Conservators prepare rare treasures for new digital exhibition

Conservators prepare rare treasures for new digital exhibition

September 26, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation, Rare Books & Arts:

Come behind-the-scenes and learn how our conservators prepared a range of rare treasures for the new online exhibition, Beyond the Book: A digital journey through the John Emmerson Collection.

Australian football: from rectangles to ovals

Australian football: from rectangles to ovals

September 22, 2023

Ask a librarian, Sport:

As we enter AFL Grand Final week it is a good opportunity to look at a key moment in the game’s development. Beginnings Football began being played in Melbourne in… Read More ›

A painting shows the residents of the housing commission tower in Flemington during the temporary lockdown in July 2020.

Just digitised: High rise towers

September 22, 2023

Digitisation, Painting:

The painting ‘High rise towers’ looks at the lockdown imposed on the residents of the Flemington commission units in 2020.

Mysteries from the Rosenberg Collection of Vincent Kelly’s Bendigonian portraits

Mysteries from the Rosenberg Collection of Vincent Kelly’s Bendigonian portraits

August 30, 2023

Family matters, Photography:

Explore some of the mysteries in Vincent Kelly’s Bendigo photographic portraits.

Isabella Fraser, a library pioneer

Isabella Fraser, a library pioneer

August 22, 2023

Our stories, People & professions, Victorian history:

For many decades, Victorian legislation discriminated against women who wanted to work at the library. Isabella Fraser was State Library Victoria’s first female staff member in 1908, and paved the way for the many women who have followed in her footsteps.

Fred Lowen, Dunera boy.

Fred Lowen, Dunera boy.

August 16, 2023

Arts & literature, Collection spotlights, Such was life, Uncategorized, Visual arts, War:

The Dunera internees – the Dunera Boys – made a significant contribution to Australian cultural life – Fred Lowen was one of these men, read on to learn some of his story, and see his evocative artworks.
Image: The potato peelers, H91.350/8

Online Collection Spotlight: Science, Technology and Medicine, 1780-1925

Online Collection Spotlight: Science, Technology and Medicine, 1780-1925

August 11, 2023

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories:

Find out about the evolution of scientific knowledge with Gale’s Science Technology and Medicine database.

Photo: Christian Capurro

Knitting, coding, and the stars: caring for a time-based media artwork in a library collection – Part 1

August 4, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation, Exhibitions:

Through a two-part blog, gain a behind-the-scenes insight into ‘Stargazing’, a contemporary multimedia artwork that was the centrepiece of the Library’s Handmade Universe exhibition. Learn about the process of preparing it for display, a preventive conservation treatment undertaken once the artwork was deinstalled, and considerations for its care and future access.

Your ancestor’s world – 19th century Victoria

Your ancestor’s world – 19th century Victoria

August 1, 2023

Family matters, Research tips & tricks:

Welcome to National Family History month, a month dedicated to family history research! 
Alongside your family history explorations, local and social history research can help us to understand something of the motivations, places, lives and times of our Victorian ancestors. In this week’s blog we include few snapshots from our collections and beyond, to help you build a picture of the journeys undertaken and of the Victoria your ancestors may have inhabited in the nineteenth century.

“Will she wear a wig?”

“Will she wear a wig?”

July 30, 2023

Ask a librarian, Our stories, Victorian history:

On 1 August 1905, an unusually large crowd, including “ladies in bright dresses”, descended on Melbourne’s Supreme Court building to see Ms Grata Flos Matilda Greig become the first woman to be admitted to legal practice in Australia.

Such was life

Caroline, the immigrants’ friend

Caroline, the immigrants’ friend

March 26, 2024 0 comments

When you follow your heart, your achievements often multiply. The remarkable philanthropist Caroline Chisholm achieved so much for us all. Read about an incredible woman who changed the lives of so many for the better.

Arts

Nineteenth century Victorians

Nineteenth century Victorians

December 31, 2023 0 comments

The Etkins collection consists of wonderful portraits of people and places throughout 19th century Victoria.