work

Galleries and Reading Room

Café

Shop

Library

Our galleries are quietest on weekdays and weekend mornings. At busy times, particularly on Saturdays, you may need to queue for our temporary exhibitions.

We’re undertaking some research with website visitors to learn more about how people find access-related information provided by museums. This survey shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes to complete. Thank you for your time!

Help us organize our website content.

<p>Photograph of Ralph Mellor standing next to a young girl on stage and holding her hand, both wearing white costumes.</p>

Photograph album labelled ‘Drag'

The James Gardiner Collection.

James Gardiner Collection: photograph album labelled Drag.

James Gardiner Collection: photograph album labelled ‘Drag’.

Tom. E. Murray as Mother Goose.

Gus Garrick in drag as a pantomime dame.

George Robey in drag as a pantomime dame.

Gus Garrick in costume.

Ernest Rees in character as an old lady.

George Robey in drag as the Queen of Hearts.

An actor in drag costume as "Auntie Casey".

Morris Harvey and H. G. Pélissier in "Count Hannibal".

Actors in the pantomime "Sindbad" at Drury Lane.

George Robey with sunbeam eye make-up.

Mr. Alfred Wellesley as "Mrs Sinbad" in "Sinbad the sailor".

Dan Leno as "Mother Goose".

Madame Lloyd's choir and orchestra.

Morris Harvey, H. G. Pélissier, and Lewis Sydney in "Count Hannibal".

Two characters played by Shaun Glenville, one in male and one in female costume.

J. Brittain and Fred Powell posed in character as old women.

Actors in Pélissier's Follies performing in "Inconstant George".

Three musicians, one in drag, in masks for an "Olympia" masked ball.

Three actors, one in drag, pose lighting cigarettes.

Photograph of Caroly, Soprano singer.

A group of men, some in drag, dancing the Promenade on a lawn.

Louis Vernassier, in drag, in nine inset portraits.

A person in drag called "Aunt Sammy" in an inset portrait.

Gustav Luzernow in several small inset portraits.

Leopoldo Fregoli in several inset portraits.

Leopoldo Fregoli in the centre inset portrait within a collage of other portraits of men.

A man wearing a white dress at "Jays concert party".

Three young men, two in drag, posing in cowboy costumes.

Maitland Cecil Melville Wills posing in a black corset and heavy skirt.

A man wearing a kimono posing from behind a screen.

C. Rittfar wearing Edwardian style dress.

Harry Hawksbee wearing a large coat and bonnet.

Three actors, one in female dress, posing in a tableau.

Harry Hawksbee rehearsing a song with a man wearing sunglasses.

Two actors pose as a wedded couple.

Harry Hawksbee in drag posing in a park.

Three actors in drag, posing in theatrical costumes.

A person wearing a bonnett and long coat, posing on a stile in a field.

Arthur Stigant.

A man posing in a dark hat in front of a brick wall.

Lyell Johnson & Fred Groome.

A man dressed as a parlour-maid.

McMahon and King performing as blackface ministrels.

Robert Bertin in drag as a geisha. Photographic postcard, ca. 1910.

Henri Defreyn in drag as a geisha. Process print after G. Dupont, 19--.

M. de Sternac in drag as a geisha. Process print, ca. 1901.

Clem Matthews in drag. Photographic postcard, ca. 1910.

M. de Sternac in drag as one of the Barrison sisters. Process print, ca. 1901.

Stanley Cooke in drag as Charley's aunt. Photographic postcard, 19-- (?).

Jackie Coogan in character as a little Flemish girl. Process print, 192-.

A boy dressed as a girl, wearing a bonnet; playing with a toy chariot. Photographic postcard, 1904.

Charlie Bray in character as a Dutch girl. Photographic postcard, 191-.

Fred Hutchings in character; performing on stage. Process print, 191-.

Edward Garratt in character as "The little stranger". Photographic postcard, ca. 1906.

Edward Garratt in character as "The little stranger"; performs a scene. Photographic postcard, ca. 1906.

A man in drag, wearing a large hat and veil, posing in a garden.

Malcolm Scott posing for a portrait. Photographic postcard, 1906.

Malcolm Scott in character as a "Gibson Girl". Photographic postcard, 191-.

Malcolm Scott in character as Boudica.

Malcolm Scott in character as "Salome". Photographic postcard, 191-.

Malcolm Scott in character as a "Gibson Girl". Photographic postcard, 1908.

Malcolm Scott in character as an English queen. Photographic postcard, 191-.

Malcolm Scott, smoking a cigarette. Photographic postcard by J.G. Capstaff, 191-.

An actor in drag, known as "Maurice"; poses on stage mid-dance. Photographic postcard, 1908.

Fred Sinclair in drag and Gracie Whiteford pose in character. Photographic postcard, 1907.

Robert Bertin in drag as Clotilde Alégria, posing with a gun. Process print, 191-.

George Scholey in drag. Photographic postcard, 191-.

R. Bertin in character. Coloured process print, ca. 1903.

R. Bertin in character as Mademoiselle Foscolo. Photographic postcard, ca. 1910.

Leonard Lane, dressed as a woman, dancing. Photographic postcard, 1907.

E. Leslie Lloyd in drag as a Pierrette. Photographic postcard, 1909.

A quick-change performer known as "Lanzetta"; inset in many small portraits. Photographic postcard by F. Célis, 191-.

A ventriloquist in drag, known as "Thora ?". Photographic postcard, 191-.

Arthur Grayson, dressed as a bride, for "The Jollity Boys". Photographic postcard, 1909.

An actor in drag, wearing a white fluffy-trim coat. Photographic postcard by Relph, ca. 1917-1918.

K. Scott-Barrie in character as "The entertainer". Photographic postcard, 191-.

K. Scott-Barrie in character as "The entertainer". Process print, 190-.

K. Scott-Barrie in character. Photographic postcard, 1911.

K. Scott-Barrie in character. Photographic postcard, 191-.

K. Scott-Barrie in character as "The entertainer". Photographic postcard, ca. 1910.

Louis Vernassier in drag poses with a harp. Process print, 1906.

Thomasset, an actor in drag, poses wearing a large hat. Photographic postcard, 190-.

An actor performing in drag. Photographic postcard, 191-.

Max Jenss, in drag. Photographic postcard, 191-.

A British prisoner-of-war at Krefeld camp, in drag, poses in character. Photographic postcard, 191-.

Two black actors, Gregory and Brown, one in drag, dancing the Cake-Walk in Paris. Photographic postcard, 1903.

Two black actors, one in drag, dance together on stage. Coloured process print, ca. 1903.

Billie Manders in character. Photographic postcard by J.A. Harding, 193-.

Herbert Campbell and Dan Leno in character. Photographic postcard by Hana Studios, 190-.

Billie Manders in character. Photographic postcard, 192-.

Edward Garratt in character as "The little stranger". Photographic postcard, 191-.

Louis Vincent in drag holding a drinking glass. Process print, ca. 1905-1910.

Actors in pantomime in Brighton: S. West playing King Robert of Remlaf and H. Taylor in drag as Queen Aggie of Remlaf. Photographic postcard.

Russell Wallett in drag as a Gibson Girl. Process print, 19--.

A shoeshine boy cleans the boots of a man in drag. Photographic postcard, ca. 1905.

Arthur Lennard in drag over his male clothing, smoking a cigar. Photographic postcard, 19--.

Ralph Meller (or Mellor), in street clothes. Photographic postcard by L.S. Langfier, 192-.

Ralph Mellor in drag. Photographic postcard by L.S. Langfier, 192-.

A man poses on a beach.

Lawrie in drag. Photographic postcard, ca. 1910.

A man poses outside wearing a long coat.

Grand theatre (Clapham Junction) flyer for "Stars of tomorrow"; produced by Carroll Levis. Letterpress and halftone, 1947.

Portrait of Lawrie.

A member of the Elvio Comedy Trio in drag. Photographic postcard, ca. 1905-1910.

Paul Kemp in drag as Charley's aunt. Photographic postcard, 1933/1934.

Fred Spencer in drag. Photographic postcard, 192-.

A man in drag. Process print, 192-.

Fred Spencer smoking a pipe.

Ralph Mellor in drag. Photographic postcard by L.S. Langfier, 19--.

A man in drag singing. Photographic postcard, 193-.

A man in drag. Photographic postcard by Fred C. Palmer, 190-.

Women in costume pose for a large group portrait on the street; for "Oh Marguerite". Photographic postcard, 1923.

Members of "Harry Gold's Margate Entertainers", one in drag, pose for a group portrait. Photographic postcard, 1937.

Actors, one in drag, pose for a group portrait as "Cheerokee Minstrels". Photographic postcard by H..E. Howorth, 1904.

Actors, some in drag, pose for Ernie Payne and Bennie Browne's "New Signals" revuette. Photographic postcard, 192-.

Members of Roy Cowl's "Queeries" pose for a group portrait in Llandudno. Photographic postcard, 1930.

Bartlett and Ross in drag pose in profile, with matching hair and make-up. Photographic postcard, 1937/1938.

Actors, some in drag, pose at a "French" concert party.

Peter Love posing nude in drag.

Alan Haynes and Terry Gardener performing in drag in their revue 'Why go to Paris". Photograph, 1950.

Jimmy O'Dea in character as Mrs. Biddy Mulligan. Photograph, 195-.

Actors, one in drag, pose as "The Scottish Dons". Photographic postcard, 1915.

Harry Gordon performing in drag. Photographic postcard, 194-.

Terry Bartlett in drag. Photograph, 193-.

Terry Bartlett in drag. Photographic postcard, 1938.

Ernest Lotinga in battledress and wearing makeup. Photographic postcard, 193-.

Victoria Palace theatre at night. Photographic postcard, ca. 1924.

A man in drag standing on a stage. Photographic postcard, 195-.

Bert O'Dare in drag, performing on stage. Photographic postcard, 1946.

'Vic' (or Vi?) in drag. Photographic postcard, 194-.

Louis Hayden in drag. Process print, 1946.

"Sisters 'B'" in drag. Photographic postcard, 194-.

George Coutts in drag. Photographic postcard, 194-.

Jimmy Slater in drag. Photographic postcard, 1945.

An actor in drag. Photograph, 194-.

An actor in drag, posing for a portrait. Photograph by Mme Yvonne, 194-.

An actor in drag, performing on stage. Photograph by Mme Yvonne, 194-.

An actor in drag, performing on stage at the Windmill Theatre. Photograph by Mme Yvonne, 194-.

An actor in drag, posing in a studio. Photograph by Mme Yvonne, 194-.

Douglas Byng in drag as a glamorous woman. Photograph, 194-.

Douglas Byng in drag with a small boy dressed as a man. Photograph, 1911.

Douglas Byng in drag as a pierrette. Photographic postcard, 1914-.

Bert Ward in drag as a glamorous woman. Photographic postcard, 1947.

Douglas Byng in drag. Photograph, 1950.

Tommie Rose in drag. Photograph, 1948.

Douglas Byng in drag during a pantomime. Photograph, 1952.

Ronnie Stewart in drag for 'Soldiers in skirts'. Photograph, 1947.

George Harris in drag as a young woman. Photograph, 1946.

Mrs. Shufflewick (Rex Jameson), in drag character, holding a cup of tea. Photograph, ca. 1955.

Danny La Rue in drag. Photograph, 196-.

Chris Shaw in drag. Photograph, 196-.

Danny La Rue posing in a white t-shirt.

Terry Durham in drag. Photograph, 196-.

"Daytimers" double-act in drag. Process print, 197-.

A man in drag playing the piano. Photographic postcard by Legg (?) & Co., 192-.

Jimmy De Lancy in drag. Photographic postcard, 195-.

A sailor in drag on S.S. Caronia. Photograph, 195-.

"Divine" in character, wearing a "Heaven" t-shirt. Colour photographic postcard, 198-.

Men in drag pose outside dressed in summer attire. Photograph, 194-.

Sailors in drag on S.S. Caronia. Photograph, 195-.

Men in drag at Club My-O-My, New Orleans. Colour process print, 195-.

Actors in the play "Mrs Wiggs of the cabbage patch". Process print, 1910.

A large group of men in drag at Club 82, New York City. Process print, 196-.

Dick Emery waving in a park. Photograph, 197-.

Vicky White in drag (?). Process print, 197-.

Terry Gardener in drag. Photograph, 1946.

Terry Day posing with microphone.

Hinge and Bracket in character, posing in a garden. Photograph, 198-.

The theatre of the Marquis of Anglesey at Plas Newydd: interior.

Two men embracing during a theatrical performance.

Henry Cyril Paget, 5th Marquis of Anglesey, seated by a tree.

Henry Cyril Paget, 5th Marquis of Anglesey. Process print, ca. 1903.

Henry Cyril Paget, 5th Marquis of Anglesey, in various theatrical roles. Halftone and letterpress, 1905.

A person of both genders advertised as a spectacle. Letterpress and halftone, 192-.

A man dressed as half bride, half groom. Colour process print after D. Gariboldi, 1986.

A man wearing a half suit and half dress costume.

"Zazo, half woman, half man", at a freak show, being approached by a gay man. Colour process print, ca. 1953.

A woman (?) is dressed as half a bride and half Charlie Chaplin as a bridegroom. Photographic postcard.

Julianne Sleebus, a woman with a large beard. Process print, 190-.

Clémentine Delait. Process print, 191-.

A figure posing in under-garments as "Adam & Eve". Process print, 192-.

A shadowgraph of three men's legs in white trousers,showing female legs underneath the trousers. Process print, 195-.

Maud Temple, a bearded woman at Pickard's Waxwork exhibition, Glasgow. Process print, ca. 1910.

Ralph Mellor in drag and a young actress stand back-to-back on stage. Photographic postcard by L.S. Langfier, 192-.

Wellcome uses cookies.

Ralph Mellor in drag and a young actress stand back-to-back on stage. Photographic postcard by L.S. Langfier, 192-.

Collection contents

Available online

About this work

Description

Publication/Creation

Physical description

Series

Contributors

Notes

Reference

Type/Technique

Languages

Subjects

Where to find it

Photograph album labelled ‘Drag'

Note

Permanent link