Would you like to build practical and digital skills related to the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums) sector ?
In 2023 the Lab will offer opportunities for students to learn invaluable digitization and other cultural sector skills designed to improve employability.
The Lab also has a separate Audio-visual Digitization Lab housing the magnetic and film archive and an Artefact Conservation Atelier for conservation and 3D digitisation. The team have worked on numerous projects, often collaboration and engaging with communities via the Hunter Living Histories Initiative.
A diversity of experiences are available, including :-
- Transforming a range of physical formats into digital objects.
- Drawing on GLAM professions across conservation, archival science, librarianship, digitization, metadata and data management, curatorial and digital heritage sectors
- 3D scanning and Virtual Reality technologies
- Using innovative technological solutions to expand the discoverability and accessibility of archival sources including through a state-of-the art community engagement platform for digitised cultural collections, Living Histories @ UON
- Digital mapping of collections
- Oral histories and community stories
- Research collections for on-line curation
- Cultural themed Podcasts
- Research and curation of archival film footage
The GLAMx Living Histories Digitisation Lab is located on level 3 of the Auchmuty Library (L329) and supports students in Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programs across a range of schools and disciplines.
PLEASE NOTE: We are open BY APPOINTMENT ONLY between 9:00 am and 3:30 pm.
To make an appointment, please call 02 49854594 during business hours or email ann.hardy@newcastle.edu.au.
2023 Projects
The following are specific projects that may be of interested to WIL students or student volunteers.
Hannan Photographic Collection
This is an extensive photographic collection that contains thousands of photo negatives that were taken of people, places and events in the Hunter Region. The first phase of the project will concentrate on conservation processes, digitising the collection ledges and negatives from the 1950s. And transcribing ledgers and editing photos.
Opportunities: Digitisation, conservation and creating metadata.
Fraternal Society Collection
Background
A collection of intriguing fraternal society memorabilia – the largest of its kind in Australia has been donated to the University of Newcastle, shedding a unique light on history dating back to 1829.
Dr Bob James, an alumnus of the University, kindly donated the collection which includes photos; rare books; journals of the individual fraternal societies; and fascinating artefacts such as regalia, ceremonial apparel, honour boards, voting boxes, ritual objects, medals and swords. The collection not only serves as an important educational and research resource but also creates opportunity to connect the community with ancestors. Thousands of names are listed on honour boards and fraternal logs. Also see ‘Fraternal Society Collection’
Opportunities: Documentation, digitization, transcription, curation and exhibition of the collection.
Wollong Project (Historic weather records)
Background
In 2016, a number of Hunter Valley meteorological journals came to light, documenting historic weather records from stations located in the Hunter Valley, the Wollong Climate records dating from 1843-1907. These records form a significant data set to rival the Belfield Climate Records of Algernon Henry Belfield in Armidale. During February 2021 Cessnock Public Library located 3 boxes of ‘missing’ climate records from 1907 – 1956. This current project looks to digitize the Wollong weather Records and transcribing them, and making available online. Also see ‘Wollong historic weather Records’
Opportunities: Documentation, digitization, transcription, curation and exhibition of the collection.
Audio-visual Archive
Background
NBN Channel 3 television began broadcasting in Newcastle on 4 March 1962, providing locally produced programs and news. This television Archive from the 1980s- 2018 has been digitised and is an invaluable visual record of six decades of life in this region and became an integral part of life for everyone in the region, and also includes Index cards, Cue sheets and scripts. The archive contains News, Sport, Documentaries, Variety, Motoring, Events, Telethons, Children’s programs. Students can play a unique role assisting with editing, identifying content and creating metadata relating to this significant cultural and social resource.
The Linius Whizzard project is a world first search tool of video content, and current project involved video file upload and curation.
The University of Newcastle also holds AV magnetic tapes containing university related content, such as ‘Medical Communication Unit’ AV sources.
Opportunities: Uploading AV files, digitising magnetic tape, identify content and create metadata, documentation, editing card files, transcriptions.
2022 Projects
The following are specific projects that may be of interested to WIL students or student volunteers.
Fortress Newcastle Project
Background
A coalition of ten community groups, heritage researchers, University of Newcastle and other stakeholders is conducting research, to produce a multi-format resource for development of enhanced public awareness, interpretation of remnant sites and visitor experiences of the story of Fortress Newcastle. Fortress Newcastle recognises and commemorates the contribution of all of Australia has uniformed services in defending the nation’s industrial heart during WWII across the Hunter region. Known as Fortress Newcastle, military installations ranged from Rathmines in the south to Nelsons Bay in the north, and as for as inland as Singleton. Newcastle was heavily defended against air, sea and land attack. The project provides the opportunity to work on various parts of this project, from digitization to editing, creating graphics and animation, as well as writing ad curating exhibition panels. Also see ‘Fortress Newcastle Project’
Opportunities: Documentation, digitization, entering metadata, interpreting historic sources, creating digital content and graphics, curation and physical/online exhibition telling the story of ‘Fortress Newcastle’.
Hannan Photographic Collection
This is an extensive photographic collection that contains thousands of photo negatives that were taken of people, places and events in the Hunter Region. The first phase of the project will concentrate on conservation processes, digitising the collection ledges and negatives from the 1950s.
Opportunities: Digitisation, conservation and creating metadata.
Fraternal Society Collection
Background
A collection of intriguing fraternal society memorabilia – the largest of its kind in Australia has been donated to the University of Newcastle, shedding a unique light on history dating back to 1829.
Dr Bob James, an alumnus of the University, kindly donated the collection which includes photos; rare books; journals of the individual fraternal societies; and fascinating artefacts such as regalia, ceremonial apparel, honour boards, voting boxes, ritual objects, medals and swords. The collection not only serves as an important educational and research resource but also creates opportunity to connect the community with ancestors. Thousands of names are listed on honour boards and fraternal logs. Also see ‘Fraternal Society Collection’
Opportunities: Documentation, digitization, transcription, curation and exhibition of the collection.
Wollong Project (Historic weather records)
Background
In 2016, a number of Hunter Valley meteorological journals came to light, documenting historic weather records from stations located in the Hunter Valley, the Wollong Climate records dating from 1843-1907. These records form a significant data set to rival the Belfield Climate Records of Algernon Henry Belfield in Armidale. During February 2021 Cessnock Public Library located 3 boxes of ‘missing’ climate records from 1907 – 1956. This current project looks to digitize the Wollong weather Records and transcribing them, and making available online. Also see ‘Wollong historic weather Records’
Opportunities: Documentation, digitization, transcription, curation and exhibition of the collection.
Audio-visual Archive
Background
NBN Channel 3 television began broadcasting in Newcastle on 4 March 1962, providing locally produced programs and news. This television Archive from the 1980s- 2018 has been digitised and is an invaluable visual record of six decades of life in this region and became an integral part of life for everyone in the region, and also includes Index cards, Cue sheets and scripts. The archive contains News, Sport, Documentaries, Variety, Motoring, Events, Telethons, Children’s programs. Students can play a unique role assisting with editing, identifying content and creating metadata relating to this significant cultural and social resource.
The University of Newcastle also holds AV magnetic tapes containing university related content, such as ‘Medical Communication Unit’ AV sources.
Opportunities: Uploading AV files, digitising magnetic tape, identify content and create metadata, documentation, editing card files, transcriptions.
2020 Projects
“Florence Austral – Our forgotten Diva” Project – Florence Austral (1892-1968) was a world renowned singer and performed in Opera Houses around the word during the early 20th century. She taught singing at the Newcastle Conservatorium (now part of UON) from 1954 until 1959. The project includes archival searches and historic research. Further information about Florence Austral is HERE
Hannan Photographic Archive Project : Digitisation of the Registers documenting the photographers, subjects and transcription into excel spreadsheet.
Audio-visual Digitisation– to preserve, document, digitise and make accessible the Hunter Region’s Audio-Visual heritage.
Audio-visual digistation Project : This mostly involves digitisation of the NBN Television Archive (1962 – current). Further information is here GLAMx AV:The 2020 Hit-list
Wikipedia Edit Project – Aim is to increase the profile of notable personalities of UON and Newcastle, including women and those from marginalised groups such as those identifying as LGBTI+ and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Archival and historic research required and students will build digital capabilities.
The Allan Project – Is a project preserving a Local Collection of Early 1900s Postcards. The collection holds about 1900 items (mostly postcards). Majority of the items belong to the first decades of the 20th century. Opportunities for WIL students to be involved in digitisation, research and curation for proposed exhibition. For further information about the project see The Allan Project HERE
UON Archives Reading Room – Plan and curate content for display in Archives Reading Room. UON Archive reading room – project
Fraternal Societies Collection – This Collection in currently being accessioned and housed, items can be viewed on request. See Fraternal Societies Collection PDF
GLAM Culture Podcasts – Create podcasts from the vast online resources available at UON Cultural Collections.
Oral History Program – Assist with Oral History interviews to document and archive stories of people, place and events in the Hunter Region. (Eg. The Store Oral History Interviews)
“Stories of Our Town” – Newcastle Documentary series with University of Newcastle’s Cultural Collections and its film maker partners Glenn Dormand (aka Chit Chat von loopin Stab) and Tony Whitaker (Carnivore Films) See Stories of Own Town
Health Histories Walking Tour – assist research and produce material for a Newcastle walking tour for the ANZSHM Conference– July 2021
3D Digitisation of Antiquities – scanning cultural artefacts held in UON Cultural Collections, Equipment at artefact Conservation Atelier (GLAMx Lab).
Revitalisation of Indigenous culture and knowledge Project – assist revitalise Indigenous language and culture by reviewing archives and collections held in Cultural Collections to identify important cultural knowledge.
“Aboriginal Spirit Beings” Project- works inspired by the regions Indigenous culture and history, such as “PUTTIKAN – The Sugarloaf Mountain Being who Bites”
If you are interested in a WIL placement or would like to discuss a project please contact Dr Ann Hardy, Coordinator, Living Histories Digitisation Lab ann.hardy@newcastle.edu.au
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