Oral history | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Oral history

Showing 1 - 12 of 58 results
Black and white photo of Smoky and Dot Dawson sitting and smiling at the camera

Damian McDonald, Portrait of Smoky and Dot Dawson at the National Library, 2000, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136550848

Oral History and Folklore

Our Oral History and Folklore Collection dates back to the 1950’s and includes a rich and diverse collection of interviews and recordings with Australians from all walks of life.

Information article
Collection guide
Jones Collection

Negatives, transparancies, photographs, books, serials, personal papers and oral history interviews related to motorcycles, races and vintage cars.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Hood Collection

About 240 recordings of folk music, folklore, and oral histories documenting family history, local history, work experiences, music and other arts.

Collection guide
Natasha Maimbo, a young woman of colour, standing in a mechanical engineering lab with pictures of telescopes behind her.
Celebrating women in STEM

New collection material online reveals stories of Australia’s women scientists.

Blog
A group of people at dusk standing beside small telescopes and pointing at the sky.

Philip Gostelow, Amateur astronomers gazing through telescopes into the night sky during the Murchison Astrofest, Western Australia, 17 August 2013, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-153314469 

Exploring the universe: Australia’s history with astronomy

Look to the stars with stories and collections that tell Australia's role in space exploration.

Blog
Collection guide
Friend Collection

Explore the artistic legacy and complex history of Donald Friend through diaries, letters, and personal papers. 

Collection guide
Photo of women from the dance group Bollydance Dipti in pink costumes taking a selfie in a crowd

Aishah Kenton, Bollydance Dipti dancers taking a selfie at the Indian Film Festival in Federation Square, Melbourne, Victoria, 17 August, 2024, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3428627828

Indian Diaspora in Australia documented through photography and oral histories

We asked Australians with Indian heritage to help us build our collection and these materials are now online. 

News article
Black and white photo of a man listening to a recording with a pen in hand and a piece of paper next to him

Loui Seselja, Portrait of Geoffrey Dutton seated in the Oral History collection at the National Library of Australia, 1992, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-151764316

Using the Oral History collection

A guide to requesting, accessing and publishing collection items in the Oral History and Folklore Collection.

Information article
Library services
Collection guide
Cameron Collection

Papers related to Clyde Cameron's long political career, and 12 oral history recordings conducted by Cameron with other political figures.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Willis Collection

One of the largest oral history collections in Australia with recordings of over 900 individuals in all States, as well as folk groups, singing groups, bands and choirs.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Read Collection

Oral history interviews with Charles Perkins, a key figure in Aboriginal rights, alongside a pilot project on how people form mental maps. It also includes ongoing interviews for the 'Seven Years On' project, launched in 1995, which focuses on emerging Aboriginal leaders. This collection offers valuable insights into Aboriginal activism, leadership, and personal stories that have shaped history.

Collection guide
First Australians
Collection guide
Mabo Collection

Personal papers and legal material that record of one of the most important and controversial legal cases in Australian history and the life of the man who is chiefly associated with the case.

Collection guide
First Australians

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