Australia has no collection of diaries and letters reflecting on ordinary people’s lives. Diaries like these are valuable and significant historical sources that reveal everyday histories. Macquarie University’s Centre for Applied History want to develop a diary archive in Australia.
Do you or your family have diaries, personal memoirs or letter collections in your possession? These can be written in any language, and describe any aspects of the lives of Australian people or people who have lived in Australia. The Centre for Applied History want to collect documents that have not been written for a public audience.
If you’d be interested in donating your diaries to this potential archive, please contact the Centre for Applied History briefly describing the document: who wrote it, how long is it, what period does it cover, what subjects are discussed?
Contact details:
Diary Project
Centre for Applied History,
Macquarie University
arts.cah@mq.edu.au
Image: Letters from Louis Vasco (Vasco Loureiro) from England and France, 1916-1918, courtesy State Library of NSW
I have been personally writing up journals since 1987 (21 journals in total so far). While I may not be ready to hand these journals over as yet, I have always wondered what to do with them long term. I have always believe that we needed a library if social history written and supplied by the average Australian for future researchers. So am interested in this project. Please advise if interested.
Hi Garry, thanks for your comment and interest in this project. Please feel free to contact the Centre for Applied History.
Kind regards,
Nicole
History Council of NSW.
I have a collection of letters and records which cover a good part of my brothers life as a young stockman/farm worker from 1950s through to his wool classer years. I will try to pull them together into a linked narrative is they would be of interest. He died last year aged 82
Hi Glenda, thanks for commenting, that’s great to hear. Do make sure to get in touch with the Centre for Applied History.
Kind regards,
Nicole