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About Manuscripts Queensland
... finding aids to original materials relating to Queensland, its history and its people.
The State Library’s collections, including material relating to Indigenous Queenslanders, document the social, cultural, economic and political development of Queensland and its contiguous geographic areas.
Original materials can be defined as follows:
Archival materials : unpublished records and documents in any medium created by an organization or group in the course of its business. Archival materials may include minutes, correspondence, reports, photographic material, sound recordings and financial records.
Manuscripts : all of the documents, regardless of form or medium, which are combined to create family papers and the personal papers of individuals. They may include unpublished typed or handwritten documents in the form of personal letters, diaries, photographs and reminiscences.
Photographs and audio-visual materials : images which constitute a record. The unique property of photographic and audio-visual records resides in their ability to capture a moment in time and to highlight the inevitable passing of time.
Works of art : include watercolours, oil paintings, etchings, lithographs, drawings and cartoons that represent Queensland’s documentary heritage. The works are collected for their value as a reflection of Queensland places and people at a particular point in time.
Artefacts and decorative arts : Artefacts refers to objects made, modified, or used by humans. Decorative arts refer to works that are primarily utilitarian in form or function, but have aesthetic value provided by the design, decoration and embellishment.
Original maps and plans : use images, lines and other graphics to portray complex three-dimensional features such as geological features, and to show ideas and activities, such as political boundaries and architectural drawings. Architectural plans of significant structures, buildings and homes are collected and these are usually accompanied by specifications.
Oral histories : are historical records created by recording interviews with people. The interviews reflect on people’s lives, personal views, concerns and aspirations as culture and traditions are passed from one generation to another.
More information
If you have an enquiry, you can contact us in any of the following ways:
Last updated: 5th February 2008
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