Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors are kindly advised that this website includes images, sounds and names of people who have passed.
All users should be aware that some topics or historical content may be culturally sensitive, offensive or distressing, and that some images may contain nudity or are of people not yet identified. Certain words, terms or descriptions may reflect the author's/creator's attitude or that of the period in which they were written, but are now considered inappropriate in today's context.
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In the Library (or anywhere with a Library card for NSW residents) |
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Only in the Library |
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Publicly available |
Primary sources are produced by those who have a direct connection with, or experience of, the events that are being documented. These can be first-hand accounts from an individual, or importantly, can also be artefacts compiled after the event, such as oral histories.
The sometimes singular point of view found in authored works, like diaries, are no more valid than the broad representation of experiences that can be found through audio recordings, or in-person retellings.
There is also great potential for oral histories to bring to the fore narratives of people that otherwise may not be represented in more commonly collected artefacts such as manuscripts.
Primary sources provide first-hand testimony or direct evidence concerning a topic or question under investigation. Here you will find original documents such as letters and diaries written at the time events were occurring.
There are many digitised items of primary source material in the State Library collection. Use the Digital Collections catalogue to find photographs, pamphlets, posters, diaries and correspondence.
Aboriginal archaeological sites and artifacts [PXA 1212]
The State Library collection contains many oral history recordings, including those from Aboriginal Australians. This link will take you to another research guide, which further explains what’s in our collection, highlighting some relevant recordings.
Stephen Webb interview by Louise Darmody, 17 November 2017
Commissioned by the State Library of New South Wales, 16 November 2017-19 April 2018
