nnub

Meet the author of Surveying Success - 24 May 2012 Angus&Rob - 24.05.12, 12:00pm

Book signing on Thursday 24 May 2012 @ Angus & Robertson, Post Office Square, Brisbane

By History in Focus

Meet author, Hilary Davies, at Angus & Robertson Bookstore, Post Office Square, Brisbane on Thursday 24 May 2012 12:00-2:00pm. Have a chat about her book set in colonial Queensland – Surveying Success: The Hume Family in Colonial Queensland. Find out about the Hume family - What did they achieve? How did they get to the top in Queensland? These answers and more…

Time: 12:00pm

Date: Thu 24th May, 2012

Location: Angus & Robertson Bookstore, Post Office Square, Brisbane

My email is: moc.lleszo@sucofniyrotsih

My website is: http://history-in-focus.com

DNA for Genealogists

Learn how genealogists can use DNA testing to enrich their family history research.

Moreton Bay Region Libraries will be hosting a special genealogy event with author Kerry Farmer.
Kerry Farmer has been a speaker at Unlock the Past, a Director Australian Records at National Institute for Genealogical Studies and a Genealogy Instructor and Researcher at Austega Pty Ltd.

Kerry has researched her own family history for over 25 years, investigating ancestors predominantly from Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. 

Kerry and Rosemary Kopittke wrote Which Genealogy Program? and Kerry is the author of DNA for Genealogists

Dates / Times
Caboolture Library, 22 May 2012, 2.00pm - 3.30pm - Phone (07) 5433-2000
Redcliffe Library, 23 May 2012, 10.00am - 11.30am - Phone (07) 3283-0311
Strathpine Library, 23 May 2012, 2.00pm - 3.30pm - Phone (07) 3480-6698

The Story of Charles O’Brien: Records from Queensland State

Many of the records highlighted in the recent episode of Who Do You Think You Are? - Series 4 were located at Queensland State Archives. Kerry O’Brien, one of Australia's most revered television journalists took a tour of the archives and viewed the original records which helped him to discover the truth behind his ancestor’s tumultuous life in Queensland.   To follow the story and see digital images of a large number of records available on Charles O'Brien see the new QSA web page:  http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/Researchers/History/Pages/story-charles-obrien.aspx   Queensland State Archive worked in conjunction with Artemis films and Serendipity Productions.   The fourth series of Who Do You Think You Are? (WDYTYA) is screening on SBS ONE in 2012. Episode two, air date 3 April 2012 at 7.30 pm, follows the story of Kerry O'Brien.  WDYTYA is a co-production by Artemis International and Serendipity Productions.

My address is: 435 Compton Road Runcorn QLD 4113 info@archives.qld.gov.au

My website is: www.archives.qld.gov.au

Trace your Irish ancestors with Findmypast.ie - now at SLQ

Free access to findmypast.ie is now available in reading rooms of the State Library of Queensland.

Findmypast.ie contains a variety of records including:

• Irish prison records
• Wills dating back to the 13th century
• Griffith's Valuation of Ireland

http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/find/articles/databases_fh

Irish military archives to release records online

Ireland's Military Archives are currently digitising a number of key collections which should delight both genealogists and historians alike. These records will be available to search online through their website - http://militaryarchives.ie/ 

The Military Archives has already digitised hundreds of military maps, plans and drawings and in the next few months will launch the "Bureau of Military History witness statements (1913-1921)".

The Military Archives does not hold Irish service records for those who served in the two World Wars. These records are held with The National Archives in London.

For further information on this exciting project read the following Irish Times article -  http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0103/1224309736108.html

British Newspaper Archive - new website

The British Newspaper Archive was officially launched this week.

Over the next 10 years approximately 40 million newspaper pages will be digitised from the British Library's collection. Articles can be searched by keyword, name, location and date. 

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/help/about

Please note this is a pay-per-view website.

Queenslanders, remember you can access another great British newspaper database, 19th Century British Library Newspapers with your State Library of Queensland e-services card. 

http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/find/articles/databases_news

15,000 WWI nursing service records from the UK online

The National Archives in England has recently launched their latest digital collection of over 15,000 World War One nursing service records.

These records provide details such as: 

• date and place of birth
• training prior to and during the war
• references to their suitability as military nurses
• hospitals, field ambulances, casualty clearing stations and other medical units they served in
• confidential reports containing their superiors' assessment of their performance

You can find more information on this collection at the National Archives' website - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/635.htm

New digital collections added to Connected Histories (UK)

Connected Histories has recently added four new digital resources to its collection of historical British records.

• Convict Transportation Registers (originally compiled by the State Library of Queensland - contains details of over 123,000 convicts transported to Australia) 
• John Foxe's The Acts and Monuments Online (martyrology and ecclesiastical histories published between 1563 and 1583) 
• Nineteenth Century British Pamphlets (the most significant British pamphlets from the 19th century held in UK research libraries) 
• Cause Papers in the Diocesan Courts of the Archbishopric of York, 1300-1858 (relates to disputes over matrimony, defamation, tithes, probate, breach of faith by the clergy, and church rights)

http://www.connectedhistories.org/

Irish Prison registers 1790-1924 now on Findmypast.ie

This week Findmypast.ie released "Irish Prison Registers 1790-1924". The original Prison Registers, held at the National Archives of Ireland, cover all types of custodial institutions, from bridewells, to county prisons, to sanatoriums for alcoholics. They contain over 3.5 million entries, spread over 130,000 pages, with most records giving comprehensive details of the prisoner, including: name, address, place of birth, occupation, religion, education, age, physical description, name and address of next of kin, crime committed, sentence, dates of committal and release/decease.

Please note Findmypast.ie is a fee-based website. 

Some of the above text is taken directly from the Findmypast.ie press release. 

WWII Escapers & Evaders on findmypast.co.uk

You can now search 10,529 records of WWII Escapers & Evaders on findmypast.co.uk

These records are individual reports for allied service personnel about their experiences of escaping from prisoner of war camps or evading capture in Central Europe throughout WWII.

Each entry will tell you the following key information about your ancestor: name, rank, number, corps and reference to the original paper file at The National Archives in Kew.

You may also be able to learn details of your ancestor's decorations, date of capture, the camp in which they were held and/or the date of escape.

Free onsite access to findmypast.com.au and findmypast.co.uk is available at the State Library of Queensland.

The above text is taken from http://www.findmypast.co.uk/content/news/escapers-evaders.html

100 days at sea in hope for a better life - ABC audio file

This year marks the 175th anniversary of European settlement in South Australia. Kevin Jones from the South Australian Maritime Museum talks to ABC Radio Adelaide about the four month long voyage to a new land and the experiences of those migrants onboard.

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/09/08/3313010.htm

Photo: ship City of Adelaide (Source: Picture Queensland)

Database - child migration to Canada (1869-1930)

Libraries and Archives Canada has released a database of over 100,000 juvenile migrants who were sent to Canada from Great Britain during the child emigration movement between 1869 and the late 1930's. The majority of these "Home Children" were orphaned, abandoned or paupers, sent out by churches and philanthropic organisations such as Dr Barnado's Home.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/home-children/001015-130-e.html

Waipara on the Waves to Queensland

The Waipara brought thousands of immigrants to Queensland 1904-1916.Their departure and arrival was captured in images. In the period 1910-1912, the Brisbane Courier and the Queenslander not only reported on the journeys but also used photographs of passengers leaving Scotland by train to the English ports, boarding the ship, arriving in Brisbane and then at the immigration depot at Kangaroo Point. There are also images of groups of passengers from the vessel.

Find out what is available in these newspapers on Trove http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper It is possible to select ‘illustrated articles only’

Did your ancestors come on the Waipara? We would love to hear your story. Email us at genie@slq.qld.gov.au

Chinese heritage in Central Queensland - ABC podcast

Listen to family history researcher Marilyn Dooley talking to ABC Radio on how she traced her Chinese ancestors in Central Queensland.

http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2011/10/chinese-heritage-in-central-queensland.html

Findmypast launch their "Manchester Collection"

"For the first time ever, findmypast.co.uk has launched a collection of records that relate to an entire city. The Manchester Collection provides an insightful snapshot into what life was like in the city of Manchester.

The records in the collection provide information about apprentices, cemetery records, industrial school registers, parish register transcripts, prison, school and workhouse registers."

For more information on this collection check out the Findmypast blog - http://bit.ly/oqQcJd

The above text is taken from Findmypast blog

Free access to Findmypast.co.uk is available at the State Library of Queensland

Ireland - County Kerry burials database

Over 70,000 burials records for County Kerry in Ireland can now be searched online. The original burial registers for over 140 cemeteries have been digitised. 

http://www.kerrylaburials.ie/en/index.aspx

Tell us your Torilla story

It is a century since the arrival of the migrant ship, Torilla. It arrived in Brisbane 10 October 1911 on its one immigrant journey to Queensland, having dropped passengers at the major ports on the way down the coast.It was notable for the number of passengers it brought to Queensland, over 1600.There was also the tragedy of the death of 2 passengers, Mr and Mrs Munro who sought work as soon as they arrived. They were the parents of 4 young childrenWe want to hear your family’s stories if they were connected with this vessel. Send it to us at genie@slq.qld.gov.au

St Helena Island, Moreton Bay 'An historical account' - Book

Posted on behalf of the President of the Queensland Prison & Penal Historical Association.

St Helena Island, Moreton Bay 'An historical account' which is available at State Library bookshop took out the prestigous gold heritage award for a volunteer project at the National Trust Heritage Awards at Old Government House on the 25th August, 2011.
 
The book is also available through the website www.sthelenaisland.net.  Sales from this publication help fund preservation work at St Helena Island.
 
National Trust wrote:  "For a well researched and cohesive publication which balances reproduced images, plans, correspondence and file reports of this colonial-era island prison with its historical narrative.  The product of many hours of volunteer labour, this project makes a key contribution to public knowledge of the St Helena penal settlement, its remaining structures and the lives led by its inmates and their prison custodians."

Image: Interior of the St Helena Prison on the island in Moreton Bay, Queensland, 1914 (source: Picture Queensland)

UK Apprentice Books now on Ancestry

Ancestry has recently released a new collection of records - UK Apprentice Books 1710-1811.

This collection contains registers of the money received for the payment on taxes for an apprentice’s indenture between 1710-1811. The registers kept track of the money paid by masters of a trade to have an apprentice. The dates in the records are for when the tax was paid and may be some years after the apprenticeship, not when it started or finished.

Until 1752, the apprentice’s parents’ names were included, but afterward are rare. The records include:

• Sum received
• Name of master
• Address of master
• Trade
• Name of apprentice
• Date of articles of apprenticeship

Above text was taken directly from the Ancestry Library Edition website.

Free access to Ancestry's Library Edition is available in the reading rooms of the State Library of Queensland. Access is also available at most public libraries and family/local history societies.

Convict secrets of The Rocks : ABC audio file

Listen to Associate Professor Grace Karskens from the University of New South Wales as she discusses the convict secrets of The Rocks precinct in Sydney.

Afterwards you can test your knowledge by taking the fun quiz.

http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2011/08/10/3290390.htm

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For the latest news and events in family history check out the State Library of Queensland's Family History Nnub website -http://www.slq.nnub.net

Australian Census 9 August 2011 - John Oxley Library Blog

Read the latest article on the John Oxley Library Blog about the importance of answering "YES" to Question 60 on census night and build a profile of yourself for your descendants.

http://blogs.slq.qld.gov.au/jol/2011/08/02/the-australian-census-9-august-2011/

ABC podcast: Genealogy and the Census

Listen to Tony Delroy from ABC Radio's Nightlife program discussing why you should say "YES" to Question 60 on your census form and the importance of these records to family historians. 

http://www.abc.net.au/nightlife/stories/3284889.htm

His guests are

• Brad Argent from Ancestry.com.au
• Christine Yeats from State Records New South Wales

ABC podcast: Who Counts? A history of the census

ABC Radio's Rear Vision program examines the history of the census in Australia, Great Britain and the United States of America.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/rearvision/stories/2011/3279033.htm

Guests include:

• Beth Wright - Historian of the Australian Census. Worked for the Australian Bureau of Statistics for many years
• Edward Higgs - Historian of the British Census. Professor of History, University of Essex
• Margo Anderson - Historian of the US Census. Prof of History and Urban Studies, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

ABC podcast: Web of intrigue unlocked - (family history)

Listen to Richard Sullivan from the South Australian Genealogical Society as he discusses with ABC Radio South East SA some of the basic resources available to family historians.

 http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2011/07/28/3280082.htm

ABC podcast: Rockhampton History Centre

In late June this year Rockhampton officially opened its new History Centre. Their collections include photographs, newspapers and council records.

To find out more listen to Brad Carter, Mayor of Rockhampton and Cheryl Haughton, Strategic Manager Community and Cultural Development speaking to ABC Radio Capricornia.

http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2011/06/history-centre-in-rockhampton-open-now.html?site=capricornia&program=capricornia_breakfast

ABC podcast: protecting your old documents and photos

Listen to Lydia Egunnike, Senior Conservator from the State Library of Queensland talking to ABC Radio's Spencer Howson on how to preserve your precious family documents and photos.

http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2011/07/state-library-offering-free-assistance-conserving-photos-documents.html?site=brisbane&program=612_breakfast

The State Library of Queensland regularly hold Conservation Clinics which provides one-on-one advice on how to best preserve your family treasures for future generations.

Find out more at: http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on/calevents/general/learning/conservation_clinic2

More digitised Australian newspapers coming soon!

The National Library's Australian Digitisation Program has released a list of newspapers to be digiitised for this financial year. These titles will be searchable online athttp://www.trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

 Titles for QLD include:

• The Capricornian (Rockhampton)
• The Central Queensland Herald
• The Worker

For the full listing go to - http://www.nla.gov.au/ndp/selected_newspapers/Future_Titles.html

Don't forget the State Library of Queensland holds an extensive range of Queensland newspapers on microfilm.

FamilySearch adds 25 million new records

FamilySearch has announced the addition of 25 million new records to their family history database.

You can find a comprehensive listing at https://www.familysearch.org/node/1251

Highlights include:

• New Zealand Probate Records
• England, Cornwall and Bristol Parish Records 1538-1900
• Peru Catholic Church Records
• South Africa Dutch Reformed Church Records, 1690-
• Solvakia Church Books - 1592-1900
• Czech Republic Land Records 1450-1850
• Netherlands, Civil Registration, 1792-1952

List of Australian genealogy and general history blogs

Unlock The Past has compiled a list of Australian genealogy and local history blogs.  

Take a look - http://www.unlockthepast.com.au/australian-genealogy-history-blogs

"Hebrides People" project and website announced

The Hebrides People project and website has been announced. The website will contain a variety of genealogical records including family trees and oral histories. 

For more information see Chris Paton's Scottish GENES blog - http://scottishancestry.blogspot.com/2011/07/major-hebridean-project-announced.html

Tracing your family history in Cairns

If you live in Cairns (or searching for ancestors who lived in Cairns) there are three places that can help:

• Cairns Libraries

Cairns Libraries hold an extensive collection of books, microfiche/microfilm and CD-ROMS to help you research your family history. They also provide access to Ancestry and Findmypast.

http://www.cairnslibrary.com.au/famhist/default.htm

• Cairns and District Family History Society

The Cairns and District Family History Society is an organisation to promote family history and geneaological research in Cairns, its surrounds, Queensland, Australia and the World. They provide learning courses in family history as well as maintaining a growing library of manuscripts and family histories.

http://www.cdfhs.org/index.html

• Cairns Historical Society (Cairns Museum)

The Cairns Historical Society was formed to record the written, pictorial and oral history of North Queensland. Their library is situated within the Cairns Museum

http://www.cairnsmuseum.org.au/index.php

New family history resources at the State Library of Queensland

Check out our list of new family history resources - http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/info/fh/new

State Library of Queensland

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For the latest family history news follow the State Library of Queensland's Family History Nnub on twitter at http://twitter.com/nnub_slq or at our website http://slq.nnub.net

NEW: Over 500,000 British Militia service records - Findmypast

Findmypast.co.uk has just released 500,000 militia service records between 1805 and 1915. The militia was a volunteer force of part-time soldiers.

Free access to Findmypast is available onsite at the State Library of Queensland.

http://www.slq.nnub.net

The sad tale of Thomas Beynon - stories from the records

Thomas Beynon was born 18 May 1864 at Graig y Bedw, in the Parish of Llangynwyd, County of Glamorganshire, Wales. He was the second son of parents Thomas and Sarah Beynon, nee Williams. His mother died in 1874 of tuberculosis; his father remarried in 1881, to Mary. This secord marriage produced a daughter, Margaret.

Prior to immigrating to Australia, Thomas was working as a coalminer, living in Glyncorrwg, Glamorganshire. He decided to immigrate to seek a better life, selecting the goldmines of Australia as his future. He left his family, and his sweetheart Jennet Popham, heading for Gravesend to board the Duke of Buckingham. He left with the hope that Jennet would join him in Australia once he was settled.

Thomas arrived in Maryborough in January 1886, from where he made his way to Gympie. It was while employed at the Crown and Pheonix Mine that Thomas Beynon died after sustaining severe head injuries in a mining accident; while ascending the mine shaft a cage guide sprung out and hit him in the face. He died in Gympie hospital on 12 April 1886. He was buried the following day at the King Street and Tozer Park Road Cemetery.

During his voyage to Queensland onboard the ship Duke of Buckingham, Thomas kept a diary recording the weather and his interactions with and observation of other passengers. The diary was donated to the State Library of Queensland several years ago by descendants of Thomas' family. You can read a digitised copy of the diary online at http://hdl.handle.net/10462/eadarc/7405  and then click on the thumbnail.

You can also find Thomas' death listed in our index to Queensland mining accidents at http://fhr.slq.qld.gov.au/minacc/

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For the latest news and events in family history check out the State Library of Queensland's Family History Nnub at http://slq.nnub.net or follow us on twitter http://twitter.com/nnub_slq

ABC podcast: Indigenous family history - Townsville Libraries

Indigenous Resource Officer Janeese Henaway talks to ABC North Queensland Radio regarding the role of Townsville Libraries in assisting locals to trace their Indigenous heritage.

http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2011/06/16/3245433.htm

Was your ancestor in the Queensland Parliament?

"The Queensland Parliament’s Re-Member project is a fully searchable online database of biographical information on the parliament’s first members. The database will be updated to ultimately present information on all former members of the Queensland Parliament."

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/historical/formermembers/

Did you know that some early members had convict backgrounds?

They include:

• Patrick O'Sullivan (1818-1904) - MLA
• Kevin Izod O'Doherty (1823-1905) - MLA and MLC
• William Henry Groom (1833-1901) - MLA and Speaker

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For the latest family history news and events check out the State Library of Queensland's Family History Nnub - http://slq.nnub.net or follow us on twitter - http://twitter.com/nnub_slq

TNA podcast: Metropolitan Police service records

This podcast provides an introduction to service records for officers of London's Metropolitan Police between 1829 and 1958.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/podcasts/metropolitan-police.htm

Researching the history of your house

Do you know the history of your house? The Brisbane City Council research guide, "Your house has a history: keys to unlocking its past" will provide you with tips on how to get started.

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/planning-building/tools-forms/city-plan-2000/heritage/research-the-history-of-your-house/index.htm

Image: Wilson residence at Mitchelton, Brisbane, ca.1923

What is Picture Queensland?

"Picture Queensland" includes images digitised from the photographic collections of the State Library of Queensland's John Oxley Library and Queensland cultural institutions. "Picture Queensland" was launched initially in 2003 and continues to grow as digitised images are added to the collection.

http://pictureqld.slq.qld.gov.au/

The photographs in "Picture Queensland" depict various aspects of Queensland life including the settlement of early pioneers, the prominent people who have shaped our history, the built environment and the fashions we have worn through the years.

The collection benefits Queensland students, researchers and lifelong learners, publishers and authors, genealogists and enthusiasts of all ages who have an interest in, or need to research, any aspect of Queensland's history or development. A collection, previously restricted to 'walk in' clients, is now available to anyone who can access the Internet.

Image: View of the Bellevue Hotel, Brisbane, ca.1900 (Source: Picture Queensland)

Auckland Star newspaper now on Papers Past

Editions of the "Auckland Star" newspaper (1870 -1903) have been digitised and can be viewed online through Papers Past - http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/

"The Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette" (1901-1945) is also another recent addition to the site.

Family history info guides

The State Library of Queensland has produced a number of family history information guides to assist you with the many different facets of genealogical research.

http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/about/pub/info_guides/collections/fh

These include:

• How to trace your family tree
• Births, deaths and marriages
• Adoption
• Divorce
• Electoral rolls
• Cemetery records
• Newspapers
• Immigration and shipping
• Convict research
• Directories, almanacs and gazetteers
• Land records
• Biographical resources
• Blue Books (Queensland public servants)
• Census and muster records
• Occupations
• Police gazettes
• Queensland mining accidents
• Tracing Huguenot heritage

      and more....

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For the latest news and events in family history check out the State Library of Queensland's Family History Nnub - http://slq.nnub.net

ABC video: 20th century child migrants

ABC's 7:30 program looks at the terrible lives of child migrants coming to Australia in the early 20th century. 

You can watch this segment online at 

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3224781.htm

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For the latest family history news and events check out the State Library of Queensland's Family History Nnub - http://slq.nnub.net 

ABC podcast: Australia's convict women

Approximately 25,000 women were transported to Australia as convicts.

Listen to ABC Radio's Richard Aedy as he interviews Deborah Swiss, author of the new book "The Tin Ticket".  Deborah discusses the plight of female convicts.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2011/3213892.htm

Dictionary of Sydney project and database

"The Dictionary of Sydney is a groundbreaking project to produce a new kind of history of Sydney: online, growing and changing, covering every aspect of human life.

The Dictionary contains new historical writing enriched with other resources – images, maps, sound, music, oral history, film, documents and pointers to important objects in Sydney collections.

Contributors include academics, professional historians, heritage specialists, local studies experts, genealogists, enthusiasts, volunteers and readers."

View the dictionary/database online - http://www.dictionaryofsydney.org/about.html

[text taken from Dictionary of Sydney website]

Photo: S.S. Ormiston sailing under Sydney Harbour bridge. The bridge is still under construction. Sydney city skyline and Circular Quay are in the background. (Source: Picture Queensland)

Launch of Connected Histories database - UK

"Connected Histories provides an integrated search facility for interrogating 11 major electronic resources in early modern and 19th-century British history."

Electronic resources include:

• British History Online
• Clergy of the Church of England Database 1540 - 1835
• London Lives 1690 - 1900
• John Strype's Survey of London Online
• The Proceedings of the Old Bailey Online, 1674-1913
• Origins.net
• House of Commons Parliamentary Papers

In September 2011 several additional resources will be added.

Some resources searched by the database are fee-based.

http://www.connectedhistories.org/

Irish migrants coming to Queensland - radio interview

Listen to Stephanie Ryan, senior librarian for family history at the State Library of Queensland as she discusses with ABC 612 radio presenter Kelly Higgins-Devine the arrival of early Irish migrants to Queensland and highlights a few of the records available to family historians.

http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2011/03/greening-brisbane.html?site=brisbane&program=612_drive

Photo: Queensland Irish Association float taking part in the St. Patrick's Day parade, Brisbane, 1937

Podcast: Missing! German heritage of Queensland

You can now listen to a recording of Anna Haebich and Mark Schuster's excellent presentation in which they discuss the reasons for the absence of German heritage documentation in Queensland.

http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/find/webcasts/out_of_the_port

Duration: 1 hour

Recorded at the State Library of Queensland on 20 October 2010.

Index to persons called before Queensland Government Committees

Boring title - great resource!

The index to persons called before government committees (1860 to 1920) is available on the State Library of Queensland website:

1860 – 1901 : http://fhr.slq.qld.gov.au/committees/

1902 – 1920 http://fhr.slq.qld.gov.au/committees2/

A wide variety of people from different backgrounds and occupations were called to give evidence before these committees. They included farmers, graziers, publicans, seamen, miners, labourers, civil servants and railway employees.

For family and local historians an individual’s transcript can often provide excellent background information on the person that may not be available in any other document. There is also the advantage of reading the person’s view in their own words.

Minutes of the evidence to most of the early Queensland royal commissions, select committees and other government inquiries can be found in the Queensland Legislative Assembly Votes and Proceedings (QLA V&P) (later known as the Queensland Parliamentary Papers) which is available on microform at the State Library of Queensland.

NEW DATABASE - 19th Century British Library Newspapers

The State Library of Queensland has now subscribed to:

19th Century British Library Newspapers 

A rich collection of primary source material, this database provides full runs of 48 titles from the 19th-century, totaling more than two million easily searchable pages. This is a fantastic resource for family historians tracing their English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish ancestors.

This database can be used offsite (ie. at home) by e-services members or Queensland public library (QPL) account holders. Offsite access is only available to Queenslanders.You can connect to the database at:

http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/find/articles/offsite

Queenslanders can register for an e-service cards at:

http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/services/ecard

Historical Brisbane newspapers at SLQ

Historical Brisbane newpapers at the State Library of Queensland

Many researchers forget that historically Brisbane had many newspapers aside from the longstanding Courier Mail.

It is worth examining these rival newspapers as they can contain stories or notices not published in the Courier.

One example is The Truth which regularly published local scandals such as divorce, bigamy, adultery and murder.

Some examples of Brisbane newspapers:

• The Telegraph - 1872 to 1988
• Daily Mail - 1903 to 1933
• The Truth (later titled Sunday Sun) - 1900 to 1992
• The Week - 1876 to 1934
• Moreton Bay Free Press - 1852 to 1859 (imperfect run)
• Queensland Guardian - 1860 to 1868
• The Queenslander - 1866 to 1939
• Evening Observer - 1887 to 1926 (imperfect run)

These titles and more are available on microfilm at the State Library of Queensland. For further information phone us on (07) 3840 7810 or visit our website at http://www.slq.qld.gov.au