Aboriginal Family History: State Library resources

Books that give an overview of the resources on, and experiences of Aboriginal people:

Guides listing resources held in some of the key library and archival collections:

Watch Discovering Kin and Country: Tips and skills for researching Aboriginal family history
Recorded August 2021

Click on 'Show more' under the descriptions to see a list of speakers.

• Part of the National Library of Australia's oral history collection on the Stolen Generations is now available online, access via this parent link in their catalogue.
• Bringing them home: report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their families April 1997. Commonly known as the Stolen children report or Stolen generation report.
• Telling it like it is kit 1992, also provides valuable research hints and suggestions including tips for oral history recordings and interviews.
• Stubbs, Rebecca, 'The Indigenous family history journey', Australian family tree connections, February 2006, pp. 36 - 37. This article explores some of the challenges unique to carrying out Aboriginal Family History research and some of the issues surrounding the use of resources such as birth, death and marriage records and electoral rolls.
• The AIATSIS website, specifically mission and reserve records

More detailed resources covering the history and impact of Australian policies of child removal can be found on the pages Stolen Generations and Children in Institutional care.

To find relevant material in the catalogue, try searching on these subject headings.

• Stolen Generations (Australia)
• Aboriginal Australians - Child Welfare
• Children - Aboriginal Australian
• Children - Aboriginal Australian - Government Policy
• Aboriginal Australians - Treatment of
• Australia - Social Policy - 20th century.

Other useful search topics include:

• Church names-Church of Christ, Anglican Church, and Lutheran Church
• Mission names-Point McLeay, Poonindie, Oodnadatta
• Community names and geographic locations-Ooldea, Coopers Creek
• Names of individuals-Sister Kate, George Taplin
• Children's Homes-Goodwood Orphanage, Sister Kates Children's Home.

Some Aboriginal family histories have already been researched and published. Doreen Kartinyeri has published genealogies for the Kartinyeri, Rigney, Sumner, Wanganeen and Wilson families. These can be searched on the Library Catalogue by author.  Other genealogies can be searched under the subject:   Aboriginal Australians--South Australia--Genealogy. 

 A selection of other histories of names and places are:

Police Gazettes can also provide details of names and events that can assist with family history. The Library holds the The South Australian police gazette from 1868 to the current year. Please note that the most recent 60 years, including the current year, are restricted and will require permission to access.