Challenge 2: National Library of Australia Genealogy e-Resources

Posted onAuthorFran Kitto10 Comments

I’m heading back to near the top of the activity list with Genealogy e-Resources for the next report of my Family History Month challenges. This is challenge number 2. Here we are asked to “Apply for a National Library of Australia e-resources card and explore genealogy resources online at home if you have not done so before “.

I applied for the card at the beginning of the month and it arrived about a week later. You need a card to get access to the massive amount of material and databases in the Licenced resources area.  There is also material freely available to anyone over the Internet and resources that are only available onsite at the National Library of Australia (NLA) building.  Material is tagged with a globe, keys or building as shown in the following images sourced from the libraries website.

NLA Resource types

Source: National Library of Australia Website

I have to be up front here. In relation to genealogy, previously I have not done any research of the free resources at the National Library of Australia and none of the licenced resources. Firstly, I was avoiding adding another resource to my research because I have not fully explored what I have found so far, in any real depth. I really was trying to avoid picking the low fruits available at many databases online as I need to become more accomplished at researching in a methodical way with a research log. It is so easy to jump all over the place.

Secondly I am mainly researching in NZ and the UK so I was not too bothered. I made the basic mistake of assuming that materials at the NLA would have an Australian bias. Not sure why I did this as I have sourced overseas research from libraries in NZ.

National LIbrary genealogy e-Resources

So this challenge gave me permission to have a little peak at what was available online in the free and licenced e-Resources area of the library. I decided that any e-Resources has the potential to be a genealogy e-Resources.

And there is so much material I was overwhelmed, after even a quick scan.

I had a look at some of the materials the library card gives you access to and found a resource to some 19th century English newspapers. I ran a little test.

A number of my DAWSON ancestors were watchmakers. So I searched on DAWSON and watchmaker. Quite a number of results where returned.  Right on the first page there were a number of entries that have a high probability of being about persons in my family tree. Here are two possible examples as the towns and names match. I need to verified these with my current research.

DAWSON GROUT Marriage.Source: Births, Deaths, Marriages and Obituaries . The Essex Standard, and General Advertiser for the Eastern Counties (Colchester, England), Friday, October 27, 1865; Issue 1819. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II

 

DAWSON GROUT Watchmaker newspaper clipping. Source: Births, Deaths, Marriages and Obituaries . The Essex Standard, and General Advertiser for the Eastern Counties (Colchester, England), Wednesday, April 22, 1857; Issue 1375. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II.

And I found a possible new clue: an initial for Emma Grout’s father – J.  (Happy dance.)

So I have stopped myself as I could be (will be some day) glued to this chair for days researching the material available at the NLA. I have decided I need to stick to my plan.

I realise that sometimes it can take hours of searching to find new clues and evidence. Results do not always come so easily. What I can say that there is a high potential for many valuable results to be found at the genealogy e-Resources at the NLA.  this story, thanks.

Here are the other in this series of posts on the Family History Month Challenges.

Have you found clues or evidence from researching the genealogy e-Resources, NLA?

10 thoughts on “Challenge 2: National Library of Australia Genealogy e-Resources”

  1. I applied for one of those cards quite some time ago, but like you I’m worried if I start on that I won’t finish my current part of the project (attaching all my Trove articles to the right people in my family tree software and doing a printout & proofread).

  2. Wow! This is something I’ve always wanted to do, but never tried. Looks like fun 🙂 Thanks for linking up at Together on Tuesdays!

    1. Hi Lisa,
      I am following you on twitter and wondered what Pletuko Books were so went to your blog and found the link party. Odd how you can end up at somewhere you never had plans to visit. I checked out 3 of the other links and found out more interesting and helpful hints. This is what I love about Link Parties. I will try to remember to visit again next week. If you are ever interested in doing a little Genealogy feel free ask as I can direct you to some free stuff. Regards Fran

  3. Thanks for sharing this great resource. I have pinned this and will keep it in mind when I find some time to research our family tree!

    Thanks for joining the Say G’Day Saturday linky party too!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha in Oz

    1. Thanks for popping by. I do appreciate all your visits, parties you run and do get back to me if you need any guidance on free family history stuff. The National Library of Australia is so big it can be overwhelming – for me anyway. Fran

  4. Fran I did a happy dance when I realised that I could access JSTOR articles with my NLA card. I find the academic articles can provide great insights to all sorts of topics eg illegitimacy in Scotland. Give it a try…I’d be surprised if it didn’t have something of relevance to your research.

    1. Pauleen, sorry I missed your comment. I have been off to check out JSTOR. Hard to believe all the resources one little white card gives you. It is getting that I have so much too check out. Thanks for the tip. Fran.

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