News from Access Services at Public Record Office Victoria
August 2007– Number 24

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.

1. PROV User survey - online now!
2. Victorian Archives Centre (VAC) - 50,000th Reading Room visitor!
3. Exhibition news
4. Ballarat Archives Centre (BAC) news
5. Volunteers' news
6. Koorie Records Unit (KRU) news
7. National Family History Week
8. Voices from the archives of the Royal Women's Hospital - an Australian Women's Archives Project (AWAP) seminar
9. PROV Seminar Series 2007
10. Archival Support Program 2007
11. New Series available on the PROV Online Catalogue
12. Free Tours of the Victorian Archives Centre
13. Staff Speaking Engagements
14. Feedback
15. About this publication

1. PROV USER SURVEY - ONLINE NOW!
The PROV User Survey for 2007 is currently available for users to complete. It should take no longer than 10 minutes to do and is an essential tool for PROV to analyse and review Reading Rooms and Reference Services. The survey is accessible ONLINE – from the PROV website and at computer terminals in both the North Melbourne and Ballarat Reading Rooms until late June 2007. Results from the survey will be analysed and a report will appear in rEsearch later this year.

2. VICTORIAN ARCHIVES CENTRE (VAC) 50,000TH READING ROOM VISITOR
On 29 May, PROV celebrated a milestone event for the VAC Reading Room. Mal Nolan from Bendigo was the 50,000th visitor to walk through the Reading Room doors. Mal was thrilled to be presented with PROV publications including 'Private Lives, Public Records: Family History Resources at Public Record Office Victoria' to mark the occasion.

3. EXHIBITION NEWS
Extra! Extra! Crime of the Century! Bigamy, Theft and Murder revised edition of online exhibition.
The refurbished PROV online exhibition Bigamy, Theft and Murder: The Extraordinary Tale of Frederick Bailey Deeming is now available for viewing online at <http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/deeming>

Amongst the new features of Bigamy, Theft and Murder are more than 50 digitised and transcribed documents from PROV's collection, containing a wealth of detail about the murder case that overnight made Deeming the criminal of the century. Other additions include photographs, illustrations and artwork reproduced from the numerous penny dreadfuls and shilling shocker publications popular at the time. These books shamelessly rehashed every half-truth and sordid detail that the daily newspapers churned out during the late nineteenth century investigation and trial.

Around 80 people attended a fascinating seminar on Deeming on Tuesday 22 May 2007, the eve of the 115th anniversary of his execution (23 May 1892). Speakers at the seminar included: Maurice Gurvich (Magistrate, co-author of The Scarlet Thread: Australia's Jack the Ripper, a True Story); Dr Malcolm Dodd (Senior Forensic Specialist, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine); Ralph Stavely (retired Detective Chief Inspector of Victoria Police, currently President, Police Historical Society); Dr Rachael Weaver (researcher and writer, author of Criminal of the Century); Diane Gardiner (Manager, Community Access, PROV) and Dr Sebastian Gurciullo (Archivist, Online Exhibitions, PROV). A podcast of the full proceedings of the seminar and launch will be available soon on the PROV website – stay tuned for further updates!

Summers Past: Golden Days in the Sun 1950-1970
Now open at the Victorian Archives Centre is a travelling exhibition from the National Archives of Australia which provides an experience of Australian summers of decades past. 'Summers Past: Golden Days in the Sun, 1950-70', comprises 75 photographic images from the National Archives' Australian News and Information Bureau collection. Photographs are themed around fun in the sun, beach culture, summer activities and sports as experienced by many Australians at the time. The exhibition is on show until 11 November 2007.

For more information on the exhibition, visit the NAA website at <http://www.naa.gov.au/exhibitions/summers_past/summers_past.html>

4. BALLARAT ARCHIVES CENTRE (BAC) NEWS
BAC Stakeholders Group
PROV held its inaugural Ballarat Archives Centre Stakeholders Group Meeting on 30 May 2007 culminating in a celebration to mark 25 years since the opening of the BAC Reading Room. Representatives attended from a wide variety of cultural institutions and organisations from the Ballarat region including libraries, museums, galleries and family and local history organisations.

The Stakeholders Group has been established to provide a forum for PROV to update members on major initiatives being undertaken, and for members to provide feedback on various aspects of PROV and BAC services. The stakeholders' meetings also provide a forum for members to discuss issues affecting museums, galleries and local and family history groups within the Ballarat area and to explore ideas for collaborative projects in the Central Highlands region. Topics discussed at the first meeting included: PROV’s three year priorities and objectives; the new VAC and BAC guides to microfiche and film; upcoming PROV seminars and Koorie Records Unit workshops to be held at Ballarat; and information on the Bendigo Regional Archives Centre project.

BAC Petitions Display
On display until the end of August at the BAC are reproductions of some petitions sent to the City of Ballaarat (VPRS 2500, General Correspondence Files). Sent during the 1860s and 1870s, the petitions reflect issues of importance to the local residents at the time. An 1866 petition requesting permission to call a public meeting of ratepayers to discuss the installation of bells at the Ballarat Town Hall is also included.

The display coincides with a project the Ballarat and District Genealogical Society has been working on which involved compiling an index from names appearing in petitions in PROV's VPRS 2500 series. As it is a requirement that signatures are accompanied by a residential address, the information collected from these petitions will be useful for family historians wanting to know where people lived.

For further information contact the PROV Exhibitions Team on (03) 9348 5600.

Free PROV Seminar - Digging into the Archives: Research at the Ballarat Archives Centre
A few limited places are still available for this free seminar which takes participants through the wealth of records held at the BAC. Covering the Central Highlands Region, the records relate to municipalities, courts, mining and other local activities. Participants will discover how to find records at: the BAC; the Victorian Archives Centre and online via the PROV website. The event also includes a tour of the BAC. The seminar will be held on Wednesday 27 June from 10am to 12.30pm and is free to attend. Bookings are essential and can be made by phoning Public Programs on (03) 9348 5757.

5. VOLUNTEERS NEWS
Volunteers indexing Outward Passenger Lists recently noted the Maori King Tawhiao, with his entourage, was travelling on the Sorata from New Zealand to London. Further research showed that the King was on route to having the 'Treaty of Waitangi' honoured. Amongst other requirements, he wanted a separate Maori Parliament and an independent commission of inquiry into land confiscations. (See http://www.dnzb.govt.nz)

It was found that one of many long, social articles in the 'The Times' described the appearance, dress, mannerisms and characters of the King and his party on the journey to London. They were said to have behaved themselves exceedingly well, although they disliked the glare of public life and did not wish to be feted at each port.

6. KOORIE RECORDS UNIT (KRU) NEWS
Free Workshops on accessing Victorian Aboriginal Records.
The KRU has been holding workshops to promote and improve the accessibility of Aboriginal records in PROV’s collection to the Victorian Koorie community.

The workshop program includes: an overview of the Stolen Generations; overviews of significant reports and events relating to the access to Aboriginal records; accounts by people who have accessed their personal records and what they experienced; and records management and conservation issues. The workshops also allow for ample participant networking and question and answer times.

Upcoming dates and locations for the workshops are: Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 June in Albury/Wodonga; Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 July in Shepparton; Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 July in Bendigo; and Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 August in Metropolitan Melbourne at the VAC.

Further to the workshop, PROV has a number of small grants available for Koorie organisations and non-government record-holders for preservation and making accessible Indigenous records. To be eligible to apply for the small grants, attendance to both days of the workshop is a prerequisite.

Registration forms or further details on the workshops and grants are available from Simon Flagg, Acting Manager, Koorie Records Unit by phone (03) 9348 5773 or email <simon.flagg@prov.vic.gov.au>

NAIDOC Week Event - Discovering your past through records
As part of NAIDOC Week (8-15 July) celebrations, Stolen Generations Victoria (SGV) and PROV are planning a half day seminar aimed at promoting a greater understanding for the Aboriginal community of Aboriginal records available for research. The seminar will be held on Wednesday 11 July at Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre in Preston and will include an overview of Aboriginal records held at PROV and other institutions and what can be gained by using these important resources.

There are many stories told about Aboriginal people from 1839 to 1960, however few people ever read the official documents from the period. These records tell stories that are rarely heard and provide a link with the past stretching over more than a hundred years.

If you have ever wanted to find out more about your family history or are just interested in Aboriginal history, come along and discover the journey of Aboriginal ancestors.

For bookings and further information, please contact SGV by phone (03) 9486 6122 or Simon Flagg at PROV on (03) 9348 5629 or email <simon.flagg@prov.vic.gov.au>.

7. NATIONAL FAMILY HISTORY WEEK
National Family History Week 2007 will be held 4 to 12 August. To see what is happening in your area, visit <http://www.familyhistoryweek.org.au>. PROV will be involved in two events during the week. See the website or scroll down to item 12, Staff Speaking Engagements for further details.

8. 'VOICES FROM THE ARCHIVES OF THE ROYAL WOMEN'S HOSPITAL' - AN AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S ARCHIVES PROJECT (AWAP) SEMINAR
The AWAP Victorian Committee presents 'Voices from the Archives of the Royal Women's Hospital' a seminar to be preseted by Professor Janet McCalman on Saturday 14 July at 11am to 12.00pm at the Victorian Archives Centre, 99 Shiel Street, North Melbourne.

Janet McCalman, teaches the history of health and medicine at the University of Melbourne and for eight years wrote a fortnightly column in 'The Age' newspaper. She is also the author of the acclaimed book 'Sex and Suffering: Women's Health and a Women's Hospital 1856-1996' will be presenting her seminar on this publication.

For further information and bookings on this event, please contact Rosemary Francis via email at <landrfrancis@bigpond.com>.

9. PROV SEMINAR SERIES 2007
The PROV Seminar Series includes a range of seminars aimed at assisting researchers to get the most out of the PROV collection. The next seminars are: 'Back to School: Education Records at PROV' Tuesday 19 June at the VAC and 'Digging into the Archives: Research at the Ballarat Archives Centre' at the BAC on Wednesday 27 June.

The Seminar Series July - November program includes such topics as; 'Finding the French in the Archives' on Wednesday 4 July; 'Researching at Geelong Heritage Centre' on Wednesday 19 September; 'Ancestors in the Archives' on Saturday 11 August; 'Crime and Punishment' on Thursday 11 October; 'Australian Lebanese Stories in the Archives' on Saturday 20 October; and 'Records of Work, our Employment and Industrial Heritage' on Thursday 29 November. All seminars from July to November 2007 are free to attend, but bookings are essential.

The Seminar Series July - November 2007 brochure with full details on each seminar will be available shortly from PROV Reading Rooms or at the end of June, visit <http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/events/seminars.asp> to view and download the brochure.

10. ARCHIVAL SUPPORT PROGRAM 2007
The Archival Support Program (ASP) offers training for small archives and collection holders. It is hosted in conjunction with the Australian Society of Archivists, the National Archives of Australia and PROV at the VAC, metropolitan and regional locations. Upcoming days cover topics such as: 'Next Steps in Archives'; 'Computers and Small Archives' and 'Preservation and Conservation: Photographic Material'.

Pick up a brochure with full details of each ASP session from PROV Reading Rooms or visit <http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/events/asprogram.asp> to view and download the ASP 2007 brochure.

11. NEW SERIES AVAILABLE ON THE PROV ONLINE CATALOGUE
We have created a new page on the website listing new series that have been made available online. It will be updated every two months when rEsearch is published.

12. FREE TOURS OF THE VICTORIAN ARCHIVES CENTRE
For individuals or groups wanting to book a free, volunteer guided tour of the VAC, please phone (03) 9348 5600 to book or visit http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/events/vactours.asp for the schedule of upcoming tours. Don't forget that the tour is the only way to see the repository displays which feature a wonderful array of records and objects from the PROV collection.

13. STAFF SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Visit our Events Calendar for a list of upcoming PROV speaking events

14. FEEDBACK
If you would like to send feedback and suggestions on the content of this newsletter or if you know someone who would be interested in receiving rEsearch, please email ask.prov@dvc.vic.gov.au.

15. ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION
We have included you on our mailing list because you have indicated interest in receiving PROV information. However, if you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please email ask.prov@dvc.vic.gov.au or phone PROV Reception 03 9348 5600 and we will remove you from our list.

You can access the web page version of this newsletter at www.prov.vic.gov.au/publications. back issues are also available on the website.

ISSN 1449-0331
Copyright © 2007 Public Record Office Victoria

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