Records and referral
From SLNSW
As a person passes through their life, different aspects of their lives will be recorded by different Federal government agencies; State government agencies; Local Councils; Media at different levels; personal communities of interest; employers etc. All of these records, usually created for purposes other than family history research, are held in an array of government departments; archives; museums; local councils; local studies collections within libraries; schools; clubs; churches, family branches etc.
Contents |
Government records
Different types of records useful to family history research are created and held at each level of government.Examples may include:
Federal government
- Immigration after Federation
- Armed forces service records
- Federal electoral Rolls
- Post Office records
- ASIO files
- Copyright records
- ABC archives
- Photographs
National Archives of Australia (NAA) is the best place to start for Federal Government Archives. Another example is WW2 Nominal Roll
State Government
- Birth, death and marriage records
- Immigration prior to Federation
- Hospital records
- Police records
- Criminal records
- State electoral rolls
- Probate registers and papers
- Coroners inquests
- Railway records
- Photographs
State Records or Public Record Offices exist in each State. e.g. NSW State Records
Registrar-General's Departments in each state provide access to Birth, Death and Marriage records. e.g. NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages
Local Government
- Rate books
- Local electoral rolls
- Minute books
- Committee records
- Photographs
Some examples of indexes made available by local government agencies:
Records created by business (including media)
Different types of records useful to family history research are created by business. Resources created for public consumption generally have the best chance of survival.
- Newspapers
- Directories
- Employment records
- Films/documentaries/news reports
- Funeral records
- Photographs
Examples of resources created by business agencies (but often made available and indexed through Library initiatives):
- NLA Newspaper search 1803-1954
- Infoquick Sydney Morning Herald index 1831-2005
- Screensound:Australian Film and Sound Archives
Records created by families and individuals
Families are often the best repositories of basic family history lore, and hopefully some old photographs. Documents and photographs relevant to families can sometimes find their way into public library collections.
These may include:
- Published family histories
- Letters and diaries
- Photographs
- Heirloom objects
Examples of resources created by family historians, and shared with users world wide:
- Ryerson index to contemporary death notices
- Random acts of genealogical kindness
- Australian cemeteries
- Cora's list of Australasian genealogical websites
- Cyndi's list of genealogical websites
- Railway resource centre
- Society of Australian Genealogists
Community
Organizations with a strong community base may create indexes which indirectly assist Family historians:
Referral
A basic understanding of the types of records created by different government agencies, and the types of records created by business and individuals, can be enormously helpful in directing family historians to the archive, library, group or individuals who can best help them. Librarians don't have to have a detailed knowledge of the resources themselves...knowing who might have created records and where they may be held is often sufficient in the first instance. Internet catalogues are helping to create greater access to resources across Australia. Most websites have name search indexes to assist family historians.
Exercise
Choose one of the listed websites and search for your family name. If you have enough time, try another website.
