Federation of Australian Historical Societies

The FAHS Facebook page increases our digital presence across Australia and internationally. Through up to date posts and links to campaigns, heritage matters and historical news items we aim to dynamically build our network. Aside from connecting with people already in the FAHS network, the presence of a Facebook page attracts new supporters and brings attention to the FAHS web site, e-Bulletin and Newsletter.

Via the FAHS newsfeed we can gather all the postings from our constituent members and cross post items. We welcome requests to like your organisation and invite all historical societies to access our news feeds by ‘liking us’ – find out and share news from around Australia.

Go to https://www.facebook.com/FederationAHS/

(Source: Bernadette Flynn, Outreach Officer)

2) The FAHS Survey of historical societies 2016

Stage One of the FAHS Survey of historical societies is up and running. Historical societies across Australia are encouraged to complete the survey by 25 March 2016.

The preservation, dissemination and promotion of local historical knowledge presents significant challenges in the digital era, and the survey will identify services required in supporting societies in this endeavour.

This first stage aims to provide an overview of membership numbers, premises, the contribution of volunteers, local and state government support, collections, the use of computers, and society activities. This will be followed by two more surveys in 2016, which will focus on collection management including digitisation and accessibility, and on governance matters such as succession planning, financial management and strategic planning.

The results of the survey will be available on our website http://www.history.org.au.

There are 35 questions in the survey, most of which are in a “check box” format. We estimate that someone with a good knowledge of the operations of your society (such as an office-bearer) could complete it in 15-20 minutes.

We request that your society appoint a person to fill out this survey to be completed by 25th March 2016.

Our Online Outreach Officer, Dr. Bernadette Flynn fahsbflynn@gmail.com is available to assist with the survey.

We need your help so we can help you.

To participate, please click on the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MJD7288

3) National Library’s Trove services under threat

The National Library of Australia – the home of the Trove brings together content from libraries, museums, archives and other research organisations and provides tools to explore and build.

Last week, the President of FAHS wrote a letter of concern to Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield, Minister for the Arts, regarding recent funding cuts to the National Library of Australia. Of particular concern to the FAHS and historical societies is the threat to one of the most valuable online research tools for historical research, Trove. As a direct result of these cuts, the National Library will cease aggregating content in Trove from museums and universities unless it is fully funded to do so.

In the last decade and a half TROVE has facilitated and revolutionised historical research through its marvellous provision of access to newspapers and a myriad of other material via the web. It has become an invaluable tool that is used by millions of researchers and is supported by an enormous community volunteer effort.

The ‘efficiency dividend’ cutbacks imposed on the NLA are having a drastic effect on many of its services, but will have a particular impact on researchers who do not live in Canberra, which includes the vast majority of Australians. TROVE, it seems, will be somewhat more limited and in particular will no longer be able to aggregate or harvest new material from other collections, a decline in the service that is very disturbing for the hundreds of societies that have been digitising their collections in preparation for harvesting.

There have been numerous messages of support for Trove since the cuts were announced, and a Facebook page, Fund Trove has also been set up to address these concerns.

Fund Trove! created by Edwina Byrne on https://www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/fund-trove-1
Stop Cuts to National Library of Australia & Save Trove created by Paddy O’Toole at https://www.change.org/p/malcolm-turnbull-mp-stop-cuts-to-national-library-of-australia-save-trove
Stop the Australian government from wrecking Trove created by Ian Gardener at
https://www.change.org/p/your-local-government-representitive-stop-the-australian-government-from-wrecking-trove

(Source: edited extracts from FAHS President, Don Garden’s letter to Minister for the Arts and associated links)

4) Proposed changes to copyright law

GLAM

The 4th meeting of the GLAM Digital Access to Cultural Collections peak bodies group was held in Melbourne on 25th Feb. The primary purpose of GLAM Digital Access is to clarify a shared vision and approach to digital access to Australia’s cultural collections through the development of a national framework. The FAHS was represented by Don Garden.

One item that was mentioned and discussed at the GLAM meeting was the proposed changes to copyright law. In particular, it appears likely that there will be legislation to put unpublished materials on a similar basis to published material - i.e. rather than unpublished materials remaining ‘permanently' under copyright as they are at present there will be a period fixed at which point they will no longer be restricted.

This is a major achievement and will have a significant impact for history researchers and collection management.

(Source: FAHS President, Don Garden report from GLAM meeting)

5) New Multi-lingual Tour Brochures for the Commissariat Store, Brisbane

German and Spanish tour brochures developed by the RHSQ

The RHSQ is very proud to launch our new multilingual brochures, which provide German and Spanish-speaking visitors an easy to understand self-guided tour through the Commissariat Store.

Congratulations to the RHSQ volunteer guides Phil and Ilona who took on the project.
French and Mandarin guide brochures are currently being worked on and will be available shortly.

(Source: http://www.queenslandhistory.org/)

6) Australian Lebanese Historical Society (QLD) Meeting – ‘History of St Clement Church’

The Queensland chapter of the Australian Lebanese Historical Society will be hosting a meeting on 19 March 2016. The guest speaker will be Simon Haddad, speaking on the history of St Clement Church.

For more information please contact the Society via email at mail@alhs.org.au or on 0408 063 370.

St Clement Church, Ernest Street, South Brisbane

Meeting Information:
Mar 19 10:30am to 11:30am
The Grange Library
79 Evelyn St, Grange QLD 4051, Australia

(Source: RHSQ Events)

7) Private Lives, Public History - Book by Sydney historian Anna Clark

In her new book Private Lives, Public History Sydney historian Anna Clark – described by Stella Prize winner Clare Wright as ‘the Alain de Botton of Australian historiography’ – draws on interviews with numerous Australians from across the country to explore how our personal pasts intersect with broader historical questions.

Private Lives, Public History by Anna Clark is out now.
https://www.mup.com.au/items/163676

Detail of book cover - Private Lives, Public History

The following extract from the book looks at death as a common trigger for a desire for a deeper understanding of family and community histories.

Read an extract from Private Lives, Public History
http://mupublishing.tumblr.com/post/137719209998/read-an-extract-from-private-lives-public-history

(Source: Melbourne University Publishing, sent by Catherine Pearce, THRA)

8) A Social History of the Supreme Court in Victoria 1841-2016: Book - Exhibition – Conference

The RHSV has been commissioned by the Victorian Supreme Court to write a history of the court to mark its 175th anniversary.

Victorian Supreme Court
Former RHSV Vice President Dr Simon Smith is leading the project: Judging for the People: A Social History of the Supreme Court in Victoria 1841-2016, the first full history of the Supreme Court of Victoria in its social and political context.

The Supreme Court c. 1900. RHSV Archives, PC-0343

In conjunction with publication of the book, the RHSV will hold an Exhibition: Judging for the People, which opens on Friday 8 April, followed by a Conference the next day of the same title. RHSV Vice President Emeritus Professor Richard Broome, part of the project team led by Dr Smith, will outline the project.

Friday 8 April exhibition launch. The Hon. Linda Dessau, Governor of Victoria, will launch Judging for the People: Honouring 175 years of the Supreme Court in Victoria, an RHSV Exhibition. During the proceedings the RHSV Ambassador, Ms Catherine Andrews, will present Dr Rosalie Triolo with her FAHS Merit Award. Time: 5.30pm for 6pm Venue: RHSV, Drill Hall, 239 A’Beckett Street, Melbourne Cost: Free RSVP essential – Thursday 31 March office@historyvictoria.org.au or 9326 9288

Saturday, 9 April conference, Judging for the People will be held at Victoria University City Campus, 283 Queens Street, Melbourne 9.30am to 4pm (registration from 8.45am). Entrance with lunch provided is $60, RHSV members $50, students $30 (limited to the first 20 students who respond). The Chief Justice Marilyn Warren will give the annual RHSV Augustus Wolskel lecture on that day. Bookings and payments can be made directly online by clicking on: http://www.trybooking.com/178916

Tuesday 12 April book launch. The Chief Justice, the Honourable Marilyn Warren, will launch Judging for the People: A Social History of the Supreme Court in Victoria 1841-2016. Venue: Supreme Court Library. By invitation only

(Source: RHSV History News, Feb-March, 2016)

9) Launch of the Community Heritage and Icons Grants programme 2015-16 funding round

Yesterday the Minister for the Environment, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, announced the opening of the 2015-16 funding round of the Community Heritage and Icons Grants programme.

The Community Heritage and Icons Grants programme is providing funding for community groups, to engage with, and raise awareness of, the places recognised on Australia’s National Heritage List. Individual grants of between $2,500 and $10,000 (GST exclusive) are available.

Eligible parties are invited to apply for funding, with applications closing on 22 March 2016.

Further information about the 2015-16 funding round, including the application form, is available on the Department of the Environment website.

http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/grants-and-funding/community-heritage-icons-grants/2015-16

(Source: Community Heritage Grants)

10) Apply for the Small Grants – Museums and Galleries NSW

Small Grants for volunteer museums aim to meet the short-term, collection-based requirements of community museums and keeping places. There are no set categories for funding, and applications for a broad range of projects will be considered.

Previous Small Grants have funded the purchase of computer cataloguing software, exhibition mannequins and display cases, oral history recording equipment and archival storage items.
Small Grants are open to museums and Aboriginal Keeping Places with up to two full time paid staff members (no more than 70 hours of paid staffing per week) as well as museum networks such as Museums Australia Chapters.

Closing Date Round 1: Midnight, Sunday 10 April 2016
Closing Date Round 2: Midnight, Sunday 2 October 2016
Amount: Up to $2,000

Small_Grant_-_Merriwa_Rail_Museum.jpg.600x400_q85_crop_upscale (1).jpg G2363_-_Acquittal_-_Image_4_-_Saumarez_1.jpg.600x400_q85_crop_upscale.jpg Small_Grant_-_Port_Macquarie_Historical_Society.JPG.600x400_q85_crop_upscale (1).jpg
Examples of small grants projects funded in 2015 l to r: Two new mannequins at Merriwa Rail Museum; Archival materials at Sumarez Homestead; Metal Shelving for textile storage area at Port Macquarie Historical Society Museum.

For more information:
Read the 2016 guidelines or contact the Museum Programs and Collections Coordinator, Connil Lord on Connil@mgnsw.org.au or phone (02) 9339 9913

http://mgnsw.org.au/media/uploads/files/2016_Small_-_Guidelines_2.pdf

(Source: Museums and Galleries NSW)

11) Apply for a 2017 National Library Fellowship

Fellowships allow researchers to embark on a period of intensive research into the collections, in a supportive, intellectual and creative environment.

Who should apply?
Fellowships are open to established and early-career researchers from Australia and overseas undertaking advanced research projects. The Fellowships support researchers to make intensive use of the Library’s rich and varied collections.

What do Fellows receive?
• an honorarium of $1,000 per week for 12 weeks
• travel and accommodation support*
• privileged access to the Library’s collections, staff and resources
• uninterrupted time for research

Applications close 2 May 2016.
https://www.nla.gov.au/awards-and-grants/fellowships-and-scholarships/national-library-of-australia-fellowships

(Source: National Library of Australia Fellowship)