Home > Animals > Mammals > Macropodidae > Irma
Colonel Barker - Valerie Smith Page from The Graphic reporting on the case of Colonel
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Mary Evans Picture Library
Colonel Barker - Valerie Smith Page from The Graphic reporting on the case of Colonel
Page from The Graphic reporting on the case of Colonel Barker (aka John Hill and Geoffrey Norton), who was born Lilias Irma Valerie Barker in 1895. Barker married and had children but later lived life as a man and as an ex-army officer. Date: 1929
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 23400080
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Barker Colonel Dressed Dressing Gender Geoffrey Impersonation Norton Nov20 Pretending Valerie 1929 Lgbt Lgbtq Smith Transgender
FEATURES IN THESE COLLECTIONS
> Animals
> Mammals
> Macropodidae
> Irma
> Arts
> Artists
> H
> John Hills
> Mary Evans Prints Online
> New Images August 2021
EDITORS COMMENTS
Colonel Barker: The Extraordinary Life of Valerie Smith, a Pioneer in Gender Identity Deception [Image: A photograph of Valerie Smith, dressed as a man and identified as Colonel Barker, standing in front of a fireplace, holding a pipe in one hand and a newspaper in the other. The caption reads, "Colonel Barker: The Latest Impersonation." The photograph appears on the front cover of The Graphic, dated November 2, 1929.] Valerie Smith, born Lilias Irma Barker in 1895, lived a life full of intrigue and deception. In the 1920s, she became known as Colonel Barker, a man who claimed to be an ex-army officer and a wealthy businessman. However, the truth was far more complex. Barker had married and had children, but in later years, she chose to live her life as a man. She adopted the identities of John Hill and Geoffrey Norton, and dressed as a man in public. Her deception was so convincing that she managed to fool many people, including the press. The photograph above, taken in 1929, shows Valerie Smith as Colonel Barker, standing in front of a fireplace and holding a pipe and a newspaper. The caption reads, "Colonel Barker: The Latest Impersonation." The photograph appeared on the front cover of The Graphic, a popular British weekly magazine, adding to Barker's notoriety. Barker's gender identity and deception were ahead of their time, and her story is a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of gender and identity in the 1920s. Her life challenges our assumptions about gender roles and expectations, and she remains an intriguing figure in the history of transgender and LGBTQ+ experiences.
MADE IN AUSTRALIA
Safe Shipping with 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
FREE PERSONALISATION*
We are proud to offer a range of customisation features including Personalised Captions, Color Filters and Picture Zoom Tools
SECURE PAYMENTS
We happily accept a wide range of payment options so you can pay for the things you need in the way that is most convenient for you
* Options may vary by product and licensing agreement. Zoomed Pictures can be adjusted in the Cart.
