The de Lissa Association Collection was donated by the de Lissa Association of Early Childhood Graduates upon its disassociation in 2011. The Association (previously known as the Kindergarten Club) was established in 1911 and actively supported Early Childhood Education in South Australia in several ways. Their activities included advocacy for early childhood, a student prize for original research, the Betty Davis Research Grant, funding for early childhood education ventures and the lending of pianos to contribute to music programs in Kindergarten. 

Material in the Collection relates to the history of the Kindergarten Movement from its beginnings and the development of early childhood education in South Australia, including records related to educational pioneer Lillian de Lissa. Records relating to Gypsy Hill Training College (UK) also form part of the collection. Material relating to the Collection but not part of the original donation have been added to the Collection, including records related to Betty Davis, a former student and later principal of the Kindergarten Training College. 

The Collection includes papers, correspondence, books, photographs, newspaper clippings, slides and items made by graduates which were used for teaching in kindergartens. 

Banner images of items from the de Lissa Association Collection - Wooden boat; Lillian de Lissa; Verse and Story Collection; Flash cards; Betty Davis

The Collection is housed in the Sir Eric Neal Library at the University of South Australia Mawson Lakes Campus. Access is by appointment only. 

Contact Ask the Library to make an appointment.

You can discover what is in the Collection through the Box List, or explore the Collection by browsing Collection Discovery or searching the Special Collections Catalogue.

Digital copies of some items are available by browsing Collection Discovery or searching the Special Collections Catalogue.

From the Collection

The de Lissa Legacy - a history of South Australia's early childhood education

Jeph Ko 2017, The de Lissa legacy: a history of South Australia’s early childhood education, video produced for the University of South Australia Library

Lillian de Lissa is a key figure in the establishment of the Kindergarten movement in South Australia. Born in Darlinghurst Sydney, she dedicated herself to educating young children. Training at the Kindergarten College, Sydney, de Lissa graduated in 1902 and then went on to teach and then direct kindergartens in Sydney. In 1905 she accompanied the principle of the Sydney Kindergarten College to Adelaide to demonstrate kindergarten methods which led to the the formation of the Kindergarten Union of South Australia (KUSA).

De Lissa was recruited by the Union to teach at Adelaide's first free kindergarten which they opened in Franklin Street in 1906. The following year they established the Adelaide Kindergarten Training College to train teachers in early childhood education, with de Lissa as the principal. She also went on to visit Perth in 1911, resulting in the establishment of the Kindergarten Union of Western Australia. She travelled through Europe in 1913-1915 to learn the Montessori method, which she brought back to South Australia. In 1917 she went to England and became the foundation principal of Gipsy Hill College in Surrey. Throughout her life she was a passionate advocate for early childhood education, speaking at seminars and publishing many articles.

Dr Betty Davis had a distinguished career in early childhood education in South Australia. Starting as a teacher, she went on to be a director of several kindergartens around Adelaide. She was employed by the Kindergarten Union of South Australia after a time in Perth. After lecturing at the Kindergarten Training College, she became the principal in 1957. Davis was involved in the establishment of the Kingston College of Advanced Education. The University of South Australia granted her an Honorary Doctorate and she was a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and a Member of the Order of Australia.

A history of early childhood education in South Australia - a timeline of the history of early childhood education in South Australia spanning pre colonisation to the present day, published by the University of South Australia

Biographical information

• Betty Davis interviewed by Tony Ryan for the Conversations with Australian educators oral history project
• Lillian de Lissa's entry in the Australian dictionary of biography

Related UniSA Library Collections

• The Pedagogies in Practice Collection contains physical and digital resources that can be used by students to plan and prepare for field placements within schools
• The History of Primary Education in South Australia Collection includes items used to teach in South Australian Primary Schools throughout the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries

Related UniSA Library Guides

• Children's Literature
• Education