Digital Imagery as a Tool for Historical Research

William Oates from the University of New England Heritage Centre, a frequent contributor to Archives Outside, recently gave a talk on using digital images as a tool for historical research. It is a wide ranging talk using some great images as examples. Bill also gives Archives Outside a shoutout (thanks Bill!) and references some of the crowdsourcing posts from the blog.

Access the talk

To Access the talk click on the link below. Scroll through the list of talks and select the talk titled, William Oates – Digital Imagery as Tools for Historical Research.

William Oates-Digital Imagery as Tools for Historical Research

Archives Outside resources mentioned in the talk

Crying in the Archives [Two Historians’ Experiences] #Historyweek

‘Crying in the archives, joy and exhilaration in the archives, are all part of the experience of being there’ state Ann Curthoys and Ann McGrath in How to Write History That People Want to Read (UNSW Press, Sydney, 2009). Rejecting cliches about ‘dry and dusty’ history and historians, they present the view from the other side of the counter: the ‘excitement of libraries and archives’, the ‘tactile encounter with surviving evidence’, the ‘pure joy of sitting in the peace and quiet of a library with a wonderful manuscript’, and ‘encounters with real people from the past’. Curthoys and McGrath describe libraries and archives as places where ‘Living participants are as close as they will ever come to speaking to us directly… The poignancy of some archives can also make us cry… Relatives can become aware of shocking oppression or private tragedy suffered by their mothers and fathers; they can find the key to family omissions and mysteries. They can feel reunited with loved ones… Archives give you the closest thing to a flashback anyone is likely to have – except perhaps Dr Who and other time travellers’ (pp.66-68).

It is all too easy to see archives as just ink and paper, to count them as statistics: with over 28,000 original items issued to 5,348 individuals in the State Records reading room in 2012/13. But Curthoys and McGrath remind us that archives effect present lives because they are evidence of past lives. Staff in our reading room routinely help people access records about mental health, court cases, prisoners, coronial inquests and divorces. And yes I have seen people crying in the archives.

Further information on what we hold on these topics may be found in our Archives in brief

Award for Professor Ann Curthoys

I had the pleasure on Tuesday 10 September of seeing Professor Ann Curthoys receive the History Council of New South Wales Annual Citation for 2013 ‘in recognition of her outstanding contributions as an historian to teaching, scholarship and the community’. This event took place as part of History Week 2013.

Do you have an archive story to share?

What item in our collection has had an impact on your life? Why not tell us about it?

A wrap-up of Open Day 2013 #srnsw2013

What a huge event Open Day was this year! Around 350-400 people turned up for a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the NSW State archives.

The theme of the day was Transport, Travel & Tourism and the program was packed with speakers, tours, advice on conservation and digital recordkeeping, plus a display of treasures from our collection.

The history and genealogy stalls were very popular, as were the vintage military vehicles, food and coffee (the important stuff!) and the second-hand book sale.

A visual wrap-up of Open Day 2013

Behind-the-scenes tours set off every 30 mins.

A tour group outside the reading room

The ever popular Conservation tour stop

Thirteen history and genealogy stalls kept the punters busy.

History and genealogy stalls

A display of treasure from our collection captivated visitors.

Browsing treasures from the NSW State archives

One staff train-spotter brought in his train set.

Setting up the tracks

Toot, toot!

And we invited along Mal Smith, who makes dioramas and models of trains using photographs in our collection as inspiration.

You can see the photo used

Mal with one of his train models

There were nine talks on during the day from guest speakers and staff, plus digital recordkeeping and conservation information sessions which were booked out early.

Peri talking about digital recordkeeping

Peri talking about the challenges of our digital future

Paul giving advice on storing your records at home

Staff were visible by their red shirts. But some went a tad further…

Can you believe it, Gail found a transport-themed skirt

Janette appeared to have been plucked straight from the convict era

Vintage vehicles were on display

Several vintage military vehicles on display

A vintage fire engine (used in our latest Can You Date…?)

At the end of the day those staff still standing got a ride on the vintage fire truck.

Yahoo!

All in all, a good day had by all.

See you at the next Open Day!

Can you date this….fire engine?

When trying to date photographs, a handy tool is to identify any vehicles that may be present in the image.

Here’s a unique vehicle that was part of the military vehicles display at State Records Open Day last Friday.

Can you date this fire engine?

Thanks to the Museum of Fire for coming to our Open day and displaying part of their collection on the day!

“Gone but not forgotten”

20013_a035_06_17265000055 cropped bottles

Empty beer bottles on Norfolk Island, 1 December 1942, presumably emptied by DMR employees

During World War II the NSW Department of Main Roads built defence works for the Commonwealth government in the Northern Territory and Queensland and for the United States Army on Norfolk Island. It compiled photographs taken by its employees in albums, neatly labelling them.

Construction operations, Northern territory, 1940-1941.

I made use of these albums when putting together the World War II section of the Australia and War digital gallery. But I could only include a small number of these fascinating photographs. Now the albums have been digitised and are available through Photo Investigator. They record the construction methods and equipment, the working conditions and the effects of heavy rains on the work, as well as including picturesque touristy shots. They are well worth a look even if you are not into old cars and trucks.

Plant bogged after rain, possibly Belyando River area, 1942-1943 (cropped image)

Get your skates on and check out our new favourite blog

The team at CSU Regional Archives, Wagga Wagga have put together a blog On Record @ CSU Regional Archives featuring posts based on items in their collection. Here is a sample of their work.

Roller skating has proven to be a favourite pastime for the people of Wagga Wagga, with a number of skating rinks existing in the town over the years.

This keenness for skating is supported by the fact that during the winter months of 1888 there was enough interest to necessitate the existence of two competing skating rinks. The first to open on May 7, 1888 was the Wagga Roller Skating Rink located in the Freemason’s Hall, and was followed by the Victoria Skating Rink on June 1, 1888 which saw the Albion Flour Mill on the corner of Kincaid and Trail Street transformed into a first class skating floor.

Read more

Can you date this photograph? [Grenfell]

The main street of Grenfell in the Central West of NSW.

Can you date this photograph?

Larger version on Flickr

We have many other undated photographs in Photo Investigator and on our Flickr account. If you know the dates or any other interesting facts about these images please let us know.

Open Day 2013

In case you missed the promo via our other channels we are having another Open Day on Friday 30 August. The theme for the day is Transport, Travel and Tourism and there will be talks, behind the scenes tours and information sessions.

Most events are already booked out, but never fear! There is still plenty to see and do:

history and genealogy stalls
treasures from our collection will be on display
souvenirs and second-hand books for sale
a range of food options
plus a display of vintage military vehicles.

And hey, if it rains, there’s sure to be some places suddenly available in the talks and tours ;)

Can you date this photograph? [Darling Harbour]

An ever changing area of Sydney, Hickson Road, Darling Harbour.

Can you date this photograph?

Larger version on Flickr

We have many other undated photographs in Photo Investigator and on our Flickr account. If you know the dates or any other interesting facts about these images please let us know.