The State Library of Queensland has a historically significant collection that relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family history.
You can search collections in One Search, the State Library's online catalogue. It allows searching across physical items and online resources at the same time. You can search One Search without being a registered member, however becoming a member allows you to request items, renew your loans, add items and searches to My Favourites - you can save items from your results to My Favourites or save your searches to use them at another time, set alerts - you can request an email notification when there are new items answering your search criteria. You can register via the link below.
You can find out more about SQ One Search below.
SLQ also offers a range of resources and guides to help family historians in their research
You can find more information on the services and resources offered by the State Library of Queensland below
The State Library of Queensland has created an info sheet on the history of Missions and Reserves in Queensland.
The Norman Genealogical Tindale Collection is a body of work compiled over a number of years by individuals associated with the South Australian Museum, under the leadership of anthropologist Norman Tindale. It includes vast amounts of genealogical information about Aboriginal communities throughout Australia, as well as journals, maps, artefacts and much more.
State Library of Queensland has copies of genealogies and photographs for the following Aboriginal communities in Queensland and northern New South Wales: Bentinck Island, Boggabilla, Cherbourg, Doomadgee, Mona Mona, Mornington Island, Palm Island, Woodenbong, Woorabinda, and Yarrabah.
You can search your ancestors name in One Search, or you can fill in the Tindale Request form with the name or names you are looking for.
The Margaret Lawrie Collection of Torres Strait Island Materials is the life's work of Margaret Lawrie, a teacher with an interest in child health. She travelled to the Torres Strait Island with Aboriginal port, Kath Walker (Oodgeroo Noonuccal) at the request of the Queensland Government. Margaret Lawrie was interested in the history, languages and cultures of the Torres Strait Islander peoples. She spent time communities during 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s.
Between 1964 and 1973, Margaret Lawrie recorded many Torres Strait Islander genealogies (family trees). The Margaret Lawrie Collections has the genealogies of seventeen Torres Strait Islander communities: Bade, Mabuiag, Thursday Island, Bamaga (located on the mainland), Muraleg (Prince of Wales Island), Ugar, Boigu Island, Murray Island, Warraber, Dauan Island, Naghir (Mount Ernest Island), Yam Island, Erub (Darnley Island), Poruma (Coconut Island), Yorke Island, Horn Island, Saibai, Kubin Village / St Pauls (Moa Island), Seisia (located on the mainland).
You can search your ancestors name in One Search, or you can fill in the Margaret Lawrie enquiry form with the name or names you are looking for.
All information on this page has been sourced from the State Library of Queensland website.
We acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and acknowledge Traditional Owners of the lands where our staff and students, live, learn and work.
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