A window into history
State Library Victoria members can access hundreds of databases from home (if your home is in Victoria). That’s millions of articles, magazines, archives, ebooks, videos, songs, audiobooks and more, available through the catalogue anytime. We’re taking a closer look at new and/or interesting databases as well as hidden gems from our collections. Read on for top picks and tips from Librarians.
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Today we’re looking at the Victorian Parliamentary papers database (1851— ), the U.K. Parliamentary Papers 1801–2003/04 and Parlinfo – Commonwealth Parliamentary Collections.
What makes these databases so great?
Parliamentary papers (sometimes known as Command papers in the United Kingdom) are documents relating to the business of government and government departments. These are formally presented to Parliament and are referred to as tabled documents. Many of these tabled documents are then ordered to be printed in Parliamentary papers. These include departmental annual reports, royal commission reports, correspondence, dispatches etc.
They are, then, a wonderful source of information on government decision making and processes.
The Legislative Assembly: Sir James McCulloch proposing the new standing order; A/S19/02/76/185
Highlights
U.K. Parliamentary Papers 1801–2003/04
The U.K. Parliamentary Papers 1801–2003/04 database is available online to Victorian residents who join our Library.
Because of Australia’s close association with Britain, both prior and since Federation, the UK papers offer a fascinating and detailed insight into both Britain’s and our own history.
Some papers in this database may relate to famous world events such as the record of the formal investigation into the sinking of the Titanic.
Images of Titanic lifeboats. Left: Illustrated London News, 4 May 1912, p 671; Right: Illustrated London News, 27 April 1912, p 624
At the dawn of the swinging sixties the notorious John Profumo affair rocked Britain. With wild parties, clandestine liaisons and Soviet agents, it was a scandal that bought down the government and has been retold in books and films. The official report by Lord Denning is available in U.K. Parliamentary Papers.
Our history features strongly as well, especially during colonial times. You will find dispatches about Eureka, for example. See Dispatch 148, p 44 and Dispatch 162, p 65 in this document: Correspondence relative to recent Discovery of Gold in Australia.
The Victorian Parliamentary Papers database (1851— )
The Victorian Parliamentary Papers database (1851— ) is freely available online – no log in is required.
In the Victorian Parliamentary Papers you can find more about the Eureka uprising such as: Riot at Ballaarat [i.e. Ballarat] : report of the Board appointed to enquire into circumstances connected with the late disturbance at Ballaarat [i.e. Ballarat] : together with evidence taken by the Board.
Eureka Stockade, [ca 1890-ca 1900]. Painting by B Ireland; H141890
For more recent history you could find the final report of the Royal Commission into the Tricontinental Group of Companies. This financial scandal led to the dissolution of the State Savings Bank of Victoria.
Parlinfo – Commonwealth Parliamentary Collections
Parlinfo is a one-stop-shop for Commonwealth Parliamentary documents. This includes Hansard, Tabled papers, Royal Commissions and Papers of Parliamentary committees.
So, for example, you can find the Report of Royal Commission Industrial Trouble on Melbourne Wharfs. You can view this in plain text or you can download it as a pdf. You may be researching the re-introduction of National Service in 1964. You can read the debates around the original bill.
Search tips
Victorian Parliamentary Papers
With Victorian Parliamentary Papers usually simple searches work best. Type some likely keywords into the search box and then use the options at left to limit your search. The specific year range is useful.
Many of our Library’s early annual reports are included in the Victorian Parliamentary Papers. Just do a simple keyword search such as library trustees year to access digitised versions of the reports.
Example of a search using Victorian Parliamentary Papers
UK Parliamentary Papers
UK Parliamentary Papers search interface. Note the options at left to narrow a keyword search.
Once you have found a document on UK Parliamentary Papers that you wish to view, you can search for particular words or phrases, download the document and also see related news stories regarding the event.
UK Parliamentary Papers also has an advanced search option where you can search different parts of the record.
For more on the breadth of content in UK Parliamentary Papers see this guide.
Parlinfo – Commonwealth Parliamentary Collections
The advanced search gives a wide range of options. Sometimes it is best not to be too specific.
Some of the choices will open more options. For example if you choose to search Hansard, the range of options to narrow your search are very extensive. You can even narrow to ‘interjector’.
With the Title option be careful of using exact titles as they can change for different versions of reports. For example if you search the Royal Commission on Espionage under Exact Title and limit to Tabled Papers you will find the interim report but the final report is titled Espionage Royal Commission.
The depth and the range of the content is a great strength of this database but it does make searching complex. As with any searching, perseverance, altering terms and using the drop down limts and date options offered are keys to getting to the information you need.
More to explore
We always welcome your recommendations for database trials — let us know what you’d like to see. Check out our latest databases on trial, and see a full list of all new and trial databases, by visiting our A-Z Databases page. If you have a research query or questions on how to use our online collections, contact us via our Ask a Librarian service.
For further information on how to research Victorian Parliamentary Papers, see this page of our Victorian Government Publications guide.
The U.K. parliamentary papers & your family history blog post gives some hints for genealogists.
