In Association with the Royal Australian Historical Society.
Speaker: Christine Yeats
Explore the methods and resources that can be used to uncover the records of individuals who immigrated to the Australian colonies in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This course also delves into the historical significance of immigration, providing participants with the skills to access primary and secondary sources, with a focus on accessing and interpreting ship’s passenger records, government archives, newspapers, and personal narratives.
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Gain a deeper understanding of the historical context and significance of immigration to the Australian colonies, including key periods, policies, and societal impacts.
- Learn how to navigate and interpret primary sources such as passenger lists, and immigration records, naturalisation records and related administrative documents.
- Understand the role of secondary sources like newspapers, journals, and personal narratives in complementing primary research findings and providing broader context.
- Learn how to apply practical research methodologies for cross-referencing and validating information across various sources, ensuring accuracy and reliability in historical research.
- Be familiar with digital tools, online databases, and genealogical resources in order to enhance their research capabilities and to access historical records remotely.
- Learn how to apply critical thinking and analytical skills to evaluate the significance and reliability of historical sources and narratives related to immigration history.
Christine Yeats is an archivist, historical researcher and active supporter of local historical societies. Her research interests include the history of the Romani (Gypsies) in nineteenth century Australia and attempts to introduce a silk industry into the Australian colonies. Christine has undertaken a range of consultancy projects including significance assessments, biographical and local history research. She is President of the Federation of Australian Historical Society, Senior Vice President of the RAHS and a member of the Professional Historians Association (NSW & ACT). Her recent publication is Handy Guide: Convict Records of NSW: The Human Stories of the Transportation System (2021).
Please note: If you are a member of RAHS and wish to apply your RAHS Member discount to this course, please ensure you add your RAHS member number through the Checkout when enrolling (unless previously added) by pressing Add Concession at the top of the page. To become a RAHS Member, visit their website at https://www.rahs.org.au/
