What We Collect

Interviews with Eminent Australians

See also: Find Oral History | Using the Collection

In accord with its national heritage responsibilities, the National Library produces, collects and preserves recorded interviews and other forms of oral history which will meet the documentation, research, publication and exhibition needs of the Australian research community.

Beginning with the Hazel de Berg Collection in the 1950s, the National Library has recorded interviews with men and women with a record of achievement in business, politics and public administration, journalism, academic life, religion, science, sport, dance, jazz, the visual arts and literature. During the 1970s the Mel Pratt Collection of interviews with politicians, public servants and journalists added significantly to the National Library collection.

More recently, oral history interviews conducted by the Library’s team of professional interviewers have established sub-collections, including Law in Australian Society, Australians of the Year, Australian Diplomats 1950-1990, Australian Astronomers, Seven Years On (continuing life histories of Aboriginal leaders), Labor Council of NSW, Australian Environmentalists, Parliament's Oral History Project, and the Esso Performing Arts Collection.

Much of the Eminent Australians program has been transcribed.

Back to the top