News from Access Services at Public Record Office Victoria
August 2005 – Number 12

rEsearch is a bi-monthly update on public access news at Public Record Office Victoria (PROV). Current and past editions of rEsearch are available online here and are also emailed to subscribers. Email a request to ask.prov@dvc.vic.gov.au if you want to be included on our subscriber list.

Contents
1. 'Access the Collection' Goes Live .
2. Finding Your Story Now Available
3. Exhibitions
• Forgotten Faces: Chinese and the Law
• It's A Dog's Life!
4. What's New
• New Series Available on the PROV Online Catalogue
5. Seminars 2005
• Archival Support Program, February - November 2005
• Seminar Series, June – November 2005
6. Saturday Openings, August - October 2005
7. Tours of the VAC
8. PROV Calendar August – October 2005
9. Feedback
10. About this publication

1. 'Access the Collection' Goes Live

You will have noticed if you have tried to search or order PROV records since the 1st of August that the Archives@Victoria online database has now been replaced by a new system featured under the 'Access the Collection' area of the PROV website.

PROV's new online catalogue has been developed to allow public users to seamlessly access information from both the physical collection (records that are typically paper files, and volumes) as well as the digital collection (records that are stored electronically in a digital format). The design of the new online catalogue interface also allows for greater ease of searching and ordering, while providing more details on records and new links to other information sources which may be useful for your research.

Training sessions are being held at the VAC and BAC reading rooms for those who want to gain the most out of their searching and ordering in the new online catalogue. For information about training sessions or any general enquiries regarding PROV's new online catalogue, contact (03) 9348 5600 or visit our website http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/events/patrn.asp#access..

2. Finding Your Story Now Available

PROV's newest publication, Finding Your Story: A Resource Manual to the Records of the Stolen Generations in Victoria, is now available for purchase or to download free of charge from the PROV website.

Finding Your Story was produced in conjunction with Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV) and is a comprehensive resource relevant to the Stolen Generations and their families. It provides detailed information on government and non-government record and archival collections in Victoria which may contain information about the separation from of Indigenous people from their families.

Finding Your Story is available in print form for $34.95 (including GST) from PROV Reading Rooms, the Koorie Heritage Trust Inc. Shop and Information Victoria Bookshop. Order forms are available on the PROV website at http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/publications. Alternatively Finding Your Story can be read online and downloaded free of charge from the PROV website at http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/findingyourstory.

3. Exhibitions

• Forgotten Faces: Chinese and the Law
In its final moments at VAC, Forgotten Faces: Chinese and the Law will finish its successful run on 27 August before traveling to the Golden Dragon Museum for display from September 2005.

• It's A Dog's Life!
A new interactive exhibition will be on display at the VAC from 5 September to 21 October. Supported by Visions of Australia, the National Archives of Australia traveling exhibition, It's a Dog's Life! features the diverse range of work that animals have undertaken for the Australian government over the past one hundred years. Dogs, horses, donkeys, camels bullocks, cats, pigeons, beetles and even worms have all been employed to perform vital official duties.

On display over the school holidays, It's a Dogs Life! is perfect for school children to see, learn and discover the amazing work performed by animals for Australia.

Exhibitions at the VAC can be viewed Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm as well as 9am to 4.30pm on Saturdays that the Reading Room is open.

4. What's New

• New Series Available on the PROV Online Catalogue.
Victorian Public Record Series (VPRS) are occasionally reprocessed as research by PROV archivists uncovers more about the records and their context. The lists appearing below may include some reprocessed series, as well as new accessions and transfers of additional consignments to existing series. The lists may also include records that are closed (in part or whole) to general public access in PROV reading rooms. If a record has been closed under section 9 or section 10 of the Public Records Act, you may need to apply for access under Freedom of Information. To do this, you will need to know which government department is responsible for the particular records and staff in our reading rooms can provide assistance with this.

In some instances you can also apply for Special Access to some closed records by writing to the Keeper of Public Records for permission. PROVguide 14 has information on how to go about this.

VA 2591 Office of the Government Astronomer and Superintendent Geodetic Survey
The records of the first Geodetic Survey of Victoria have been transferred to PROV custody. This survey (from 1858 to 1873) was the first scientific survey based on astronomical principles. The work of that survey provided the basis for the survey work required for the sale and selection of Crown lands and the definition of the Victoria - New South Wales border. PROV now holds the original observations, computations and calculations as well as the maps held as part of the Historic Plan Collection and a small series of correspondence.

VPRS 15314/P1 Record and Computation Books 1859-1956 (Open), 19 units
VPRS 15315/P1 Field Books of the Old Geodetic Triangulation Survey 1859-1876 (Open), 9 units
VPRS 6910/P1 Inward Correspondence, Geodetic Survey 1859-1872 (Open), 1 unit

VA 1056 Soil Conservation Authority
VPRS 14739/P1 Subject Index to VPRS 14740 Photographs 1952-1956 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14740/P1 Photographs 1935-1963 (Open), 7 units
VPRS 14742/P1 Photo Register 1940-1954 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14743/P1 Photo Negatives, Sequentially Numbered 1940-1954 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14744/P1 Photographs and Photo Negatives, Sequentially Numbered 1957-1959 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14744/P2 Photographs and Photo Negatives, Sequentially Numbered 1957-1959 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14748/P1 Index to Slides 1951-1966 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14750/P1 Photo Negatives, Sequentially Numbered with Alpha Prefix 1971-1972 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14751/P1 Photographs and Photo Negatives, Sequentially Numbered with Alpha Prefix 1938-1958 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14746/P1 Photo Negatives 1950-1956 (Open), 1 unit

VA 534 Department of State Forests (Forest Commission)
VPRS 11563/P4 General Correspondence Files, Annual Single Number System 1933-1985 (Open), 2283 units

VA 4554 Department of Sustainability and Environment
VPRS 14853/P1 Annual Reports 1919-1984 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14854/P1 Central Council Minutes 1957-1984 (Open), 13 unit
VPRS 14855/P1 Circulars 1919-1959 (Open), 3 units
VPRS 14857/P1 Compartment Register 1931-1961 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14861/P1 Current Affairs and Information Bulletin 1959-1984 (Open), 4 units
VPRS 14864/P1 Deposits Register1910-1992 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14865/P1 Farm Forestry Agreements1966-1986 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14869/P1 Index to Circulars 1959 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14872/P1 Index to Crown Solicitor's Opinion 1984-1985 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14874/P1 Index to Standing Instructions 1975-1984 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14877/P1 Letter Books1882-1939 (Open), 4 units
VPRS 14881/P1 Microfilm Project Report 1977 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14883/P1 Publications 1942-1995 (Open), 4 units
VPRS 14884/P1 Pulpwood Reconnaissance Report 1936 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14886/P1 Register of Farm Forestry Agreements 1966-1986 (Open), 4 units
VPRS 14888/P1 Register of Licences and Leases 1921-1984 (Open), 6 units
VPRS 14889/P1 Reports on State Forests 1885 -1912 (Open), 2 units
VPRS 14891/P1 Forest Management Books, Rushworth State Forest 1930-1949 (Open), 2 units
VPRS 14892/P1 Research Reports 1979-1985 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14894/P1 Revenue and Cost of Operations in Forest Districts 1931-1938 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14876/P1 Standing Instructions 1958-1984 (Open), 6 units
VPRS 14898/P1 State Forest Output Books 1916-1945 (Open), 3 units
VPRS 14899/P1 Technical Reports 1981-1983 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14901/P1 Working and Management Plans 1919-1984 (Open), 3 units
VPRS 14903/P1 Employment Register, Beechworth 1931-1943 (Open), 2 units
VPRS 14904/P1 Photographs, Pulp Log and Saw Log 1975 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14906/P1 Forest Commerce Index to General Correspondence Files, Annual Single Number System 1987-1990 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14909/P1 Register of Employees 1961-1983 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14910/P1 Staff Records 1948-1952 (Open), 2 units
VPRS 14912/P1 General Correspondence – Management of Tanjil Bren Village 1960-1971 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14915/P1 Personal History Cards 1952-1968 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14916/P1 Staff Posting Records 1958-1979 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14920/P1 Register of Position Files II 1975-1982 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14924/P1 General Correspondence Files, Single Number System 1907-1921 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14932/P1 Register of Personal Files 1952-1983 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14922/P1 Register of Position Files I 1958-1975 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14934/P1 Correspondence Register 1897-1930 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14935/P1 Index to General Correspondence Files, Annual Single Number System 1974-1983 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14938/P1 Index to Log Allocation Files 1941-1965 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 3225/P1 Log Allocation Files, Microfiche 1977-1979 (Open), 2 units
VPRS 14948/P1 Log Allocation Files 1921-1979 (Open), 8 units
VPRS 14949/P1 Register of General Correspondence, Annual Single Number System, Grazing Files, Sawmill Registrations, Occupation Files, Ski Club Sites, Library Files 1953-1984 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14950/P1 Seeds Received Book, Stanley Nursery 1914-1932 (Open), 1 unit
VPRS 14952/R1 Map, Forest Divisions and Forest Districts 1966 (Open), 1unit

VA 3098 Department of Education, Employment and Training
All documentation from Stage Two of the Education History Unit transfers is now approved and available through our online catalogue. Stage Two consists mainly of photographic collections. This is the last of the series to be approved.

VPRS 14562 (Consignments P1 - P13) Miscellaneous Photographs, Negatives and Slides and Ephemera (Education History Unit) ?1967-c.2003 (Open), comprising a total of 64 units.

5. Seminars 2005

• Archival Support Program, February - November 2005
There is still time to book into the last two Archival Support Program (ASP) sessions of the year. They are: 'Introduction to Archives' on Saturday 24 September at Churchill, in Gippsland and 'Computers and Small Archives' on Saturday 26 November at the Victorian Archives Centre.

The cost to attend an ASP session is $16.50 (incl. morning tea, lunch and GST). For further information, contact Laura Daniele, Public Programs Officer on (03) 9348 5757.

• Seminar Series
The PROV Seminar Series Program has upcoming events covering such topics as education records, researching your ancestors and immigration records. Brochures with full details are also available from PROV reading rooms and the PROV website at http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/publications/publns/2005JulNovSeminarProgram.pdf, or phone (03) 9348 5600 for one to be sent to you.

6. Saturday Openings, August - October 2005

The Victorian Archives Centre Reading Room is open on the second and last Saturday of most months, excepting long weekends. Saturday openings for August – October are; 13 August, 27 August, 10 September, 24 September, 8 October and 29 October.

7. Tours of the VAC

Tours of the VAC exhibition space, reading room and repository continue to be very popular. They are held on the last Friday of every month and on open Saturdays. For reservations, phone reception on (03) 9348 5600.

8. PROV Calendar August – October 2005

The PROV calendar for speaking engagements and other dates can be found at: http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/events/patrn.htm#speaking.

9. Feedback

We welcome your feedback and suggestions on the content of this newsletter via ask.prov@dvc.vic.gov.au. If you know someone who would be interested in receiving rEsearch, they can subscribe by emailing a request to ask.prov@dvc.vic.gov.au.

10. About this publication

We have included you on our mailing list because you already receive news publications from PROV, or because you have indicated interest in receiving email information. However, if you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please email us at ask.prov@dvc.vic.gov.au or phone PROV Reception (03) 9348 5600 and we will remove you from the list.

ISSN 1499-0331
Copyright © 2005 Public Record Office Victoria

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