We are pleased to announce that we have recently digitised every issue of The Gazette, the newsletter of the University of Newcastle, Australia published from 1966 – 1988. In this interesting magazine you can trace the history of the University during its formative years, revisiting such events as the appointment of Sir Alister McMullin as the first Chancellor; the retirement of the James Auchmuty, the first Vice-Chancellor; the building and opening of buildings such as the Auchmuty Library and the Great Hall; visits by famous people such as governors, governors general and judicial and literary figures; and reports of important research and other achievements. Alumni will be interested to see the names of their lecturers and professors, as well as possibly themselves and their colleagues.

The original newsletters are held in Cultural Collections in the Auchmuty Library. PDFs of Volumes 1 to 20 of The Gazette are available from our website.

1960s

• October 1966 – Vol. 1, No. 1
• March 1968 – Vol. 2, No. 1
• June 1968 – Vol. 2, No. 2
• October 1968 – Vol. 2,, No. 3
• June 1969 – Vol. 3,, No. 1
• September 1969 – Vol. 3, No. 2
• December 1969 – Vol. 3, No. 3

1970s

• May 1970 – Vol. 4, No. 1
• September 1970 – Vol. 4, No. 2
• February 1971 – Vol. 5, No. 1
• September 1971 – Vol. 5, No. 2
• December 1971 – Vol. 5, No. 3
• April 1972 – Vol. 6, No. 1
• August, No. 1972 – Vol. 6, No. 2
• December 1972 – Vol. 6, No. 3
• April 1973 – Vol. 7, No. 1
• September 1973 – Vol. 7, No. 2
• December 1973 – Vol. 7, No. 3
• May 1974 – Vol. 8, No. 1
• September 1974 – Vol. 8, No. 2
• December 1974 – Vol. 8, No. 3
• April 1975 – Vol. 9, No. 1
• August 1975 – Vol. 9, No. 2
• December 1975 – Vol. 9, No. 3
• June 1976 – Vol. 10, No. 1
• November 1976 – Vol. 10, No. 2
• May 1978 – Vol. 11, No. 1
• 1979 – Vol. 12

1980s

• 1981 – Vol. 13
• June 1982 – Vol. 14
• June 1983 – Vol. 15
• December 1984 – Vol. 16
• December 1985 – Vol. 17
• December 1986 – Vol. 18
• September 1987 – Vol. 19
• October 1988 – Vol. 20

School of Humanities and Social Science

History Seminar Series, 2009

Seminar Series for Staff and Postgraduates and Friends of History

Held in the Cultural Collections Reading Room (near the Information Common),
Level 2, Auchmuty Library, Callaghan Campus
10-11 am (followed by morning tea)
Coordinator: Dr Michael Ondaatje

Semester II

31 July, Wayne Reynolds, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Newcastle
History, Terrorism and Australia

14 August, Camilla Russell, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Newcastle
Imagining the Indies: Conceptualising the Jesuit missionary enterprise in Early Modern Italy

28 August, Jonathan Bell, Department of History, University of Reading
The two worlds of welfare politics: building an ideology of the left in San Francisco, 1956-1970

11 September, Nigel Penn, University of Cape Town, South Africa
TBA

25 September, Barry Morris, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Newcastle
An Anthropology of ANZAC

23 October, Troy Duncan, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Newcastle
Francis de Witt Batty: advocate of the Middle Way and custodian of Empire

Poster from the Graceson Theatre Swansea

Day Shift – 16/06/2009 – 02:10 PM
Presenter: Carol Duncan
Producer: Jeannette McMahon
Interviewee: Gionni Di Gravio, Archivist University of Newcastle

Newcastle University Archivist Gionni Di Gravio discusses the University’s Cultural Collections Archives relating to local theatrical and cinema history.

Broadcast Notes:

Cultural Collections in the University of Newcastle Auchmuty Library holds records relating to the history of theatre and cinema in the Hunter Region. Whilst not a distinct collection as such, but rather a component of many separate collections that have been deposited with us, we hold quite a variety of material ranging from large format plans, photographs, set and stage designs, posters e.g., blueprints for Herbert’s Picture Theatre in Islington (1928-1929), Graceson Theatre, Swansea (c1910), and James Henderson’s designs for a theatre in Union St. (1914). We also  hold theatrical archives including play scripts, minute books, correspondence, hand bills and ephemera. Histories – both written and oral, and news clippings/cuttings books e.g., from the University Drama Department and Newcastle and Hunter valley Theatre (c1970s-1980s).

Highlights include:

HUGO, Ursula., Drama IV thesis, University of Newcastle : Background to Newcastle and its theatrical scene before the opening of the Victoria Theatre. This excellent piece of research (1979) on Newcastle’s early theatres is held in Newcastle University Archives, (A5582).

HEWETT, E.F., Newcastle Engineer-Architect, about 1928 prepared plans for a cinema in Islington, Newcastle for its proprietor W. Herbert. Both the cinema building and its plans still survive, the latter being held in Newcastle University Archives, (M1000 – M1052).

M1048 Herbert's Theatre Islington

M1048 Herbert's Theatre Islington

M1049 Herbert's Theatre Islington

M1049 Herbert's Theatre Islington

HENDERSON, James, Newcastle Architect, in 1914 prepared plans for an elaborate theatre in Union Street, Newcastle, for a client named Robert Hollyford. Although the theatre was never built, the plans (6 sheets) have survived and are held in Newcastle University Archives, (M2453 – M2458).

ZOLI, (Charles A.), Enterprises in 1923 set up the ‘Marquee Theatre’ near Newcastle Beach and there staged a humorous review program entitled ‘Splashes of 1923’. A copy of the program, with notes on the performers, is held in Newcastle University Archives.

The GLASS and MORRISON family of Singleton operated an ironmongery store, and adjacent to the store conducted an early cinema, the ‘Lyrique Gardens’. The cinema records (which are incomplete) are held in Newcastle University Archives.

THE GRACESON THEATRE, Swansea, archives begin in the year 1913 and include an interesting accumulation of records from a seaside cinema: equipment catalogues, production manuals, cinema periodicals, advertising slides, admission tickets, phonodisk records, as well as correspondence, wages book, specifications and plan.

HARRY ARMSTRONG managed the Hoyts chain of cinemas in Newcastle in the years long before television and in 1979 produced a most amusing set of reminiscences Not Stranger than Fiction – A sort of Autobiography. Armstrong’s Autobiography describes well the problems that beset a cinema manager – like the rat plague that invaded the old Century Theatre at Broadmeadow.

SUN NEWSPAPERS LTD published an afternoon newspaper in Newcastle for many years, providing leisure-time reading, e.g. fashion, sport, local news. There is a very extensive collection of the paper’s business records in Newcastle University Archives for the years 1916-1935.

A listing of our THEATRICAL AND CINEMA related archival holdings is listed below:

GALBRAITH, LARRY: Arts Undergraduate, University of Newcastle:
Received June, 1975.

A5036 (part) Copies of play scripts including:

Goodwill on earth: peace in all men: a celestial musical; Centuri!; Assembliana: a comic opera; The Shop: a play for television; Draft for episode of Homicide; Alladin: pantomime; The Chase; The Memoirs of George Albert Archbold III.

A5037 Mal; Mistaken Encounter; The Pub; Citizens of Planet 10; The Greeks had a word for it; Margo; Private Laughter; Something to dance about.; Vacant; Various stage designs; Accounts of the University of Newcastle student players; Papers relating to Union debates.

THE NEW THEATRE, THE DUNGEON, Newcastle Trades Hall:

A5178 – A5182 Play scripts, c.1950 – c.1970.
A5183  Minute book, 1958 – 1964; set and costume designs; sundry printed material.’

Costume Designs for Reedy River

A5183 'The Marriage' Watercolour sketches of costumes for characters Omelet, Sevakin & Anutchkin

Set Design, Act III Unidentified Production

Flyer for 'The Crucible'

NEWCASTLE DRAMATIC ART CLUB, (“Roxy Theatre”), Hamilton:

A5198 – A5199 Correspondence, 1954 – 1972; Theatre programmes collected by the President, C. Chapman, c.1910 – 1975.

HUNTER VALLEY THEATRE COMPANY:

A5397 (xi) Fund appeal pamphlet, [April, 1978]. Cabaret: a musical in two acts, [programme, March 22nd, 1979].

TRINITY THEATRE, Newcastle:

A5423 (i) Minute book, 1973 – 1976.
A5423 (ii) Inward correspondence, 1973 – 1976.
A5423 (iii) Outward correspondence, 1973 – 1976.
A5424 (i) Correspondence and papers, 1973 – 1976 [including a photocopy of a plan of the Arts/Drama Theatre, University of Newcastle].
A5424 (ii) Reports to the Board on Richard II, Murder in the Cathedral, The Way of the Cross, Who’s afraid of Virginia Wolf, 1974 – 1975.
A5424 (iii) Aims and objectives [typed] and audition and membership forms.
A5424 (iv) Publicity and press clipping files, 1973 – 1976. [5 bundles].
A5424 (v) Newsletter, 1973 – 1976.
A5424 (vi) Programmes and Newcastle Morning Herald reviews, 1973 – 1976.
A5424 (vii) Lists of schools.
A5424 (viii) Information for cast, 1973 – 1976. [Typed sheets].

GRACESON THEATRE, Swansea, N.S.W:

Victor Ice Cream Slide

Mustdie Pest Control Advertisement

A5425 (i) Letter relating to Astros Theatre, Merriwa from T.J. Dobinson and Sons, April 24^th, 1940.
A5425 (ii) Wages book, 1913 – 1914.
A5425 (iii) Specifications, plan and related correspondence of Graceson Theatre, April 1937.
A5425 (iv) Four rolls of admission tickets and one bundle of passes.
A5425 (v) Box of glass slides.
A5425 (vi) Rubber stamp.

Printed material including:

A5426 (i) The Exhibitor and Film Weekly, 1943 – 1951.
A5426 (ii) Cinema equipment catalogues, 1927 – 1939.
A5426 (iii) Publicity pamphlets and posters, c.1944.
A5427 (i) The Bioscope, 1929.
A5427 (ii) Photoplayer, August 19th, 1950.
A5427 (iii) Everyones, May 9th, 1923.
A5427 (iv) Motion picture herald, March 22nd, 1952.
A5427 (v) Cameron, James R. Motion picture projection, by J.R. Cameron, 4th edition, New York, Cameron, 1928. [Book]; Motion picture projection and sound pictures, by J.R. Cameron, Woodmont, Conn., Cameron, 1933. [Book].
A5428 (i) Notice.
A5428 (ii) Lions roar, August, 1945, May, 1946.
A5428 (iii) 16 Phonodisc records.

JAMES FAMILY, Wickham: Printed material including:

A5496 (v) Theatre Magazine, July 1^st, 1913, June 19^th, 1919, Cinesound News, August 31^st, 1929.

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – AUCHMUTY LIBRARY:

A5581 (viii) (part) The play, Three Sisters, November, 1978. Popular Theatre Troupe, 1979.

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – SECRETARY’S DIVISION – PUBLICATIONS AND PUBLICITY OFFICER – J. ARMSTRONG:

A5622 (x) (part) University of Newcastle Arts/Drama Theatre. [Architectural details and plans.] [Pamphlet - two copies - n.d.]

ZOLI (CHARLES A. ENTERPRISES):

A5625 (ii) Xerox copy of programme for Splashes of 1923: a play held in The Marquee Theatre, Telford Street, Newcastle, February 10^th, 1923, by Charles A. Zoli Enterprises. (Donated by Mr. Frank Van Straten, Archivist, Museum of Performing Arts, Melbourne.)

DELAMOTTE, JEAN-PAUL [Former staff member, French Department, University of Newcastle]:

A5625 (iv) (part) L’Association Francaise Des Cinemas D’art et D’essai

Semaine du cinema Australien 1979.

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – SECRETARY’S DIVISION – PRINTER – R. REYNOLDS:

Planner’s Division publications:

A5657 a (ix) The University of Newcastle Arts/Drama Theatre. [n.d.]
A5673 (xii) Printed papers relating to the Arts Drama Theatre, Fine Arts and Music, including a list of Australian Academics interested in Fine Arts, 1976 – 1978.

CIVIC THEATRE, Newcastle:

A5704 (ii) Theatre tickets for the performance of Coal River: a choral symphony, November 16, 1979. [Performance commemorating the 50^th Anniversary of the Civic Theatre].

Coal River Theatre Tickets

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – DRAMA DEPARTMENT:

A5885 (iv) A toast to Melba, by Hack Hibberd, theatre ticket, March 19^th, 1980.

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – CONVOCATION:

A5886 (iv) (part) Convocation members night programme for performance of Kodachrome Ketchup and Pantechnicon by the Hunter Valley Theatre Company, June 28^th, 1977.

PAGE, IRWIN:

A5930 (i) (part) Playscript: Inquest on an Army Officer.
A5930 (v) Concert programmes, 1927 – 1964. [Victoria Theatre, Newcastle – programme Grand Opera season 1928 – 1929.]

FACULTY OF MEDICINE – DIVISION OF BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE IN MEDICINE – PROFESSOR P.A. VINSON: [Files transferred to Archives, August 1981.]

A5958 (iii) – (vii) (part) Hunter Valley Theatre Company, 1976.

SEAWARD FAMILY, Scone: Printed material:

A5970 (ii) Theatre programmes, 1884 – 1888.
A5970 (ii) Programme for moving picture Becky Sharp. [Supposed to be the first full length moving picture in colour.]

[FULLER’S] VICTORIA THEATRE, Newcastle:

A5979 (iii) Fuller news with programme for The Baby Cyclone: a farcial comedy in three acts, April 6^th, 1929. (Donated by the Archivist, Victorian Arts Centre Trust, Melbourne.)
Publicity leaflet for Fire Brigade benefit concert, April 5th, 1880s?

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – ADMINISTRATION – SECRETARY’S DIVISION – PRINTER: Printed material:

A6042 (x) Drama Department and Hunter Valley Theatre Company programme for a one-week non-residential school for young people, January 14 – 18, 1980.
A6042 (xiii) Newcastle Film Society 1980 season programme.

PURDUE, FRANK OUTEN JENSEN – LORD MAYOR OF NEWCASTLE:

A6196 (iv) (part) Newcastle Dramatic Art Club souvenir brochures to commemorate the opening of the Roxy Theatre, Hamilton, October 14^th, 1955.

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – DRAMA THEATRE:

A6319 (i) Ticket for A toast to Melba by Jack Hibbard, March, 1980.

STEVENS FAMILY:

A6344 Collection of theatre programmes and journals, 1917 – 1957.
A6345 Collection of theatre programmes and journals, 1926 – 1960.

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – VICE-CHANCELLOR’S UNIT – FIRST VICE-CHANCELLOR – PROFESSOR J.J. AUCHMUTY:

A6378 (lxxi) Theatre programme, 1963.

YOUNG PEOPLE’S THEATRE: (Donated by Dr. Alan Barcan):

A6573 Constitution, correspondence, minutes, grants, photographs and plan, 1964 – 1983.

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT – H.R. TIETZE:

A6574 (i) (part) Revue programmes and drama programmes: Under Milkwood, by Dylan Thomas, 1954; The third degree, 1959; Faux Pas, 1961; In time out, 1962; 8 + 2, 1962; Blue pencil, [n.d.]; Le Bourgeois Gentil Homme, produced by Professor K.R. Dutton.

VICTORIA THEATRE:

A6575 (i) Press clipping book, 1914 – 1915. (Donated by Mary Rabbitt).
AUSTRALIAN THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY:

A6923 (iv) Kino [journal], containing an article on earthquake damage to Newcastle Theatres in the earthquake, 28^th December, 1989, including the RSL Club – former Kings Theatre, The Century at Broadmeadow, Kings Music Hall at Lambton, The Lyrique, Regent at Islington, Hoyts Royal Twin, Everyone’s Theatre at Carrington, Cameo at New Lambton, Savoy at New Lambton [Community Centre], March, 1990. No. 31.

STAR THEATRE, CARDIFF: (Donated by Allan Walla.)

A6923 (v) Photographs [1950s]: The Theatre, Aub Seaward, Ken Walla, Allan Walla.

CORK, KEVEN:

A6923 (vi) Typescript on The Union Picture Theatre, Union Street, Newcastle, 1910 – 1931 and Pavilion Moving Theatre (live Theatre), 1913 – 1916 – both located on Arnott’s Biscuit Factory paddock.

Castle Theatre, 1920 – 1924 and Crystal Palace Dance Hall, 1927.

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – ENGLISH DEPARTMENT – DEAN OF FACULTY OF ARTS – PROFESSOR J.F. BURROWS:

A6987 (iv) The Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust Annual Report 1968.

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – RADIO STATION 2NUR-FM – ALISON COOK: (November, 1993)

A7344 (ii) Radio Drama – The NUR Theatre – includes catalogue of some radio programmes broadcast from Sydney University, 1979, 1981, 1979 – 1988.

HUNTER INSTITUTE OF HIGHER EDUCATION – ENGLISH DEPARTMENT – JOHN ROBSON:

A7482 (i)-(xvi) Files of newsclippings and correspondence relating to the Australian theatre of the 1970s, 1972 – 1979.
A7482 (xvii) Small collection of photographs of Australian plays of the 1970s, 1971 – 1979.

ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF NEWCASTLE – CANON CARLOS STRETCH [Son of Bishop John Francis Stretch]: (Deposited by Helen Pankhurst.), [Accessioned by Mrs. Josie Stevenson, 1999.]:

A7738 (i) Box “Patent Lock-Clip file” contains clippings & items, inter alia:

Theatre programme for David Copperfield. Made into a play by Louis N. Parker. Christmas production at Her Majesty’s Theatre, 1914. Price 6d. Details of cast, music programme and production shown.

THE SCHOLEY AND UPFOLD FAMILY PAPERS OF MRS MARION FAULKNER: [Received: April, 2001.] [Accessioned 10 - 17 May, 2001 by Gionni di Gravio.]

A7766 (ii) Newsclipping book (given to Marion Scholey Faulkner by Agnes Scholey) including clippings, plans and documents relating to land sales, company balance sheets and reports, Victoria Theatre, Waratah, coal mining interests, Maitland, William Arnott, Cathedral cemetery, Bishops, June, 1898 – March, 1908.

PENDER FAMILY, Maitland – SPECIFICATIONS: (Conduit: Mrs. Winsome Pender) [Received May 2000] [Accessioned May, 2002].

A7781/607 – Picture Theatre East Maitland for L. Prince Esq. 18.11.15 W.H. Pender
A7781/608 – Roofing Exposed Portion Picture Theatre East Maitland for L. Prince Esq. 28.2.16 W.H. Pender
A7784/800 – Re-Conditioning the Strand Picture Theatre at Singleton 7.9.33 (Tenders close 1st Sept) W.H. Pender
A7784/806 – Ladies Retiring Room at Maitland Picture Palace for the Maitland Theatre Co. Ltd. 1.5.34 W.H. Pender

LITTLE, WARDLOW REV. (Conduit): [Received: 2003].

A7791(i) Theatre programs for The Messiah, 1923 ; Program (1 p.) of Funeral Rites for Friedrich III, Deutscher Kaiser, 24 Juni, 1888.

BEQUESTS – BRAWN, LESLIE HAROLD: [Two consignments of personal papers, legal documents, photographs and artefacts received November 1998 and May 2002] [Accessioned November 2005 GDG]

A7805(iv) Photographs: Early theatrical production with Gladys Marguerite Butler, c.1910.

Early Theatrical Production featuring Gladys Marguerite Butler, c.1910

Early Theatrical Production featuring Gladys Marguerite Butler, c.1910

Early Theatrical Production featuring Gladys Marguerite Butler, c.1910

HUNTER INSTITUTE OF HIGHER EDUCATION – DR. JESS DYCE: [Accessioned: December, 1996.]

“]

Our Town by Thornton Wilder [Annotated Booklet

Jess Dyce

HULDAH M. TURNER, B.A., M.A. – PERSONAL PAPERS

[Date Deposited: 2007. Accessioned by Brenda Sullivan: 6 August 2007]

A8117 (ii)a Elizabethan Drama 1951-1966 - Outline of course; The Drama of Greece and Rome; Morality plays; The establishment of the public and the University wits; Marlowe, Christopher (1564-1593) – Dr. Faustus; Audience and Theatre; Shakespeare – Corioianus; Realistic comedy and satirical plays (2 copies) Tutorial notes

A8117 (iv) Williams, Emlyn – The corn is green (play); Auden, W. H. & Isherwood, Christopher. – The ascent of F6: A Tragedy in two acts (play); Niland, D’Arcy – The Shiralee; Ibsen, Henrik, – The pillars of society (play); Cary, Joyce – A fearful joy; Odets, Clifford – Golden boy (play); Morgan, Charles – The river line; Steinbeck, John – The Grapes of Wrath; Properties, equipment, costumes; Nursery rhymes

A8117 (xi) (part) speech to the Young Peoples Theater on drama [n.d.]

A8117 (xii) Madge Eddy B.A. on Ibsen, Henrik (1828-1906) – “Hedda Gabler” [1952-1966]

M4832 Huldah M. Turner Drama lecture on cardboard. [1951-1956]?’

COMMUNIST PARTY OF AUSTRALIA – BARBARA CURTHOYS COLLECTION [Date: September, 2000.] [Archived by J. Stevenson, 10 January, 2002.]

A8456 (iv) Notes on the history of New Theatre Australia. 28pp, 1959.

NEWCASTLE & HUNTER DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY: [Received: September, 2000]. [Accessioned: 11 November, 2003].

A8765 (x) Civic; Civic Theatre, Civic Square, Civic Park, NESCA, City Hall; clippings, 1900-1990.
A8792 (i) (part) Testimonials concerning Mr. Colin Christie, musician, from Waratah School of Arts, Victoria Theatre, Newcastle, Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle.
A8798 (xi) Printers block – Victoria Theatre, Newcastle. 7×8cm.

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES:

A6303 (x) Hunter Valley Theatre Company, 1977.
A6304 (vii) Practical Drama School, 1976 – 1977 [77/04].
A6309 (i) Theatre direction, 1978 [78/05].
A6309 (ii) To-day’s movie, 1978 [78/08].
A6312 (viii) Youth Theatre Workshop, 1979 [79/08].
A6312 (ix) Theatre direction, 1979 [79/09].
A6312 (x) Super 8 movie making, 1979 [79/10].

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES – OPEN FOUNDATION COURSE – K.M. HENRY:

A6731 Open Foundation local history research projects, 1987. Audio tapes and lists.
A6732 Documents, transcripts and lists of projects.

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES – OPEN FOUNDATION COURSE – K.M. HENRY: AUSTRALIAN HISTORY – 1989 PROGRAMMES

ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF NEWCASTLE – REGISTRAR’S RECORDS: CORRESPONDENCE:

Trustees of Church Property:

B7359 Adelphia Theatre, Telarah, 1949 – 1960.

SCHOOL FOR DEAF GIRLS, WARATAH:

B10106 Oxley, Selwyn: The Deaf of Other Days: a pageant … [c.1920]. [Includes script for play Little Nellie’s Christmas.]

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – DRAMA DEPARTMENT:

B10390 Cutting Books [compiled by Elvira Sproggis], 1975 – 1979.
B10391a Cutting Books [compiled by Elvira Sproggis], 1979 – 1981.
B10391b Newcastle and Hunter Valley Theatre Cutting Book, 1981 – 1982.
B10391c Newcastle and Hunter Valley Theatre Cutting Book, 1980 – 1983.
B10391d Newcastle and Hunter Valley Theatre Cutting Book, 1982 – 1984.

NEWCASTLE & HUNTER DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY:

PHOTOGRAPHS: [Accessioned: July, 2004.]

A8803/P00002 [“Nine Ways”], Broadmeadow, Herbert’s De Luxe Theatre building on left. Shows a tram and a motor lorry, with hotel in background. Iona photo. n.d.

A8804/P00210 Newcastle. Shopping Centre. Small postcard showing Civic Theatre. “Make a Wish” was the current programme. [1930’s?]
A8804/P00474 Birmingham Gardens. Moore Street. The Regal Cinema. [Run by Mr. Bruce Avard.] Donated by Stella Jory November 1994.
A8806/P01168 Newcastle. Victoria Theatre. Orchestra. 1876. Colin Christie, Leader, Margaret, piano, Alex, violin, Colin, flute.
A8806/P01170 Portrait of Colin Christie and family – Margaret, violin, Alex and Colin, violin. 10th November 1912.
A8806/P01235 Newcastle. Civic Centre, Hunter Street looking west. M.L.C.building on right, Civic Theatre on left. Vinco series no. 33. [1960?]

D’OMBRAIN, ATHEL: INDEX TO PHOTOGRAPHIC NEGATIVES OF HOUSES, BUILDING AND PROPERTIES IN THE HUNTER VALLEY:

B10401/N1266 Old film posters in a shed at the rear of Ian Pender’s (architect) office at Maitland 1974
B10401/N1267-1272 Mr. Colin Hanks (used to be proprietor of the East Maitland picture theatre) and Ian Pender looking at the posters, 1971 (colour slides of all posters at National Library of Australia, Canberra)
B10405/N2419 People dressed up for theatre party. Mary Poppins at the Palace Picture Theatre at Maitland, February, 1966

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – NCAE / HIHE / UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHER – JOHN FREUND: (Conduit: Bruce Turnbull.) [Date received: 1 April, 2004.]

B16458 Negatives concerning the Drama Department, including a production of the play ‘King O’Malley ‘, [n.d.].

BARFIELD, TANA:

B10266 The Use of Historical Figures and Folk Heroes by Australian Playwrights, by Tana Barfield [drama IV Honours Thesis, 1979].

HUGO, URSULA:

A5582 (xiv) Background to Newcastle and its theatrical scene before the opening of the Victoria Theatre. [University of Newcastle Drama IV Thesis, 1979.]

LANGELAAR, SONYA: (former Honours student in Drama and History):

B13773 Revolution Vs Reform: The American Workers’ Theatre and the Communist Part of the USA during the 1930’s – an Honours thesis submitted by Sonya Langelaar to the Departments of Drama and History, October, 1994.

LEAHY, KATH: (former Honours student in Drama):

B13772 The Rites and Rights of Passage: A Study of the Actor-Training Institution Audition- an Honours thesis submitted by Kath Leahy to the Department of Drama, October, 1994.

MCEWEN, BARBARA: (former Honours student in Drama):

B13771  Does This Bus Go to Lambton?: The therapeutic use of Drama with clients with Acquired Brain Injury and the HEADSTART project, Lambton, New South Wales, Australia. – an Honours thesis submitted by Barbara McEwen to the Department of Drama, October, 1994.

SCHOFIELD, FIONA: (former Honours student in the Department of Drama):

B13770 Gender’s a Drag: Gender Confusing Performance – an Honours thesis submitted by Fiona Schofield to the Department of Drama, 1994.

SMITH, KARINA: (former Honours student in Drama):

B13774 Theatrical Self-Construction: Kenneth Branagh’s Beginning an Honours thesis submitted by Karina Smith to the Department of Drama, November, 1994.

MAPS AND PLANS

HEWETT, E. F.

MAP Nos: M1000 – M1052
SERIES: BLUEPRINT PLANS OF HERBERT’S PICTURE THEATRE, ISLINGTON.
TITLE: Herbert’s Picture Theatre cnr Beaumont Street, and Maitland Road, Islington, owner W. Herbert Esq.
SURVEYOR/CARTOGRAPHER/PUBLISHER: E. F. Hewett
DATE RANGE: 1928 – 1928
FORMAT: Blueprints

**********************

MAP #: M1534
SERIES: Publicity posters
TITLE: Ardent spirits
DATE: [1981?]
FORMAT: Black and white
SUBJECT/AREA/FEATURES: Presented at Wyndham Estate Winery

**********************

MAP #: M1535-M1536
SERIES: Publicity posters
TITLE: The shadow of a gunman by Sean Casey
DATE: June 1981
FORMAT: Black and white
SUBJECT/AREA/FEATURES: University drama theatre

**********************

MAP #: M1537-M1538
SERIES: Publicity posters
TITLE: Peer gynt: a workshop production directed by Ian Watson
SURVEYOR/CARTOGRAPHER/PUBLISHER: Newcastle Uni drama students. Poster by Bell
DATE: October 1981
FORMAT: Coloured print
SUBJECT/AREA/FEATURES: University drama studio

**********************

MAP #: M1539
SERIES: Publicity posters
TITLE: Aristophanes Birds
SURVEYOR/CARTOGRAPHER/PUBLISHER: Newcastle Uni drama students. Poster by Bell
DATE: July and August 1981
FORMAT:  Coloured print
SUBJECT/AREA/FEATURES: Presented at Arts Drama Theatre Newcastle

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MAP #: M1540-M1541
SERIES: Publicity posters
TITLE: Don’s Party
SURVEYOR/CARTOGRAPHER/PUBLISHER: Newcastle Uni drama students. Poster by Bell
DATE: April-May 1982
FORMAT: Coloured print
SUBJECT/AREA/FEATURES: Presented at Arts Drama Theatre Newcastle

**********************

MAP #: M1542
SERIES: Publicity posters
TITLE: The lovers of Bologna
SURVEYOR/CARTOGRAPHER/PUBLISHER: Newcastle Uni drama students. Poster by Bell
DATE: June 8-12 1982
FORMAT: Coloured print
SUBJECT/AREA/FEATURES: Presented at Arts Drama Theatre Newcastle

**********************

MAP #: M1543
SERIES: Publicity posters
TITLE: Esther by T. Racine
SURVEYOR/CARTOGRAPHER/PUBLISHER: Newcastle Uni drama students. Poster by Bell
DATE: May 26-28
FORMAT:  Coloured print
SUBJECT/AREA/FEATURES: Presented by Avondale players and singers at Christ Church Cathedral

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MAP #: M1544
SERIES: Publicity posters
TITLE: Newcastle Arts Council one-act drama festival
DATE: May 1 1982
FORMAT: Black and white print
SUBJECT/AREA/FEATURES: University drama theatre

**********************

MAP #: M1545 (x3)
SERIES: Publicity posters
TITLE: Woyzeck
SURVEYOR/CARTOGRAPHER/PUBLISHER: Bell
DATE: July 1982?
FORMAT: Colour
SUBJECT/AREA/FEATURES: University drama theatre

**********************

MAP #: M1546
SERIES: Publicity posters
TITLE: Salome
SURVEYOR/CARTOGRAPHER/PUBLISHER: N.O.W. Poster group
DATE: September 1982?
FORMAT: Colour
SUBJECT/AREA/FEATURES: Great hall, University of Newcastle

**********************

MAP #:            M1547
SERIES:            Publicity posters
TITLE:            Macbeth
SURVEYOR/CARTOGRAPHER/PUBLISHER: Directed by David Berthold
DATE: June 198?
SUBJECT/AREA/FEATURES: Presented at Roxy Theatre

**********************

GRACESON THEATRE

MAP #:            M1589
SERIES:            Plans for picture theatre buildings
TITLE:            Drawing for proposed gallery and shops to Swansea picture building, Swansea
SCALE:            8ft = 1”
FORMAT:            Blueprint

**********************

MAP #:            M2019
SERIES:            Theatrical posters

TITLE:            [Billboard poster for Harry Lauder performance]
CARTOGRAPHER/ SURVEYOR/ PUBLISHER:
DATE:            [Ca 1910]
FORMAT:            Poster in four sections

********************

MAP #:            M2023
TITLE:            [Advertising posters for play fatal wedding], 9 copies
CARTOGRAPHER/ SURVEYOR/ PUBLISHER: Under direction of Meynell and Gun
DATE:            [Ca 1910]
FORMAT:            Posters

********************

MAP #:  M2051
SERIES:  Stage plans for Bon Bons and Roses for Dolly
TITLE: Bon Bons and Roses for Dolly
CARTOGRAPHER/ SURVEYOR/ PUBLISHER: David Wood [play by Dorothy Hewett, Directed by Robert Page]
FORMAT:            Pen drawing coloured. Stage setting

********************

MAP #:            M2052
SERIES:            Stage plans for Bon Bons and Roses for Dolly
TITLE:            [University of Newcastle] Drama Theatre plan
CARTOGRAPHER/ SURVEYOR/ PUBLISHER: David Wood [play by Dorothy Hewett. Directed by Robert Page]
FORMAT:            Print

********************

HENDERSON, JAMES – ARCHITECT

MAP #:            M2453
SERIES:            Design plans for a theatre in Union St. Newcastle.
TITLE:            Design plans for a theatre in Union St, for Robert Hollyford. Front elevation and section
CARTOGRAPHER/ SURVEYOR/ PUBLISHER: James Henderson
DATE:            1914
SCALE:            1/8”= 1 ft
FORMAT:            Pencil drawing
SUBJECT/ AREA/ FEATURES: Plans donated by Miss Henderson of Newcastle, 1977. [This envelope contains typed labels for display of Theatre plans].

*******************

MAP #:            M2454
SERIES:            Design plans for a theatre in Union St. Newcastle
TITLE:            Design plans for a theatre in Union St, for Robert Hollyford. Ground floor plan
CARTOGRAPHER/ SURVEYOR/ PUBLISHER:
DATE:            1914
SCALE:            1/8”= 1 ft
FORMAT:            Pencil drawing
SUBJECT/ AREA/ FEATURES: Proposed Theatre was not built

*******************

MAP #:            M2455
SERIES:            Design plans for a theatre in Union St. Newcastle
TITLE:            Design plans for a theatre in Union St. for Robert Hollyford.  Section.
CARTOGRAPHER/ SURVEYOR/ PUBLISHER: James Henderson
DATE:            1914
SCALE:            1/8”= 1 ft
FORMAT:            Pencil drawing

*******************

MAP #:            M2456
SERIES:            Design plans for a theatre in Union St. Newcastle
TITLE:            Design plans for a theatre in Union St. for Robert Hollyford. Floor plan at gallery level.
CARTOGRAPHER/ SURVEYOR/ PUBLISHER: James Henderson
DATE:            1914
SCALE:            1/8”= 1 ft
FORMAT:            Pencil drawing

*******************

MAP #:            M2457
SERIES:            Design plans for a theatre in Union St. Newcastle
TITLE:            Design plans for a theatre in Union St. for Robert Hollyford.  Floor plan at cloak room level.
CARTOGRAPHER/ SURVEYOR/ PUBLISHER: James Henderson
DATE:            1914
SCALE:            1/8”= 1 ft
FORMAT:            Pencil drawing

*******************

MAP #:            M2458
SERIES:            Design plans for a theatre in Union St. Newcastle.
TITLE:            Design plans for a theatre in Union St. for Robert Hollyford. Sections.
CARTOGRAPHER/ SURVEYOR/ PUBLISHER: James Henderson
DATE:            1914
SCALE:            1/8”= 1 ft
FORMAT:            Pencil drawing

*******************

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE – DRAMA DEPARTMENT

MAP #: M2590
SERIES: Posters
TITLE: “For these dead birds sigh a prayer” by Peter Matheson.
CARTOGRAPHER/ SURVEYOR/ PUBLISHER: Drama department J.C.W.
DATE:  n.d.
FORMAT: Poster
SUBJECT/ AREA/ FEATURES: Play advertisement

*******************

MAP #: M2591
SERIES:  Poster
TITLE: “For these dead birds sigh a prayer” by Peter Matheson.
CARTOGRAPHER/ SURVEYOR/ PUBLISHER: Drama department J.C.W.
DATE:  n.d.
FORMAT: Poster
SUBJECT/ AREA/ FEATURES: Play advertisement

*******************

YOUNG PEOPLES THEATRE

MAP #: M3015
TITLE: Proposed alterations and additions to Young Peoples Theatre and Arts Centre Newcastle Lindsay St Hamilton
DATE:  19 September, 1980
SCALE: Plans 1/50; Elevations 1/100;  Block plan 1/100
FORMAT: Print

Student research papers in Australian history

The University of Newcastle History Club,
Department of History

This serial was published during the late 1970s and early 1980s by the University of Newcastle’s History Club, Department of History, and featured some of the best papers on Australian history by undergraduate history students. Many of the topics relate to local and regional history and will be of considerable interest to scholars of Newcastle and Hunter history. Each article is reproduced separately as a PDF file, and the entire volume is also available as a single PDF file.

Nos 1-8 complete of the Student Research Papers in Australian History, published as a serial through The University of Newcastle History Club, during the period 1976-1983 are all available through the Cultural Collections Digital Scriptorium located here:

http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/archives/digitalscriptorium/studentresearchpapers.html

Number 1 – 1976

NB During its first year, the serial was called Student research papers in early Australian history and was published by the University of Newcastle’s Department of History.

• Number 1 – complete
• “”Race against time” by Christine Misko
• “Convict offences: Shaw/Robson?” by Gary Luxford
• “James Mudie, civilian magistrate, property owner, “Castle Forbes”, Patrick Plains” by Louis Greenwell
• “The Australian Agricultural Company” by Ken Kennedy
• “The squatting women of Australia” by Sally Kinsley

Number 2 – 1977

• Number 2 – complete
• “Edward Capper : Hardware and society.” by Ian Bowrey
• “Dangar’s dismissal.” by Russell Seton
• “The ‘Wanted columns’ of the Maitland Mercury. 1850-55: employment patterns during the gold rushes.” by Jan Horne
• “Working class women and the suffragettes : A Study of urban New South Wales and Victoria. 1890-1900.” by Noeline Williamson
• “Australian theatre : a reflection of the national selfconsciousness.” by Judi Harris
• “The 1929 collieries lockout and the Rothbury Incident.” by William Hill

Number 3 – 1978

• Number 3 – complete
• “Solomon Wiseman, and his part in the settlement of the Hunter Valley” by B.M. Penglase
• “Dawson, the Australian Agricultural Company, and the Manning River” by Lyn Strahan
• “Early steamships and the Hunter trade 1830 – 1855″ by Hugh Thomson
• “E.H. Burgmann and the Depression in Newcastle 1930 – 33: ideas and practice” by Jennifer Cronin
• “The University of Newcastle: controversial beginnings: 1952 to 1959″ by Vanessa Tripp

Number 4 – 1979

• Number 4 – complete
• “Monumental sculptures: J.J. Edstein and his sons 1855 – 1941″ by Tracey Edstein
• “Problems encountered with the building of Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle 1868 – 1902″ by Janelle Pauling
• “Socialism in Newcastle: the elections of 1885 and 1895″ by Paul Kiem
• “The convict bushranging era in the Hunter Valley” by Pat Hampton

Number 5 – 1980

• Number 5 – complete
• “The Newcastle and Northumberland Building Society” by Susan Armstrong
• “The pneumonic influenza epidemic of 1919 in New South Wales” by Jennifer Greenwell
• “The Great Lockout” by Bruce Jenkins
• “Small town cinema: an entertainment monopoly” by Cathy Graham
• “A preliminary sketch of Italian migration” by Maureen Strazzari

Number 6 – 1981

• Number 6 – complete
• “Liberal or vocational education: a gulf in Newcastle in 1938″ by Veronica Lunn
• “Isolated, poor, but happy: life in West Wallsend 1938″ by Marjorie White
• “Work and ambition in Newcastle 1938: a middle class case” by John McQualter
• “Steel the master: the impact of work on life in Newcastle in 1938″ by Kevin Cranson
• “The impact of shift work on families in 1938: a case study” by Gina Barbon

Number 7 – 1982

• Number 7 – complete
• “‘In a job’ in 1938: a reflection of Depression experiences” by Barbara Gaudry
• “A troubleshooter and his establishment church” by Murray Payne
• “Steel or starve” by Susan Owen
• “Islington 1938: a single life within general history” by Brett Deacon
• “Work and life in Dudley 1938: everything was on the up and up” by Annette Curtis.

Number 8 – 1983

• Number 8 – complete
• “”We enjoyed every ounce of life then” – a view of coalmining” by Annette Doyle
• “Above the ground in 1938″ by Dot Trim
• “”Moderne – come back to earth!”: a view of an architect and architecture in Newcastle in 1938″ by Paul Munro

School of Humanities and Social Science
HISTORY SEMINAR SERIES – 2009

Reflections on the transnational turn in United States history: theory and practice

Ian Tyrell

Friday, 12 June
10am to 11am
(with morning tea/coffee afterwards)

Cultural Collections Reading Room (near the Information Common),
Level 2, Auchmuty Library, Callaghan Campus

This paper situates the idea of ‘transnational history’ within the recent historiography of the United States, as both a reaction against and accommodation to the nation-state focus of that  historiography. It explains transnational history’s specific American  development as a broad project of research to contextualize US  history and decentre the nation; explores the conditions of American historical practice that influenced the genesis and growth of this version of transnational history; and compares the concept with competitor terms such as international history; comparative history, global history; histoire croisée; and trans-border. In the United States, transnational history came to be considered complementary to these concepts in its commitment to render American historiography less parochial, yet the concept has remained, because of its origins, limited in application by period and spatial scope. While the concept retains utility because of its specific research program to denaturalize the nation, transnational history understood as an exploration of ‘transnational spaces’ opens possibilities for an approach of more general historiographical relevance.

Ian Tyrrell is Scientia Professor of History at the University of New South Wales.  His most recent book is  Transnational Nation: United States History in Global Perspective  since 1789 (Palgrave Macmillan, 2007); and has due for publication in 2010 a book on Transnational Reform Networks and American Empire. He was (1991 to 1996) editor of the Australasian Journal of American Studies.

Staff, students and members of the public are welcome
Enquiries to:    Michael Ondaatje  (Michael.Ondaatje@newcastle.edu.au; or
Victoria Haskins  (Victoria.Haskins@newcastle.edu.au)

School of Humanities and Social Science
HISTORY SEMINAR SERIES – 2009

Domestic geographies: the place of the Outing Matron in Tucson 1913-1935

Victoria Haskins

Friday, 5 June
10am to 11am
(with morning tea/coffee afterwards)

Cultural Collections Reading Room (near the Information Common),
Level 2, Auchmuty Library, Callaghan Campus

In the early years of the twentieth century, the Bureau of Indian Affairs began to promote the employment of young Native American women as domestic servants in white households across the Southwest of the United States. This assimilationist policy, extending the Outing program initiated by Colonel Pratt for Indian boarding school students in Pennsylvania in the 1880s, entailed the establishment of a new Indian Service position of Outing Matron. As Outing Matrons, a number of women would be made responsible for supervising and regulating the domestic labour of Native American women, their role in many respects an extension of the maternalist nineteenth-century matron program by which field matrons, visiting Indian homes and establishing their own amongst Native communities, were to impart to their native charges a domestic model of civilization. But the Outing matron’s role went further, in that her task was to oversee the placement of Native American women within the homes of white American women, negotiating these highly structured female relationships. This paper focuses on the Outing matrons who worked at Tucson, from the impulses and pressures leading to the first appointment of a designated Outing Matron here in 1915 to the abolishment of the appointment in the 1930s. Acting as intermediary between the white and the Tohono O’odham Indian women of Tucson, the Outing matron’s complex role was simultaneously mobile, contained, and liminal, played out on spatial as well as social levels.

Dr Victoria Haskins is a Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Newcastle. She has researched and published widely on the histories of Australian Aboriginal domestic service and relationships between white and Aboriginal women, and is currently researching a comparative historical study of Indigenous women’s domestic service in settler colonial societies, with the United States and Native American experience being a key focus. This paper presents findings from this research project.

Staff, students and members of the public are welcome
Enquiries to:    Michael Ondaatje  (Michael.Ondaatje@newcastle.edu.au; or
Victoria Haskins  (Victoria.Haskins@newcastle.edu.au)

Huntington's History of Newcastle and the Northern District

The Story of Lambton - a Newcastle Suburb

Two new important works of local history will be launched this weekend at Lambton High School Hall.

The two works were prepared by Ken and Maree Shilling with assistance from fellow members of the Newcastle Family History Society Inc.

The works are entitled:

Huntington’s History of Newcastle and the Northern District. Compiled by Ken Shilling with additional biographical material written by Cynthia Hunter. Published by the Newcastle Family History Society Inc 2009.

and

The Story of Lambton – a Newcastle Suburb. Compiled by Maree Shilling with contributions by Newcastle Family History Society Inc. and Residents of Lambton Past and Present.

Both works will be launched by University of Newcastle Archivist Gionni Di Gravio, who originally suggested the idea to the Society of reproducing Huntington’s History, which in our opinion is one of the finest histories of Newcastle that has ever been published.

Henry William Hemsworth Huntington (1848-1926) wrote the history as a series of bi-weekly installments in the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate between August 1897 and 1898 in support of Newcastle’s Centenary celebrations.

These articles would have been forgotten had they not been assiduously collected by another Novocastrian historian and dentist, Ben Champion, who compiled them into a bound book.

This book was donated along with his papers to the University of Newcastle Archives.

The articles became an important historical resource for the early history of Newcastle, as Huntington had compiled them from original documents and manuscripts which he transcribed along with anecdotes and personal reminiscences.

It has yet to be surpassed in its scope and charm.

So therefore it is with great gratitude to the Newcastle Family History Society (and Ken and Maree Shilling in particular) that they took up the challenge of transcribing and editing Huntington’s History of Newcastle.

It will be a work of enduring value to the study of our local history, and act as a spring board to future research.

The second book to be launched is entitled The Story of Lambton-a suburb of Newcastle, compiled by Maree Shilling with the assistance of the Family History Society Inc and members of the local Lambton community.

The book contains a foreword by Dr Troy Duncan of the University of Newcastle’s School of Humanities and Social Science.

It is an enormous feat of scholarly labour and a veritable treasure trove of information on the foundations and evolving history of all facets of the suburb.

At over 400 pages in lenght it is a monumental tribute that comes with a supplemental CD rom containing 140 extra photographs and a database listing the details of over 5,500 early residents of Lambton.

Both works can be purchased from the Newcastle Family History Society Inc.

Huntington’s History of Newcastle and Northern District August 1897 -August 1898
279 pp. A4, (2009) – $35.00+$9.00 p&p; CD: $27.00+$3.00 p&p
Launch 30 May 2009
For description see Latest Publications

The Story of Lambton – a suburb of Newcastle NSW
Describes every facet of the growth of this diverse community, abundantly illustrated. 411pp
Book incl bonus CD $50.00+$9.60p&p;
CDset [Book on CD+Bonus CD]  $35.00+$3.00 p&p.
Can order now, available after Launch 30 May 2009
For description see Latest Publications

School of Humanities and Social Science
History Seminar Series, 2009

Seminar Series for Staff and Postgraduates and Friends of History

Held in the Cultural Collections Reading Room (near the Information Common),
Level 2, Auchmuty Library, Callaghan Campus
10-11 am (followed by morning tea)
Coordinators: Dr Michael Ondaatje and Dr Victoria Haskins

Semester I

20 March, Philip Dwyer, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Newcastle
Private Reminiscing, Public Remembering: Military Memoirs, Veteran Culture and the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

3 April, Marilyn Lashley, Department of Political Science, Howard University
Strange Bedfellows? Globalization and Indigenous Systems of Communal Land Tenure in New Zealand, Fiji, Canada and Australia

24 April, Ken Fedorowich, School of History, University of the West of England, Bristol
‘We Shall Have a Fine Holiday’: Imperial Sentiment, Unemployment and the 1928 Miner-Harvester Scheme to Canada

1 May, Clare Corbould, Department of History, University of Sydney
‘At the Feet of Dessalines’: Black Americans, the Haitian Revolution and the Myths of History

15 May, Lisa Featherston, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Newcastle
Spinning Sex Education: The Formation of New Knowledges in Interwar Australia

5 June, Victoria Haskins, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Newcastle
Domestic Geographies: the place of the Indian Outing Matron in Tucson 1913-1935

12 June, Ian Tyrell, School of History, University of New South Wales
What is Transnational History?
And Book Launch, Nadine Kavanagh, IASH

Top men, Raspberry Gully, NSW, 24 June 1898

Day Shift – 19/05/2009 – 02:10 PM
Presenter: Carol Duncan
Interviewee: Gionni Di Gravio, Archivist University of Newcastle

Newcastle University Archivist Gionni Di Gravio discusses the work to date on the Norm Barney Photographic Collection that was donated to the University’s Cultural Collections in June 2008. The Collection consists of around 990 glass negatives from Newcastle Photographer Ralph Snowball, and thousands more regular negatives from the Collections of Norm Barney and his friend and colleague Bert Lovett.

Broadcast Notes:

There are a number of collections of Ralph Snowball’s images throughout the region in private collections as well as public, most notable is the collection in Local Studies in Newcastle Public Library and available through Hunter Photobank.

This particular Collection of around 990 extraordinary glass slides forms part of Norm Barney’s Photographic Collection that was deposited with the University’s Cultural Collections in June 2008.

To view our progress to date and see the larger images please visit our flickr site (make sure to click the ‘all sizes’ tab:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157608912691810/

These are the largest images of this kind available online anywhere, we are proud to present these photographic masterpieces to the wider community. They are so big you can pick the the breadcrumbs out of the beards!

Wallsend Number 1 tunnel, Wallsend, NSW, 11 June 1897

Originally more than 8,000 glass negatives were stored in the cellar of Ralph Snowball’s Clarence Rd house. Most had not seen the light of day since Snowball’s death in 1925 right up until the beginning of 1989 when around the 800 or so boxes were rediscovered by Norm Barney and Bert Lovett.

Most were of two sizes: whole plate, approximately 8 1/2 x 6 1/2 in (21.6 x 16.5cm) and half plate, approximately 6 1/2mx 4 1/2 in (16.5 x 12.7 cm).

All were examined and around 2000 were subsequently dumped due to being destroyed by a combination of age and dampness. We estimate that around 5000 were donated to Newcastle City Council’s local history library.

A total of around 990 glass plates remained with Norm Barney in 44 boxes, the ‘cream of the crop’ that was kept with the family to prepare Norm Barney’s publications. Included are also some archival registers and notebooks belonging to Ralph Snowball.

“]

Municipal Baths, Newcomen Street, Newcastle, NSW, [n.d.

Norm Barney and Bert Lovett were able to identify most of the names, dates and places with the help of the surviving notebooks, details on some of the old boxes, and Ralph Snowball’s habit of writing on some of the negatives.

In addition to the Snowball Glass Negatives (990 images), inscribed box lids (3 boxes) and notebooks (1 box) the collection also includes negatives from the private collections of Norm Barney and Bert Lovett (approx 7000 items).

John Scholey's house, Mayfield, NSW, 7 November 1900

We currently have employed a qualified conservator to document the condition of the glass negatives, clean and re-house them. A digitiser to scan the glass negatives at a minimum of 300-600 dpi and import the jpgs (or optimised image files) in to our online Flickr site, and a cataloguer to create library catalogue entries for them in the University Library’s Newcat catalogue. After this process the glass negatives will be retired into the safety and preservation of archive boxes for long term storage.

To view more of these amazing images of Newcastle and the Hunter Region please visit our flickr site (make sure to click the ‘all sizes’ tab:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157608912691810/

Gionni Di Gravio
University Archivist

School of Humanities and Social Science
HISTORY SEMINAR SERIES – 2009

Spinning Sex Education: the formation of new knowledges in interwar Australia.

Lisa Featherstone

Friday, 15 May
10am to 11am
(with morning tea/coffee afterwards)

Cultural Collections Reading Room (near the Information Common),
Level 2, Auchmuty Library, Callaghan Campus

The twenties was an age of pleasure. From the sultry tones of jazz emerging in night-clubs, to an increasing interest in physical perfection promoted by body culture movements, to the raw sexuality flaunted by the flapper, sensual bodies were everywhere.

Yet it is clear that this culture of decadence merely hid deeper, quite virulent anxieties: VD, promiscuity, sex perverts, single mothers, and of course the continuation of a strong and healthy white race. In the interwar years, sex education was increasingly promoted as the answer to all of these problems. From all sides of the political spectrum there were calls for the scientific exploration of sexual knowledge.

This paper will explore these new sexual knowledges, particularly early advice for children and adolescents. Through a consideration of the primary sources, it will suggest that, rather than being emancipatory or even educative, sex “education” was a pronounced form of social control. It was not education for knowledge per se, but rather an attempt to reshape sexual mores, to convince children and teens of the need to control and restrain their sexual desire. In an age of modernity, sex education was less an exploration of new knowledges, but simply a repackaging of older ideas about modesty, continence and restraint.

Staff, students and members of the public are welcome
Enquiries to: Michael Ondaatje (Michael.Ondaatje@newcastle.edu.au; or
Victoria Haskins (Victoria.Haskins@newcastle.edu.au)