Ruth's autograph book
Emma and Fiona Cullen-Ward have a battered album that we would call an autograph book. 
It is 11 x 14.5cm and contains signatures and sketches both on its pages and as loose additions. There are also loose photos tucked into the album. Many of the signatures are names of family. The only clue to its owner is the following page: 
It reads: 'To Ruth. I love you. Not because your face is fair/And sweet & gentle too. But because you are yourself/So good & kind and true. Jo Collingridge. “St Cloud” Ryde 11th Feb. 1901.“ This declaration narrows the ownership to Ruth and almost certainly to Ruth Murray-Prior. It is also a reminder that we can be more inhibited than our forebears because our society is more sexualised. So this open and quite public declaration of love could be lesbian (at a time when homosexuality was illegal and largely considered deviant), but equally could refer to a loving platonic relationship between friends.
That there are so many sketches in this are proof of the artistic talent among her family and friends including Jo Collingridge's family- see Ryde Library. It is not known if Ruth herself drew or whether she concentrated her talents on writing.
Some of the sketches in treasure are: 
These charming paintings are by Emily Susan Paterson, Ruth's first cousin who was a talented artist.1)
These paintings are by Sarah Kate (Kitty) Barton, another of Ruth's first cousins, and the daughter of Henry Francis (Frank) Barton and Sarah Kate nee Macansh. They lived at Nyrangie, Linsley Street, Gladesville. The painting of a boat is done on roughly cut, uneven paper.
No image I'm capable of taking can do this leaf justice. It's slightly damaged but exquisite. At first glance it appears to be a pressed leaf complete with all the veins and marks of a real leaf. But pick it up and it appears to be silk. It's a burnished gold colour. Was it a souvenir Ruth kept to remind her of Australia during (what turned out to be) the decades she lived overseas?
TO BE CONTINUED!