News from Access Services at Public Record Office Victoria
December 2008 - Number 32

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@prov.vic.gov.au> if you want to be included on our subscriber list.

1. 'Max Dupain on Assignment' -- 15 January to 22 May 2009
2. Digital Photographic Preservation Workshop – ASP 2009
3. Sir Rupert Hamer Records Management Awards 2008
4. Victorian Community History Awards
5. Shake Your Family Tree 2009
6. Heritage Keepers Volunteer Training Program - Short Course
7. New Probate and Shipping Indexes Launched
8. Koorie Index of Names Launched
9. Reading Room Closures
10. Last Issue of 'PROactive' Due Out March 2009
11. Seminar Program 2009
12. Archival Support Program 2009
13. New and Updated PROVguides
14. New Series Available on the PROV Online Catalogue
15. Staff Speaking Engagements
16. Feedback
17. About This Publication

1. 'Max Dupain on Assignment' – 15 January to 22 May 2009
'Max Dupain on Assignment', a new National Archives of Australia (NAA) exhibition will have its only Victorian display at the Victorian Archives Centre.

The exhibition features over 60 eye-catching examples of rarely seen government work by world – proclaimed Australian photographer Max Dupain from the National Archives’ collection. Also featured in the exhibition are photographs Dupain took for CSR Limited from the Noel Butlin Archives Centre at the Australian National University.

While Dupain is best known for his artistic work, throughout his career he also photographed on assignment for Commonwealth government departments and companies.

During the 1940s, 50s and 60s he was commissioned to promote the aims and activities of these various organisations. His work included corporate and advertising shots, architectural and industrial images and photographs of life on the cane fields.

Dupain brought his trademark techniques of photographing strong light and shadow to create a lineal pattern effect in the subjects he captured. These images which document an industrious young nation were also used to promote the Australian way of life overseas.

'Max Dupain on Assignment' opens 15 January and will continue at the VAC until 22 May 2009. For further information, visit <http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/online/>.

2. Digital Photographic Preservation Workshop - ASP 2009

In celebration of the display of the 'Max Dupain on Assignment' exhibition at the Victorian Archives Centre, PROV in conjunction with the National Archives of Australia is pleased to offer a free workshop on preserving digital photographs.

The workshop, which is the first of the Archival Support Program (ASP) series for 2009 (see article 12 for further information on the ASP) will be presented by a National Archives conservator. It will look at preservation issues for photographic material and will examine issues associated with digital photographs printed at home, including how to make them permanent and how to store them so that they can be retrieved in future years.

Entry is free but bookings are essential.

'Digital Photographic Preservation' will be held on 12 March 2009 at the Victorian Archives Centre, 99 Shiel Street, North Melbourne.

To book phone (03) 9348 5600 or email <reception@prov.vic.gov.au>.

3. Sir Rupert Hamer Records Management Awards 2009
The Public Records Advisory Council (PRAC) is pleased to announce the opening of the annual Sir Rupert Hamer Records Management Awards 2008.

Developed in recognition of excellence and innovation in records management in Victoria, the awards are named after Sir Rupert Hamer, who was Victorian Premier when the Public Records Act was passed in 1973 and when PROV opened its first office and repository in 1975.

Government agencies who demonstrate the preservation of records of permanent value and innovations in records management practices are encouraged to apply. From 2007, the awards have included categories for Places of Deposit (PODs) in acknowledgment of the work they do to preserve the local history of their communities.

The Sir Rupert Hamer Record Management Awards 2008 are now open for nominations and close on Thursday 9 April, 2009.

Information and nomination forms will be available from the PROV website in January at <http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/events/rmham.asp>.

4. Victorian Community History Awards
Sponsored by Information Victoria, the Victorian Community History Awards 2009 recognise excellence in historical methods and the importance of local and community history.

Entries are being accepted until Friday 27 February 2009 and prizes include $5,000 for the overall winner and six $1,000 prizes for the finalists of each category. The categories for the 2009 Victorian Community History Awards are: Best Collaborative/Community Work; Best Print/Publication; Best Audio-Visual/Multimedia; Best Exhibit/Display; Best Walk/Tour; and Best Community Research, Registers and Records.

Entries are judged on content and presentation with a view to encouraging innovative ways of recording community history across the State to reach and enrich all Victorians.

Find out more about the Victorian Community History Awards, visit <http://www.vic.gov.au/culture-sport-recreation/heritage-history/victorian-history/victorian-community-history-awards.html>.

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5. Shake Your Family Tree 2009
Following the success of the 2008 inaugural event, the National Archives of Australia (NAA) in partnership with PROV, the Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies and the Genealogical Society of Victoria will be hosting 'Shake your Family Tree 2009'.

The focus of the event is to show participants how to go about finding themselves, family and ancestors in the National Archives, PROV and other collections.

Visitors will be able to view documents, talk to reference staff about family history research, tour the Victorian Archives Centre, listen to talks and meet representatives from history and genealogy organisations, learn how to use the archive's online database and receive introductory research training.

For further information about the event, contact Ross Latham on (03) 9881 6816 or email Ross.Latham@naa.gov.au to find out more.

6. Heritage Keepers Volunteer Training Program - Short Course
Heritage Keepers Volunteer Training Program is a short training course designed to enhance the valuable work being done by volunteers who care for heritage places, objects and collections. The two and a half day course provides free training and resources covering such areas as: occupational health and safety (OHS); risk management; volunteer management; and project management.

Applications are currently open for courses to be held in regional areas in 2009 including Ararat (25 - 27 February), Bairnsdale (4 - 6 March) and Wangaratta (11 - 13 March).

Heritage Keepers Volunteer Training Program is being delivered by the Royal Historical Society of Victoria (in partnership with Silberberg Consulting and Australian Institute of Education Training) with Heritage Victoria and has been funded through 'Victoria's Heritage Strategy – Victoria's Heritage: Strengthening our Communities'.

For further information and to download an application form, visit the RHSV website at <http://www.historyvictoria.org.au>. Alternatively contact the RSHV by phone on (03) 9326 9288 or email office@historyvictoria.org.au.

7. New Probate and Shipping Indexes Launched
2008 has seen volunteers at PROV achieve major milestones through their work on indexing PROV records.

Volunteers from the Genealogical Society of Utah and the Victorian Association of Family History Organisations have completed the initial stage of a new index to probates in Victoria. The index's first stage, covering the period 1841-1925, allows researchers to search for the first time 214,000 probates held in PROV's collection by family name, place, occupation and date.

For assistance in researching wills and probates, refer to: PROVguide 70 Wills and Probate Records; PROVguide 29 Wills and Probate Records 1841-1925; and PROVguide 68 Wills and Probate Records from 1926. These are available online and in hard copy in PROV reading rooms.

PROV volunteers have also completed another instalment of the outwards immigration index. The latest instalment of 290,000 departures covers the period 1887 - 1896, was launched at the volunteers' end of year celebrations on 16 December.

The new instalment of the immigration index and the new probate index can be accessed online at: <http//access.prov.vic.gov.au/public/PROVguides/PROVguide023/PROVguide023.jsp>.

8. Koorie Index of Names Launched
PROV also launched the Koorie Index of Names (KIN) on Friday 19 December 2008.

The KIN database was developed in response to Recommendation 2 of the 2006 report to Government 'Wilam Naling…Knowing Who You Are…' where the need for providing better access to Aboriginal records within PROV's collection was identified as a major priority. The aim of the KIN database is to greatly simplify the task of researching Aboriginal family and community connections in Victorian Government records held by PROV.

PROV has a dedicated team of volunteers whose specific task is to inspect the correspondence generated by the Board for the Protection of Aborigines (1869 - 1957) to find names and family connections. To date 10,000 entries have been added to the database.

While the KIN database was officially launched this month, it is an ongoing project and will be continually updated as further names are added.

The KIN database is available to view only in PROV's reading room at the Victorian Archives Centre.

9. Reading Room Closures
A reminder to readers that the Victorian Archives Centre (VAC) and Ballarat Archives Centre (BAC) reading rooms will be closed over the Christmas and New Year period.

The VAC will be closed from 4.30 pm on Wednesday 24 December 2008 and will reopen at 9.30 am on Monday 5 January 2009.

The BAC will be closed from 4.30 pm Tuesday 23 December and will reopen at 9.30 am on Monday 5 January 2009.

The staff at PROV wish all readers a happy and safe festive season.

10. Last Issue of 'PROactive' Due Out March 2009
The next and final issue of 'PROactive', Public Record Office Victoria’s public access magazine, will be mailed to subscribers in March rather than January 2009. Since 1994, the publication has informed readers about PROV and its initiatives and the history of Victoria through public records. This farewell bumper issue of 'PROactive' will be the last PROV will produce as we focus further on developing and enhancing our online resources.

PROV's online history and news publications, 'Provenance' and 'rEsearch', have been well received by subscribers by serving the interests and needs of our research community. In addition to these, a PROV Wiki has been developed where PROV and community research on public records can be shared by all via the Internet.

The decision to focus on digital initiatives complements and enhances PROV’s online research environment, but importantly it also reflects commitment to reducing PROV's ecological footprint on the natural environment.

For 15 years 'PROactive' has been enjoyed and praised by our regular researchers, casual visitors and international guests alike. We are very sad to see it go, but look forward to communicating to readers through our online publications and forums.

To subscribe free of charge to our online publications, simply send a request to <ask.prov@prov.vic.gov.au>.

11. Seminar Programs 2009
The PROV seminar program will be undergoing changes in 2009. Rather than a structured 6 monthly program where many seminars on specific topics were presented and repeated on a regular basis, PROV will shift focus to singular special events associated with invited speakers and launches.

You can stay informed about all PROV programs and news through 'rEsearch', or by visiting the PROV events webpage <http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/events/>.

12. Archival Support Program 2009
The Archival Support Program (ASP) 2009 offers advice and instruction to the many local custodians of collections of historical documents. An initiative of PROV supported by the National Archives of Australia, it is aimed at historical societies, small archives and museums but will also be of interest to individuals preserving private collections for the future.

The first event in the program, the Digital Preservation of Photographs Workshop (see article 2 for full details), is scheduled for 12 March, with other programs to follow throughout the year. Full details of these will be listed as they come closer to hand on the PROV website at <http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/events/asprogram.asp>.

13. New and Updated PROVguides
Newly created PROVguides include:

• PROVguide 29 Wills and Probate Records 1841 - 1925 which provides directions on using the online probate index to search for and download wills and probate records and provides links to relevant resources; and
• PROVguide 67 Koorie Index of Names Project.

Recently updated PROVguides include:

• PROVguide 23 PROV's Digitised Records and Online Indexes, which now is simpler to use and has further links to online resources;
• PROVguide 50 Locating and Copying Ships' Passenger Lists;
• PROVguide 51 Family History Research at PROV, which now links to relevant online resources and other PROVguides;
• PROVguide 52 Immigration Records;
• PROVguide 57 Convict Records; and
• PROVguide 70 Wills and Probate Records.

14. New Series Available on the PROV Online Catalogue
Visit <http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/main/newrecords.asp> to view new series that have been added to the online catalogue 'Access the Collection'. The list is updated every two months to coincide with the publication of 'rEsearch'.

15. Staff Speaking Engagements
Visit our events calendar at <http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/events/calendar/default.asp> for a list of upcoming PROV speaking engagements. Book now!

16. 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@prov.vic.gov.au>.

17. 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@prov.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 <http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/publications>. Back issues are also available on the website.

ISSN 1449-0331 Copyright © 2008 Public Record Office Victoria

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