The Old School Tie

Having worked in and had my children educated at Independent Schools in Sydney I am aware of the amazing amount of information these schools have in their archives about alumni.

If you have an ancestor who attended such a school in Sydney or elsewhere it would be worthwhile approaching that institution to see if they have any photos on file of granny in the orchestra or great uncle playing cricket.Perhaps you might read your Dad's literary contributions in a school annual.

Sydney Grammar School on its Archives Page states:
Sources available to assist Old Boys, biographers and others interested in the school are:

• Registers (on disc and printed), 1835 +
• Prize Lists, 1859 +
• The Sydneian Magazine (indexed), 1875 +
• Oral recordings
• Photographs
• Correspondence 

The SCEGGS, Darlinghurst Archives Page says:

The SCEGGS Darlinghurst Archives is responsible for the care of SCEGGS' records of permanent value. The Archives were established in 1983. Since then it has grown to include the School’s official records and publications, an extensive collection of photographs and school and student memorabilia including school uniforms. The Archives also hold some records from the SCEGGS Branch Schools....

Researchers who would like to use the Archives are asked to make an appointment with the archivist. Some records held in the Archives may have restricted access.

MLC School, Burwood  on its Archives Page states:


(The archive) includes an important collection of historic photographs, progressing through the years from an extraordinary picture taken of the first pupils and staff in January 1886.
All records, photographs and museum items are meticulously catalogued with the Australian Series System, and can be easily located by a number of computerised databases.

The air-conditioned room can be used for research by visitors, and photocopy facilities are available.

The Archives Page of St Ignatius College, Riverview states:

The purpose of Riverview Archives is to promote and share the rich heritage of the College and the Jesuit tradition with the students, the wider Riverview community and the general public. 

Just as a person can not function properly if they have lost their memory - neither can an organisation such as Riverview. Knowledge of where we have come from helps us to understand the present and gives us direction for the future.

The Archives is open by appointment only Monday to Thursday during term time.

Birthday Thoughts

of these people in my tree who were born today

September 3 Birthdays

Get Prior Information on your Audience

I recently published some Pointers for Presenters of genealogy talks, seminars etc. This post received quite a number of comments one of which asked me "Would you be able to elaborate, please, on your suggestion 'Get prior information on your audience'?"

What I am suggesting in this pointer is to find out as much as you can about the audience for your talk before you prepare.  The talk can then be pitched towards the interests of and levels of knowledge of the audience. One size does not fit all.

Are you talking to a group of professional genealogists, members of a local family history society or a group of wouldbe beginner family historians at the local senior citizens club or public library? Perhaps you are speaking to a group of young people as part of a co-curricular activity in a school or a genealogy group who use computers for genealogy. One will never find a totally homogeneous group but can often identify some common traits in a group.

By liaising with the host/organisers of the talk you might be able to find out if your audience has any shared interests eg genealogy in a particular location or ethnic group. You can then illustrate your talk with examples that will resonate with them; this will create an affinity with the audience.

If yours is one of a series of talks you can ask the host about the type of people who have attended previous sessions. This may help with appropriate language for the situation: sophisticated and technical for the professional genealogists or simplified with no jargon for a beginner group.

Additionally by noting where and how the event is being promoted you may gain some clues about your audience. If the event is only publicised via Facebook and Twitter one would expect an audience that is more au fait with technology.

Find out how your talk is being promoted. Is the audience expecting to be entertained, informed, persuaded or educated?

In an ideal world one would always be able to glean much information about a prospective audience. This is not always possible but, where one has an opportunity gain prior knowledge on their audience and tailor the talk appropriately, I believe that the presentation will be more effective and entertaining and more likely to be heeded.

The Gift of the Gab

My ancestor Patrick "Paddy" Curry as an Irishman from Limerick probably had the gift of the gab but, as he died 130 years ago, I never had the chance to meet him.

Fortunately some of Patrick's words were preserved in a Sydney Morning Herald article from  Thursday 8 June 1848. This and many other great stories can be found at The National Library Of Australia's Trove website.

For this 21st edition of the Carnival of Genealogy I am posting a copy of that article in which Paddy demonstrates that he had The Gift of the Gab.

Sydney Morning Herald 8 June 1848

 This post has been prepared for  the 21st edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture