People & professions, Such was life, Uncategorized, Victorian history:
In 1934, Australian aviator, Freda Thompson, made history as the first Australian woman to fly solo from England to Australia. Thompson was a pioneer who believed the sky was the limit – she wanted to reach that limit, to feel the adrenaline, to just fly.
Painting, Politics, Uncategorized:
Ailsa O’Connor (1921-1980) was a political activist, painter, sculptor, author and teacher. Throughout her art career she was a member of the Communist Party and associated with the Socialist Realist Group.
Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories:
Join us as we take a look at the Nineteenth Century Collections Online, a rich database consisting of seven separate subject areas, all linked by their focus on the 19th century.
Collection spotlights, Our stories, Victorian history:
At the turn of the twentieth century, Australia was the stage for many talented and beautiful performers. Many of them are captured in the Gordon Ireland photograph album of actors and actresses. We look at some of the notable women of the stage, and delve into the some of the stories behind their images.
Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories, Reference desk:
Welcome back to ‘Discovering Dewey’ – an occasional series revealing some of the books behind the numbers. This Library Lovers’ Day we follow one of our Librarians as she goes looking for Love & Affection in the stacks at Dewey number 152.41!
Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, country music, Music, Our stories:
From Willie Nelson to Dinah Washington, Muddy Waters to Flaco Jimenez, you can enjoy a journey across the diverse musical roots of America with the Music Online: American Music database. Hosting an astonishing array of talent the collection consists of almost 7000 albums and 120,000 songs.
Ask a librarian, Our stories, Victorian history:
On 11 February our Library celebrates our 170th anniversary. While based on the world’s great libraries, our Library was also a radical departure. Ours was a library with unrestricted access to anyone over 14, with every book available to view. The primary driver of the Library was Redmond Barry. While generally remembered as the judge at the Ned Kelly trial, Redmond Barry’s pioneering contribution to Melbourne’s cultural and educational heritage is unsurpassed
Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories:
A query about a performance of Gustav Mahler’s The Song of the Earth (Das Lied von der Erde) leads librarian Walter Struve on an evocative journey into the Library’s rich Theatre Programmes Collection.
Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Fashion, Our stories, Such was life:
Watch the wonders of fashion unfold with this informative and visually stunning peak into the history of clothing. This video database, with companion articles, explores historical contexts, materials, and construction methods, enabling you to see how different garments were worn, and the function that each item served.
Ask a librarian, Food, Social life & customs, Victorian history:
What are your favourite festive food memories? Have you ever enjoyed Christmas Day lunch on the beach, up a mountain or aboard a ship? Do you remember pineapple glazed ham? Would you like the 100-year-old recipe for walnut stuffing? The State Library’s historic menus, cookbooks, photos and magazines trace Christmas foods from early colonial tables to the festive flavours celebrated by our diverse migrant communities. Dive in and rediscover your favourite Christmas dishes — or find inspiration for this year’s feast.
In 1934, Australian aviator, Freda Thompson, made history as the first Australian woman to fly solo from England to Australia. Thompson was a pioneer who believed the sky was the limit – she wanted to reach that limit, to feel the adrenaline, to just fly.
Ailsa O’Connor (1921-1980) was a political activist, painter, sculptor, author and teacher. Throughout her art career she was a member of the Communist Party and associated with the Socialist Realist Group.
