Our Manuscript Collection
Our manuscript collection - Primary Records
Our manuscript collection, known as Primary Records, was set up in 1963 to house donated material. At present there are more than 28,000 files, with additions weekly. The files hold family papers, pedigrees, photographs, certificates, unpublished research notes, other documents and memorabilia from Australia and overseas.
But perhaps the major value of the collection is that it enables researchers to avoid reinventing the wheel - to be able to capitalise on research notes that have been deposited by members and others.
Access to the collection is currently via two indexes:
- an 'inhouse' computer catalogue which contains entries from the old card index and more recently accessioned material. This is available for searching in both buildings but is NOT currently online. New entries continue to be added to this.
- an online version of the catalogue - best described as a 'cut down' version of some of the material found on the inhouse catalogue. This only contains material accessioned after 1993 and is not being updated. This is the only online version currently available at present but in no way represents the full range of material available in this collection.
Check the index for family names and individuals, but also ships, organisations, towns and buildings.
If you locate something of interest in our indexes, the next step is to obtain copies of the relevant pages of the Primary Records file. Files are housed at Richmond Villa and can be viewed on Thursdays and Saturdays. Pre-ordering of files is necessary so that we have this material available for you when you arrive. If you are unable to personally visit contact us by email for further details, quoting the specific files you are interested in consulting.
Donations to Primary Records
The Society actively encourages donations of material to this collection. A copy of the donation form is available for download here. If you are sending or delivering material to us please use our main mailing address of 120 Kent Street for delivery
Highlights of the collection
Photographs - There are over ten thousand photographs, from rare daguerreotypes taken in the 1840s to modern laser prints. The Houison collection of plates and lantern slides is a major resource and has recently been described in one of our publications.
ABGR - The research files and photographs relating to the musters and other publications of the Australian Biographical and Genealogical Record, together with data submitted by individual descendants.
St Joseph's Building Society - This Society became a major landlord (as mortgagee in possession) in the Depression of the late 1890s. These files relate to the tenants, property maintenance and the tradesmen employed in that work, as well as their suppliers. Most of the material dates between 1880 - 1940. For greater detail click here.
Monumental masons' ledgers - The ledgers of both Andrews and Larcombe, containing lists of people who ordered headstones, together with some photographs of the finished graves.
The Dennes collection - Gordon Dennes, the editor of the Wingham Chronicle, collected biographical information on settlers on the Manning River area of New South Wales. .
The Perkins Papers - John Arthur Perkins' collection of typescript papers illustrating the social history of the electorate of Eden-Monaro and the towns of Tumut and Adelong from 1823 to 1948. Click here to access more information.
The Valerie Ross collection - The research notes and correspondence that Valerie Ross amassed while she was researching her books on the Everingham family.
Sewerage plans & Dove's plans of Sydney - The sewerage plans date from 1856 and 1867 and show building allotments and houses and include owners' names. Percy Dove surveyed the City of Sydney in 1880 in great detail. His plans show houses and outbuildings and are colour coded for easy reference. Used together with Sands Directories they can build up a good picture for most allotments in Sydney.
Beale papers - The diaries, correspondence and other related material relating to Sydney's Beale family, which was involved in piano manufacture and running music shops.
Quong Tart papers - Papers relating to this 19th century Sydney merchant of Scottish and Chinese descent, who was active in Chinese and public life.
Camperdown Cemetery - Plans of Camperdown Cemetery in 53 sheets, hand coloured, showing sections, lots and names. The cemetery is one of the historic landmarks of Sydney's history.