a guide to Indigenous records in the Battye Library compiled by Heather Campbell Compiled with the assistance of the Friends of Battye Library with funding from the Maude Sholl Bequest. 1 Friends of Battye Library Inc. Friends of Battye Library (Inc.) was inaugurated on 6 July 1981. Its aim is to assist and promote the interests of the J S Battye Library of West Australian History and the State Records Office, with particular concern for the acquisition, preservation and use of archival and documentary materials. Activities A regular newsletter is produced and meetings are held for members and guests four times each year with the annual general meeting occurring in July. Guest speakers cover many topics relevant to the Battye Library and the State Records Office, including Friends' own projects and research. Volunteers The work of the Battye Library is greatly enhanced by the contribution of Friends of Battye Library volunteers who work on assigned projects and assist in processing material according to their interests or expertise. Enquiries are welcomed from people who would like to work on specific Western Australian projects for a couple of hours or more each week. Friends’ projects Over the years, the Friends have raised money to complete many worthwhile projects. A generous bequest from Maude Sholl, who died on 28 July 1995, has also ensured that projects, such as Katitjin can be undertaken to assist with research into Western Australia’s history. With Friends’ funding, archivists, authors and experienced researchers have been employed to compile inventories of records in both government and private archives’ collections, to assess and organise collections of films in the State Film Archives, to compile several important bibliographies of Western Australian records including maps, and to organise and digitise photographic collections. The Friends have also applied for and received grants from the Lotteries Commission (now Lotterywest) to microfilm and preserve early Western Australian newspapers. 2 FOREWORD The compilation of Katitjin would not have been possible without the wholehearted cooperation and expertise of the staff of the Battye Library, and I thank them for their unending patience and advice. Particular thanks should go to Dr Ronda Jamieson, Director, Battye Library, Jennie Carter, Team Leader, BAC for their support; to David Whiteford, Jan Skillington, Julie Martin, Gerard Foley, Alison Hocken, Beth Frayne and Maryon Craig for insights into particular collections, to Glenda Oakley and Steve Howell for their editorial advice, to Brian Stewart for technical advice, and to Fiona Caratozzolo for providing the answers to so many questions. Assistance with correcting and formatting Katitjin was provided by Valda Kiely and Kelly Boxall and this was much appreciated. Thanks must also go to Len Collard, Senior Lecturer in the School of Indigenous Australian Studies, Murdoch University, for taking the time to assess the publication, and for suggesting the name Katitjin, a Noongar word meaning to learn or to understand. Last but certainly not least I would like to thank Friends of Battye Library for giving me the opportunity to travel on such an exciting journey. Heather Campbell 3 ARRANGEMENT OF GUIDE The publication is in two parts. The first is a guide containing overviews of the Battye Library’s collections, research and finding aids, and sections on family history. Part Two is a researchers’ kit comprising useful publications, a select bibliography under subject headings, websites, handy contacts, and search strategies. Both sections should be used in conjunction with one another as useful published and unpublished works have not been included in part one. Researchers should be aware that material is continually being added to the Battye Library’s collections, therefore the select bibliography compiled for Katitjin may not include all available sources. It is not possible to list everything in this guide and materials cited are examples only. 4 SENSITIVITY OF MATERIAL, CULTURAL CONFIDENTIALITY Some records may contain material relating to Aboriginal people that is now considered offensive. Many works also contain references to people now deceased and to incidents of a distressing nature. Included in the Pictorial Collection are photographs of deceased Aboriginal people, the display of which may also cause offence and distress. Such material may also exist in the State Film Archives Collection. Certain records, in terms of Indigenous culture, may be of a secret or sacred nature. It is regretted that some subject headings and captions used by libraries, and in online resources in general, may be out-of-date and could give offence due to their pejorative and subjective nature. 5 Cover photograph: Gathering of families at West Guildford 1901 (Battye Library 011649D) CONTENTS FRIENDS OF BATTYE LIBRARY INC. ................................................................................................ 1 ACTIVITIES .......................................................................................................................................... 1 VOLUNTEERS ...................................................................................................................................... 1 FRIENDS’ PROJECTS ............................................................................................................................ 1 FOREWORD......................................................................................................................................... 2 ARRANGEMENT OF GUIDE................................................................................................................ 3 SENSITIVITY OF MATERIAL, CULTURAL CONFIDENTIALITY......................................................... 4 PART ONE ........................................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................. 8 RECORDS OF INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA................................................................... 8 1.2 ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS – OVERVIEW AND ACCESS.......................................................... 10 1.2.1 STACK AREAS, CALL SLIPS, CALL NUMBERS AND RETRIEVAL.......................................................... 10 Call numbers................................................................................................................................ 10 Private Archives ........................................................................................................................... 10 The Battye Library........................................................................................................................ 10 1.2.2 PRIVATE ARCHIVES ................................................................................................................... 10 Distinction between the Private Archives of the Battye Library and the State Records Office ...... 11 The Daisy Bates material and National Library of Australia.......................................................... 11 ANs, WAS and MNs..................................................................................................................... 11 Holdings of Private Archives ........................................................................................................ 12 Access to Private Archives........................................................................................................... 12 1.2.3 PICTORIAL COLLECTION..................................................................................................... 13 Organisation................................................................................................................................. 13 Numbering ................................................................................................................................... 13 Searching for images ................................................................................................................... 13 Access ......................................................................................................................................... 14 Copyright, cultural confidentialty: donor restrictions ..................................................................... 14 Obtaining copies .......................................................................................................................... 14 1.2.4 ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION ............................................................................................. 15 Holdings....................................................................................................................................... 15 Access ......................................................................................................................................... 15 Do it yourself oral history.............................................................................................................. 16 Oral History Association............................................................................................................... 16 1.2.5 STATE FILM ARCHIVES........................................................................................................ 16 Holdings......................................................................................................................................