University of Melbourne Archives

University of Melbourne Archives is implementing a new public catalogue at https://archives.library.unimelb.edu.au that will be available from 20 November 2023. This catalogue will remain online until June 2024 but will not be updated. Information on this page may be superseded. Contact um-archives@unimelb.edu.au for questions or assistance
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About this Catalogue

What does this Catalogue describe?

This catalogue gives you access to:

  • descriptions of about 5000 collections held by the University of Melbourne Archives
  • descriptions of about 3000 creators of these collections (persons or organisations)

Is there any more information available about a particular collection?

A collection may consist of just a few items, or hundreds of boxes of records. Regardless of size, each collection has one entry in the catalogue. Of the 5000 collections described in this database:

  • About 800 have a list of contents (a 'finding aid') available online. When the catalogue record is displayed in full, the finding aids field will display a clickable icon which will open the list of contents.
  • About 1600 have a list of contents, but it is not available online. The finding aids field will state that the collection is listed, but there will be no online link to it. Contact the University of Melbourne Archives for more information about these.
  • About 2600 are not described in any further detail. Archives staff will assist in identifying relevant records within these collections as far as possible.

Can I access digital copies of records from this Catalogue?

No. This database contains descriptions of archival records, but not the records themselves. Only a very small proportion of the University of Melbourne Archives' holdings is digitised, largely photographs. This digitised material can be searched via our Image Catalogue. Other records are accessible, by prior arrangement, at our reading room in the Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne.

Where can I find out more about using University of Melbourne Archives collections?

The University Library guide Using Archives provides more information about using our collections, including how to arrange to view records in our Reading Room.

Enquiries can be directed to archives@archives.unimelb.edu.au, or telephone +61 3 8344 6848