From War to Remembrance public lecture: Thursday 30 May

Join us for two public lectures on Thursday 30 May
The RSL, the public and the State War Memorial
Professor John Stephens traces the tumultuous history of the State War Memorial, and what it meant to the RSL and War Memorial Committee in the face of public and government rejection.
Through the Eyes of a Lady – Joan Dowson and the RSL
Joan Dowson was one of the first women on the WA RSL State Executive, and her involvement spanned more than 60 years. Her son John gives a personal perspective of the war years and the post-World War 2 RSL in Western Australia, from his mother’s point of view.

When: Thursday 30 May 2013, 11.30am to 12.30pm
Where: Great Southern Room, Fourth Floor.
Bookings are required. Call 9427 3111 to book your place.

Rats of Tobruk film screening

Rats of Tobruk film screening

Screening as part of the exhibition “From War to Remembrance: A Living History of the RSL”, Rats of Tobruk is a hard-hitting film being shown as one of a series of activities to help celebrate the formation, purpose and activities of the Returned and Services League in Western Australia. Entry is free.

When? Tuesday 30 April at 5.45pm sharp
Where? The State Library Theatre

Family History Beginners’ Day

Family group late 1890s

Presented by the State Library of Western Australia as part of the Western Australian Heritage Festival
Warning! Family history is addictive!
Always wanted to find out where you came from but didn’t know where to start? This event is for you! The Family History Subject Specialists at the State Library can inspire you to begin your journey of discovery with a full-day program of talks and tours: 

• Pathways to the Past, family history for beginners.
• Getting the best out of Ancestry and Findmypast: how to get the best results from two of the most popular family history subscription sites with tips to improve your searches.
• Fantastic Websites: our pick of the top websites for family history from around the world.  

Take introductory tours of the Genealogy Centre and Battye Library for an overview of our family history and WA heritage collections.

State Library,Perth Cultural Centre
25 Francis St, Perth

Wed 8 May 9.30 am – 4.30 pm
Free
Bookings essential: Phone 9427 3111
www.slwa.wa.gov.au
For full catalogue of Festival events:
www.nationaltrust.org.au/wa/Heritage-Festival

 

Walmajarri stories online

Read some truly awesome stories in Walmajarri, English and Kriol online RIGHT NOW! 65 Books written and illustrated by kids and adults from Kadjina Aboriginal Community and now fully online at the State Library of WA.

http://catalogue.slwa.wa.gov.au/record=b3303747~S1

Head to the launch in the Cultural Centre tomorrow at 3pm – one of many events during “Revealed: Emerging Aboriginal Artists from Western Australia” http://www.perthculturalcentre.com.au/What’s-On/?eventid=19892

A Musical for ANZAC Week

Dear Heart stars Stuart Halusz and Rebecca Davis

Agelink Theatre Inc is celebrating 20 years of creating theatre from oral histories, entertaining the public and affirming the value of our seniors.
Back by popular demand and proudly supported by The City of Perth and the State Library as part of ANZAC week, Agelink presents the critically acclaimed play DEAR HEART for three only concert style performances from Friday 19 April to Tuesday 23 April 2013 at the State Library of WA in the Perth Cultural Centre.

DEAR HEART, by Jenny Davis, is a true love story, based on her aunt’s WWII letters to her young husband, a prisoner of war in Java. DEAR HEART is a tribute to those who waited at home for news and to the endurance of the young men behind barbed wire. The play has has been published as a novel by Allen & Unwin.
Don’t miss this poignant story of love, hope and courage, featuring live music from WWII.
 
“Agelink Theatre is theatre of the heart.” Tim Minchin

 
DEAR HEART by Jenny Davis Starring Rebecca Davis and Stuart Halusz, Musical Director Craig Skelton, Featuring vocals by Alinta Carroll
Venue: State Library of WA, Perth Cultural Centre Dates: three Performances Only Friday 19 April, Saturday 20 April, Tuesday 23 April at 11am Duration: Approx 70 minutes
*Special guest appearance Tuesday 23 April by Opera Australia star, Lisa Harper-Brown
Bookings: http://www.trybooking.com Ticket prices: $20 full, $15 concession

Two FREE Oral History Workshops in association with the Battye Library
Come and share your stories and listen to the stories of others, or simply become inspired to record your own or your family’s recollections for posterity. Each workshop will feature members of the AIF and RAAF from WWII, as well as members of the home front. All reminiscences are welcome.
Why not attend a workshop followed by a performance of Dear Heart? Sat April 20 and Tues 23 April at 9.30-10.45am Great Southern Room, 4th Floor State Library of WA, Perth Cultural Centre
Registrations essential Ph 9384 8158

The Kay Poustie OAM Scholarship

 

Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam

Call for Entries for an International Travel Grant

The closing date for applications is 5:00pm Tuesday 9 April 2013

 Eligible scholarship applicants include Librarians, Library Technicians and other professionals working within the public library network in Western Australia.

Employed in the public library network in Western Australia and wish to take your librarianship skills to another level? Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge with people in the library sector in WA?
A scholarship travel grant of up to $8,000 is available for a Library practitioner wishing to extend their knowledge and research Library practice overseas!
 
To download an application form and to read inaugural recipient Kirstie Nicholson’s research report visit www.statelibraryfoundation.org.au 
Please submit your application by 5:00pm Tuesday 9 April 2013 via email info@statelibraryfoundation.org

 The Kay Poustie OAM Scholarship is an initiative of the State Library of WA Foundation.

State Library of WA Foundation
Perth Cultural Centre
25 Francis Street
Perth WA 6000
ABN 63 587 308 298

 
Direct links:

http://www.statelibraryfoundation.org.au/

Kirstie Nicholson’s research report:    http://statelibraryfoundation.org.au/images/document/Kay%20Poustie%20Scholarship%202012%20Report.pdf

Application Form:  http://www.statelibraryfoundation.org.au/images/document/2013%20Application%20Pack%20-%20Kay%20Poustie%20OAM%20Scholarship.pdf

Family History Seminar with Paul Milner

Paul Milner is a professional genealogist, lecturer and author, specialising in British Isles research for over 30 years. He is an internationally recognised speaker on British Isles research and migration.

Paul will be presenting:

• Buried treasures: what’s in the English parish chest
• Finding your ancestors in Scotland: the big five
• Finding your ancestors in Ireland
• Overcoming the ‘dead end doldrums’

Other presentations:

• Flip-pal mobile scanner demonstration by Rosemary Kopittke
• Findmypast.com.au: gateway to the world collection by Rosemary Kopittke
• Soliciting your ancestors: the records of Stone James and Co. An illustrated talk based on the records of an early firm of solicitors which include many records relating to early WA pioneers by Tricia Fairweather and Leonie Hayes

When: Saturday 23 February, 8.30am – 5.00pm
Where: State Library Theatre (Ground floor)
Cost: Pre-booked by Thursday 21 February – $39.50 full day, $29.50 half day
On the day – $60 full day, $40 half day
Full details and bookings: Unlock the Past or (08) 8263 2055

Please note that entry before the Library opens is via the Francis Street entrance.

Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) talk at City of Vincent

Sketch by surgeon, Alexander Rattray, during a voyage on HMS Salamander to Australia in 1867 [AJCP reel M 711. Original now held at The National Archives, Kew at Adm 101/138]

Have you always wanted to know more about the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) collection?

This wonderful collection includes:

• surgeon’s journals from convict and migrant ships
• applications for free passage, permission to marry, land grants etc.
• government and military appointments
• prison records
• musters
• and much, much more!

The AJCP microfilm collection, available at the State Library, is packed full of interesting information useful for family history and historical research. The original material is held in libraries and archives in the UK so is not easily accessible.

The Family History Subject Specialists from the State Library will be giving a talk on this fantastic resource at Vincent Library and Local History Centre at 2.00pm on Thursday 25 October.

Please phone the City of Vincent Library on (08) 9273 6090 for bookings or more details.

Do you have a convict in your family?

Individual convicts can be named in these volumes – this table even gives wives’ maiden names [Convict system, volume 8, page 65 of section on Western Australia]

The State Library is adding new digital content to its website all the time, which means that you can do some of your family history research from home. For instance, if you have a convict or guard in your family, you might be interested in the Convict system. This eight-volume set, housed in our rare book collection, consists of corrrespondence about the convict establishment from the Comptroller General.

Lots of convicts are named, as you can see from the example here, and there is plenty of background information too. For instance, I was able to find out when the government ceased the practice of recouping passage money from convicts – 1857. There is a notice to this effect on page 29 of the same volume.

The easiest way to access this wonderful resource is to type convict system under Title in our catalogue and select State Library Online from the drop-down box. Once you’ve selected a volume, you can browse through the pages by placing your cursor on the edge of a page and clicking. This makes a very satisfying page-turning noise! If you want to search for names, scroll down and select the Download button. This means you can save a searchable PDF version to your PC. The files are fairly large so you may need to be patient.

2011 WA Premier’s Book Awards

Visit our new site: Premier’s Book Awards – http://pba.slwa.wa.gov.au/.

Last night Premier Colin Barnett announced Fiona Skyring’s Justice: A History of the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia as winner of the 2011 Premier’s Prize worth $25,000.

Highly acclaimed Western Australian author Tim Winton was inducted into our Hall of Fame.

2011 Western Australia’s Premier’s Book Awards Category Winners

• Non-Fiction:  Alice Pung, Her Father’s Daughter
  Published by Black Inc.
• Fiction:  Anna Funder, All That I Am
  Published by Penguin Group (Australia)
• Scripts:  Tim Winton and Ellen Fontana, Cloudstreet: The Screenplay
  Published by Penguin Group (Australia)
• Children’s Books:   Michelle Gillespie and Sonia Martinez, Sam, Grace and the Shipwreck;
  Published by Fremantle Press.
• Poetry:  Tracy Ryan, The Argument
  Published by Fremantle Press
• Young Adults:  Penni Russon, Only Ever Always
  Published by Allen & Unwin
• State Library of Western Australia WA History:  Fiona Skyring, Justice: A History of the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia
  Published by UWA Publishing
• Digital Narrative Award:  Max Barry, Machine Man
  Published by Scribe Publications
• People’s Choice Award:  Anna Funder, All That I Am
  Published by Penguin Group (Australia)
• Premier’s Prize:  Fiona Skyring, Justice: A History of the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia;
  Published by UWA Publishing

Congratulations to all of the winners & publishers.