Transcript Getting started with research seminar

Getting started
with research
Objectives of this seminar
• to learn how to use Queensland State
Archives resources to conduct research
• to understand how to locate resources
using the QSA website and the catalogue
Overview of seminar
• overview of holdings, the collection
• planning your research
• our website
– finding aids and guides
– indexes
• the QSA catalogue
– ArchivesSearch
– Image Queensland
Overview of holdings
• records of Queensland public authorities
including State government departments,
courts, local government and statutory
authorities
• most records were created in the period
from 1859
The collection
Permanent public records
include:
• drawings
• documents
• photographs
• audio-visual records
• maps and plans
QSA Item ID 629780, Tourist map
Great Barrier Reef 1947
Resources
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passenger lists for immigrants
state electoral rolls
wills and intestacies
inquests
land records
school admission registers
maps
Government building plans
railway staff, engines and rollingstock plans
What isn’t held
• Queensland State Archives does not
collect manuscripts, newspapers, private
photographs, books or private archives
such as business, church or society
records
• Commonwealth government records
Birth, death & marriage certificates
• are not issued by Queensland State Archives
• requests should be submitted to the
Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and
Marriages
• online historical indexes to search on the
Department of Justice and Attorney-General
website at http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/
Before you visit QSA
• collect basic facts on your person or topic. e.g., if
you are researching a person, try and gather useful
details such as:
– full names including middle, maiden or former
names, aliases and alternative spellings
– date of birth
– nationality or country of origin
– date of arrival in Australia
– any places connected with the person
• visit your local library
Public Search Room
Open Monday to Friday and the second
Saturday of every month from 9.00am to
4.30pm
Public Search Room
• a Researcher ID Card is required and can be
obtained on arrival at reception
• free wireless internet
• power outlets for laptop computers
• only certain items can
be taken into the PSR
• food and drink are not
permitted inside the PSR
Facilities
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readers’ lounge
wheelchair access to all public areas
lockers for the
secure personal storage
undercover parking
Copying services
• a fee-based copying service
• photocopying and scanning of records
cannot be done by researchers
• digital cameras, where the flash can be
disabled, can be used by researchers to
copy records
• self-service reader printers are available in
the microfilm room
Archival research
• generally archival records are not indexed
by name, geographical location or specific
subjects
• there is no single subject index
• how the person interacted with the
Queensland Government e.g. immigration,
court?
• locating the required information can be a
time-consuming process
QSA website
www.archives.qld.gov.au
Online indexes
Divided into subject categories:
• Convict / prisoner indexes
• Court indexes
• Hospital / sanitoria indexes
• Immigration indexes
• Indigenous indexes
• Lands indexes
• Professions
• Orphanage and reformatory indexes
• Other indexes
Selected online indexes
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Assisted immigration 1848-1912
Boer War 1899-1902
Civil servants 1865-1867
Criminal depositions 1861-1885
Divorces 1861-1894
Inquests 1859-1886
Justices of the Peace 1859-1910
Mineral leases 1871-1940
Passport register indexes 1926-1939
Teachers 1860-1904
Wills 1857-1935
Brief guides
• quick way to identify frequently used
records at Queensland State Archives
• main series of records for research
• about 50 titles
• available online and in
the PSR
Search procedures
• used in the Public Search Room to find
specific records
• step by step process
• about 25 titles
• available online
and in the PSR
Searching the catalogue
• type keyword(s) into the search box
• keywords can be the name of an individual
or Government department/agency, a
place name or a subject
• basic and advanced
search
Basic search
Enter the school name into the ‘Search for’ box
Search result summary
Results under Agencies, Series and Items
Agencies
The public authority who created the
records; the authoring body:
– Health Department
– Police Station, Calliope
– Circuit Court, Gladstone
– Court of Petty Sessions, Brisbane
– Gin Gin State School
Agency search results
Select link for Agency details
Agency details
Series
A group of records documenting a common
activity or function:
– Bench Record and Summons Book
– Deposition books
– Minute books
– Register of licenses
– School admission registers
Series search results
Items
An individual record or image within a
series:
– a letterbook
– a file
– a bundle of correspondence
– a box of ecclesiastical files (wills)
– a school admission register
Item search results
How to order records for retrieval
• only from computers in the PSR
• enter your Researcher ID and table
number, and print request slip
• records are placed on shelves under your
table number
Access to records
• most records are open, for example
electoral rolls
• some records however have access
restrictions, for example:
– 15 years for school admission registers
– 30 years for Cabinet papers
– 65 years for criminal depositions
• Access to Restricted Records form permission to access restricted records
Using original records
Help us preserve the records for the future, please
• do not lick fingers to turn pages
• do not lean on the records
• do not write on the records
• leave in original order – do not re-arrange
anything
• do not remove items from original records
• use pillows and rests for larger items
Reference archivist on duty
Image Queensland
Basic search in Image Queensland
Image search results
Digital image details
Select the thumbnail to
view image
Digital image view
Digital images from ArchivesSearch
Scroll down within item details
Exhibitions
Select the title to access the images within an exhibition
Exhibition images
Digital image details (DID)
Digital Image ID 3376
Parliament House, erection of balconies on George. Street frontage, c 1878
Themes
Select the title to access the images within a theme
qsa bulletin
• email bulletin
• monthly
• updates on events, and new records
added to the collection
• available under Newsletters and bulletins
at www.archives.qld.gov.au/
Social media
Contact us details
PO Box 1397
Sunnybank Hills QLD 4109
07 3131 7777
07 3131 7764
[email protected]
Questions?