We are thrilled to announce a new project of University of Newcastle academic Dr Marie-Laure Vuaille-Barcan and Hélène Mills (Research Assistant) who are recipients of the latest Copley scholarships who are working with the Special Collections team to find French connections to Newcastle and the Hunter Region.
This exciting project will investigate the history of the Alliance Française de Newcastle, an important but little-known part of the region’s cultural and academic landscape. By exploring the University of Newcastle’s Special Collections, regional archives, and digitised newspapers from Trove, researchers hope to uncover new information about the Alliance’s origins.
A New History is Uncovered
Preliminary findings suggest the Alliance was founded in the early 1950s, not in 1958 as previously believed. This research will also investigate why official records from the French Embassy and the Alliance Française Foundation are missing. It may be linked to a surprising historical detail: the first-known president, Mrs. Braye, was reportedly suspected of having communist sympathies.
Unlocking the Archives
The Merv and Janet Copley Collection will be a cornerstone of this research, offering a unique, grassroots look at Newcastle’s civic and cultural life through personal diaries, event programs, and press clippings. The project will also consult the Kelver Hartley Collection, donated by the university’s first Professor of French, which may provide evidence of the university’s long-standing connection to the Alliance.
Find out more about the Copley Collection HERE
Please contact Dr Vuaille-Barcan if you have further information – marie-laure.vuaille-barcan@newcastle.edu.au