Senior School in November 1999. Who was Frances Derham, and what was her influence at Preshil?

Frances Derham (born in 1894 and known as ‘Frankie’) was already a trained teacher, a talented designer and artist when she made the acquaintance of Margaret Jane Ruth Lyttle (Greta), the elder Miss Lyttle, an enlightened educationalist, and was introduced to the beliefs and values of Preshil.  Frankie had been a member of the George Bell School from the early 1930s, had been active in the Arts and Crafts Society since the early 1920s, had been a lecturer at the Kindergarten Teachers’ College since 1928, and was a member of the Citizens’ Education Fellowship, a group of citizens who met regularly to discuss ideas of progressive education. Frankie later became a member of the New Education Fellowship, as did Greta and her niece Margaret E Lyttle.

While busily rearing her own four sons during the 1920s, Frankie was influenced by the writings of Friedrich Froebel, founder of Kindergartens in Germany, a man who observed children learning through play. Frankie had become involved in the Free Kindergarten Movement in Victoria and was very interested in the important early years of life. She shared a common interest in this movement with Greta.

Although there was nothing in the course at the Kindergarten Teachers’ College about theories on child art, Frankie had already begun exploring ways to encourage children to express themselves, and as early as 1930 had espoused the idea that art should be a fundamental component of any child’s preschool and primary education. Frankie was impressed with the co-operation of Preshil children as they designed,  planned and painted backdrops and curtains for their plays and the democratic principles which were followed in choosing the final design.

Knowing that Frankie was an artist and a qualified teacher, Miss Lyttle (Greta) suggested in 1935 that Frankie teach art at Preshil. Preshil was, at that time, functioning in the Lyttle home at 406 Barkers Rd, Hawthorn, before the move to Arlington on the Kew side of Barkers Road with its present site. This experience at Preshil initiated an on-going fascination for and commitment to children’s art, and one which would earn her the reputation of being one of the world’s great authorities in this field.  With the aid of her brother-in-law, a scientist, Frankie developed the formula for safe paints for children, rather than those that contained poisons and lead. Finger painting flourished at Preshil as a medium of expression.

Frankie continued to teach at Preshil for many years, and in her on-going work in the community, she held many exhibitions of children’s work (including Preshil work) to demonstrate her values and beliefs in the field of child art. Her collection of thousands of children’s drawings and paintings was acquired by the Australian National Gallery in 1976. In the Archives of Melbourne University are the Frances Derham Papers, her donation of personal papers.

Frankie was a hugely important part of the fabric of early Preshil and a supporter of the groundbreaking work of Miss Lyttle (Greta) and Miss Margaret Lyttle in the field of child art as an essential component of a valuable education.

Compiled by Libby Shade 2019

Research by Dr Margaret White, Felicity Renowden and Pen Alexander held in the Preshil Archive.