University of Melbourne Archives transcript
Interview with Jane Ellen. By Andrea Hurt
Andrea
Welcome to this University of Melbourne Library podcast.
Today we are talking with Jane Ellen about the University of Melbourne Archives, its history, the types of archival material that are held and how you can access them.
Hi Jane can you tell us about the University of Melbourne Archives?
Jane
Sure Andrea. The University of Melbourne Archives was established in 1960 and over the past 48 years, it has built a collection of great significance and richness. Our collections relate particularly to the history of Victoria and we have the largest holdings of non-government archival records in the country. It’s been described by some eminent historians as 'a collection of world importance'.
The archives are collected in order to preserve them and make them available for researchers. So this means that University of Melbourne students and academics can undertake primary source research here at the University.
Andrea
So what exactly is an archival record?
Jane
Well, it’s an unpublished and unique document that is considered to be of sufficient historical value to warrant the cost of storage and custodianship. Examples of the type of material you’ll find are correspondence, diaries, minutes of meetings, original manuscripts, financial and legal documents, posters and plans, photographs and audio recordings and so on.
We collect material from a range of sources and it might be easier to first of all state what we don’t collect and that’s government records. These are to be found in the Public Records Office of Victoria for state govt and the National Archives of Australia for the federal govt records.
Andrea
So can you tell us a little bit about the collections you do have?
Jane
Firstly we collect the historical records of this University and then we also have several hundred collections of Victorian businesses, dating back to the early years of the colony up until the present day. These include businesses in such areas as manufacturing, of all different goods, from biscuits to bricks to heavy machinery; wholesale and retail trade, including the archives of some of Melbourne’s earliest emporiums; architecture and law firms; primary producers including early settlers and stock and station agencies; mining, construction, shipping, real estate. We also have the records of many Victorian trade unions, and the records of the Victorian Trades Hall Council.
So too do we have a very broad range of professional, political and community organisations and some of these are the Women’s Electoral Lobby and many other organisations concerned with women’s rights; the Citizens Welfare Service, Melbourne City Mission and other charity and welfare bodies, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and other temperance groups.
And we have the archives of the Victorian division of the Liberal Party as well as some branches of the Australian Labour Party, we have the former Communist Party of Australia, the Movement against Uranium Mining and other peace and anti-war organisations; and then groups like the Victorian National Parks Association, and archives of many small publishers such as McPhee Gribble and literary magazines like Meanjin and Scripsi.
In addition to these archives of organisations we also have the personal papers of many individuals who are or have been prominent in the organisations and also of business people, trade unionists, and academics and intellectuals and authors.
Andrea
So I suppose the big question is, who can access these collections?
Jane
Anyone. The collections at Archives are there to be used and they are available for any undergraduate or postgraduate student, academic or for that matter any member of the community who’s conducting some bone fide research.
Andrea
So how do you find out what collections the University Archives holds and what specific material is in each one?
Jane
Researchers can search or browse the collections database on our website and once they have identified a collection that appears to match their research interest they can read a description of what’s in the collection, but for a detailed list of contents they will need to look at a finding aid – that’s what a list is called in archives-world! Most of these are in hard copy in our reading room, but some are available online on our website. Look on the front page menu under ‘finding aids’. Some of our collections are not listed and then the researcher needs to talk to an archivist who can help you to identify material that may be useful to you.
Andrea
And where is the Archives located?
Jane
We’re in the Cultural Collections reading room on the 3rd floor of the Baillieu Library.
Andrea
If I need assistance with these collections is there someone that can help me?
Jane
There certainly is. There is a reference archivist on hand all the time during our opening hours, which since you’re about to ask, are:
During 2008 we are open from Wednesday to Friday, 9.30 to 5.30 pm. We are open late, until 7.30 on Wednesday and we are also open on the first Saturday of every month, same hours as the Baillieu library. During these times the reference archivist is there to discuss your research with you and to assist you in locating material that may be useful.
Andrea
Is there anything else I should know Jane?
Jane
Yes, Andrea. Researchers need to remember that requests for material need to be placed in advance of your proposed visit. 24 hours is the minimum amount of time we need to locate and send material in to the Reading Room for you.
Also, take a look at our website. It has more detailed information about our collections, including some complete lists of some. Find us on the library home page in the ‘branches and collections’ pull-down menu or go to www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/collections/archives
Remember, the Archives exist for you. One of the benefits of using primary source documents in your research is that you may well be reading material that have never been used since it was first created; it can be very exciting. I hope we see you in the Archives soon.