PIONEER REGISTER SEMINAR

In partnership with the Genealogical Society of Victoria, the RHSV is holding a free Zoom seminar on one of the jewels in its crown – the Pioneer Register. This will be of great interest to those interested in family history or wanting to know more about this unique collection and how it can help your research. Jillian Hiscock, the RHSV Collections Manager will be delivering the seminar.

The RHSV has collected and maintained a register of early colonists in the state of Victoria which is of great historical value. It contains more than 2200 forms.

In 1909 the Historical Society of Victoria (becoming the Royal Historical Society of Victoria in 1952) was formed by people determined to capture the history of the state of Victoria. This was to be achieved by creating the ‘Register of early colonists who arrived in Victoria before 21st November 1856′, that captured information about early Victorians. Later this register was broadened to become the ‘Historical Register of Persons Who arrived or were born in Victoria before 1900, and/or their descendants’.

People were invited to fill in the forms of their relatives and associates in order to capture information about individual colonists as well as their familial relationships.

Information requested in the registers included: full name; date and place of birth; name of the parents and their residences; date of arrival in Victoria and name of ship; places of residences in Victoria and with dates; public offices held; literary work, publications, inventions or other work of public benefit; date and place of marriage; name of wife in full, with parents names and place of residence; names of children; portrait if available; signature and relationship of the information provider.

Although not requested, many people sent in multiple photographs and longer letters outlining their family’s history. An RHSV volunteer, Val Rohde, has been working on the Pioneer Register catalogue for over 2 years. Val is enriching the catalogue by linking the Pioneer Register records to other appropriate manuscripts, maps, images and books in the RHSV Collection ensuring that researchers can maximise the value of the Register.

Jillian Hiscock has been the Collections Manager at the Royal Historical Society for over 3 years. She qualified as a librarian at Melbourne University after doing a Bachelor of Arts at La Trobe University. She has had a career working in public and special libraries, and managing government department libraries and intranets. She ran the Department of Transport library which supported Heritage Victoria and the Planning portfolio, this in role particular has given her relevant experience in managing collections that span manuscripts, ephemera, books, images and non-print materials.

This free seminar will be offered via Zoom – details will be sent out 24 hours prior to the event.

The seminar will be offered on Thursday 14th October at 11am – 12noon and repeated that evening from 7pm – 8pm.

Please register your interest in either of the sessions below