In 1986 Thelma Afford donated to the Mortlock Library 80 of the original costume designs which she had created for the 1936 South Australian Centenary pageant. Thelma Thomas Afford was a gifted teacher of art and a prolific costume designer, working in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney from the 1930s to the 1950s. She was married to the playwright Max Afford.

In 1936 South Australia celebrated 100 years since the foundation of the state as a British colony, producing histories, plays and exhibitions to mark the achievements of the century. The grand finale of the year's celebrations was the 'Pageant of Progress', held in December.

Thelma Afford was a gifted designer, exploring uses of various media for her costume work, and a recognised authority on the history of costume and theatre in Australia. Her designs for this special event included one depicting South Australia's floral emblem, the Sturt Desert Pea.

Flannery, Nancy Robinson. 'Thelma Afford 1908-96, teacher, actor, costume designer, writer', Bibliofile, v. 10, no. 4 (Aug. 2002), p. 14-20

Heritage: the national women's art book edited by Joan Kerr. [Sydney?], Art and Australia, 1995, p. 301

Thomas, Thelma. '1836, the romantic period', Glenelg centenary commemoration day, 1836-1936: official souvenir booklet and programme, Glenelg, S. Aust., The Committee, 1936. p. 12, p. [43]

Women & politics in South Australia

Treasures of the State Library of South Australia