The aim of this project is to research & write descriptive summaries for selected image collections in the History & Technology department. Having summaries of the different collections will improve their management, access and interpretation, and highlight their significance.
This project involves harvesting information from existing museum sources such as the collection database, supplementary files, and the images themselves, as well as researching external primary & secondary sources, in order to write summaries of around 200-800 words for each selected image collection.
The summaries will be uploaded to the collection database [Emu] and linked to each image record in the relevant collections as a ‘Narrative’. The summaries will include a description of the collection, biographical details about the photographer, details of other holdings of the photographer’s work, and a bibliography.
Selection of collections to be worked on will take into account the student’s own interests and collection priorities. Examples include:
Lilian Louisa Pitts – a collection of over 500 images taken by a photographer based in Merrigum in the 1910-1920 period. Images cover life in the local area ie family life, recreation, school, farm life and town life.
G.H. Myers Collection – a collection of about 70 Federation celebration stereograph images from 1901.
Jack Walton Collection – a collection of over 500 images dating from the 1920s and 1930s of Ballarat Gala Day celebrations and images relating to the themes of Recreation & Tourism, Sport Transport, Commerce & Retailing, and Agriculture & Rural Life.
Submission of complete summaries of image collections, in an agreed format, with their research files. If possible, they will assist loading these into Emu.
The student should be undertaking a relevant degree in history, museum studies/art curatorship, or related heritage studies; have some research experience and a desire to engage with material culture.