Archive for July, 2025

‘Break up that cold!’ with historic Victorian winter tonics

‘Break up that cold!’ with historic Victorian winter tonics

July 29, 2025

Ask a librarian, Health, Such was life, Victorian history, Visual arts:

Let’s explore the advertising history of Victorian winter tonics that were promoted through captivating campaigns, featuring everything from racing cars to bombing planes and involving everyone from VFL footballers to Indian Maharajas!

‘By the time I found my voice to speak…’: Leslie Feinberg’s Stone butch blues

‘By the time I found my voice to speak…’: Leslie Feinberg’s Stone butch blues

July 25, 2025

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories, Rare Books & Arts:

To celebrate Trans Awareness Month 2025, we turn our attention to one of the fascinating volumes in State Library Victoria’s Rare Books Collection: Leslie Feinberg’s ‘Stone butch blues.’  The book brings with it stories of struggle — both within and beyond it’s pages — along with questions about control, artistic ethics and the ways we find (and too often don’t find) the stories we seek: stories of people like us.

Wikimedians-in-residence

Wikimedians-in-residence

July 25, 2025

People & professions, Victorian history:

The Library has hosted two Wikimedians this year as they worked on improving the visibility of Australian feminist activists, organisations, and movements.

An historic Antarctic landing

An historic Antarctic landing

July 17, 2025

Our stories, Victorian history:

In the 1880s Melbourne’s men of science formed a committee to revive interest in Antarctic exploration. They canvassed the colonies and the world in attempts to raise an expedition. Ultimately unsuccessful, they did though inspire the first publicly recorded landing on the Antarctic continent by Henrik Bull and the crew of his whaling expedition.

David G (1966) Anti conscription demonstrations through Melbourne streets,

Online Collection Spotlight: Power to the People

July 11, 2025

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

Where can I find more information about the Australian labour movement? What was political ephemera like in the 1970s? Which former world leader excels at cleaning toilets…and what’s the best dish to make with flank of U.S. President? All these questions and much more are answered in this month’s Online Collection Spotlight on Gale’s Power to the People database!