Archive for May, 2014

Temperance and Melbourne’s grand coffee palaces

Temperance and Melbourne’s grand coffee palaces

May 31, 2014

Social life & customs, Such was life:

The temperance movement originated in the 19th century and urged for the reduction or prohibition of alcohol. Temperance societies were initially founded during the 1820s in the United States and… Read More ›

New books: pulps, punks and posters

New books: pulps, punks and posters

May 30, 2014

New books, Rare Books & Arts:

 The mining of popular culture continues apace…… Alternative movie posters : film art from the underground by Matthew Chojnacki No, not posters for “alternative” movies, but alternative posters for mainstream… Read More ›

New ebooks in Arts: Zines, would you believe

New ebooks in Arts: Zines, would you believe

May 25, 2014

Comic books, Music, New books, Popular music, Rare Books & Arts:

A lot of people involved in the zine community would say that digitising zines takes away something intrinsic – the kinesthetic and unique appreciation of the physical object – and… Read More ›

Victoria’s budget 1852

Victoria’s budget 1852

May 22, 2014

Politics, Such was life:

In 1852 Victoria was barely one year old, after separation from New South Wales in 1851. It was ‘the period of the greatest social and political disorganisation that the colony… Read More ›

Charles Marville and the changing face of Paris

Charles Marville and the changing face of Paris

May 19, 2014

Photography, Rare Books & Arts:

With the State Library’s major Victor Hugo exhibition coming up in July, the name of Charles Marville has been getting mentioned in despatches recently. One of the very greatest photographers… Read More ›

New Listening: music legends & more

New Listening: music legends & more

May 14, 2014

Rare Books & Arts:

Some new CD arrivals feature on the Listening Posts in Arts.  They include recent releases in  pop, rock, country, opera and film soundtracks. The online catalogue indicates which Listening Post the… Read More ›

Victorian Historical Journal 1911-2012 now online

May 9, 2014

Arts & literature, Such was life:

For over a year, we’ve been providing free access to digitised copies of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria’s magazine for 1911-1954.  Thanks to the Society, we’re now able to make Victorian Historical… Read More ›

Happy birthday Shakespeare; 450, but who’s counting?

Happy birthday Shakespeare; 450, but who’s counting?

May 9, 2014

Film, Performing Arts, Rare Books & Arts, Theatre:

William Shakespeare isn’t looking too bad for 450……. Henry IV, parts 1 & 2: Shakespeare’s Globe To many people the plays Henry IV  and Henry V hold a special place… Read More ›

Pre-1901 Irish census records available on Find my past Ireland

May 7, 2014

Family matters, Uncategorized, Websites:

Last week the The National Archives of Ireland and  Find my past anounced the release of over 600,000 Irish census records. These records cover the period 1821-1851 and have been made available through… Read More ›

Cultural coup as Melbourne secures French national treasure

Cultural coup as Melbourne secures French national treasure

May 4, 2014

Announcements, Exhibitions, News:

The original 1862 manuscript of Les Misérables, a French national treasure, is leaving Europe for the first time to be exhibited exclusively at the State Library of Victoria, Minister for… Read More ›