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Tuesday 14 February 2012

A Treasure Trove

The National Library of Australia has a fabulous website where the avid family historian can search newspapers, books, pictures, maps, diaries, organisations and other archived materials.

It is called Trove.

You can search for names in the hope of finding BDM notices in the papers and if you're lucky, other news articles (i.e. sporting achievements, political activism, business openings, criminal activity etc) if they were active in their local communities.

Searching for an address can reveal a lot about a house - who lived there in the past, old pics and neighbourhood issues.

Recently the naming of a local bridge had me stumped. I searched Trove and found the most incredible information about the woman concerned. Numerous newspaper articles about her life, her obituary and then a whole list of pics from a local museum where her family had donated many of her items for prosperity. It was amazing to have all this information at my fingertips. And I now use her bridge with far greater appreciation and respect!

If you're fortunate enough to have ancestors who left journals, diaries and letters behind then Trove is the place for you.

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