Other resources

Inter-institutional Loans

In November 2021 the RHSV held an important seminar on inter-institutional loans with speakers from the SLV, Heritage Victoria and the RHSV. The seminar was recorded and can be viewed here.

We have also created a suppliers list of specialist museum and library suppliers .

Information technology and historical societies

Zoom for beginners

A step by step guide for connecting through Zoom whether by computer or smart phone.

Information and Historical Societies Survey Report 2010
A survey report on how RHSV affiliated societies use information technology, particularly for collection management and communication.

2016 Digital Engagement Survey

GLAM Peak Digital Access to Collections Toolkit (launched Feb 2017)
Practical information for societies about digitising collections.

Archival Storage – Conservation Box Making

Click here for instructional guide on how to make a simple archive box with lid.

Click here for more detailed instructional guide on how to make an archive box with lid.

Click here for instructions on how to build a Clamshell style archive box.

Click here for instructions on how to build a Flapped Folder.

Click here to watch a video going through a variety of conservation boxes and folders.

 

Click on any of the below for various other box making instructions and techniques;

Written instructions on how to make a phase box for the protection of books

Written instructions on how to make a slip-case (open-sided box), box and portfolio for the protection of books, pamphlets, documents and works of art

Written instructions on how to make a clamshell box, wrapper and slip-case

Video on making various archival storage types, including a four-flap enclosure for books or documents (6:24) and a clamshell box (8:51):

 

Changes to tax laws

SUMMARY
Most historical societies are either 1. a charity or 2. they are a not-for-profit (incorporated association) that could be registered with the ACNC as a charity but has not actually taken that step yet.

If you are not sure if your historical society is already a charity check the ABN Lookup website (https://abr.business.gov.au/) and do a search on your own historical society to see how it describes your organisation.

If your historical society is already a charity the changes to the tax laws will not affect you. You do not have to do anything.

However, if your historical society is not a charity you will have to lodge an annual NFP self-review return. The first return, for historical societies whose financial year ends on 30 June, needs to be lodged by the 31 October 2024. This is the link to the page on the ATO website where it outlines the steps you take to lodge the review. Whilst the review form itself is not too complicated the process of setting up access through MyGovID can be tricky. Start this process NOW – do not leave it until the last minute.
This page has worksheets you can use before you complete the actual form.

For more information click here.

 

Using the RHSV website

How to upload your history event to the RHSV website’s calendar and event listing

To create a member society profile on the RHSV website

If you have trouble logging-in to the RHSV website contact office@historyvictoria.org.au and we’ll tell you what password is registered and send a password update.

Resources for societies

COVID 19

The RHSV’s plan for coming out of lockdown #6 in late 2021 can be read here. We have altered our conditions of entry to the RHSV premises in line with government health directives.

Our COVID plan is available as a downloadable PDF or word document if you wish to adapt it for your society.

Handling archival documents

Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials, 2019. ‘About conservation’. Available at:https://aiccm.org.au/conservation

Duranti, L 1995. ‘Reliability and Authenticity: The concepts and their implications’, Archivaria, vol. 39. Available at: https://archivaria.ca/archivar/index.php/archivaria/article/view/12063/13035

Eastwood, T 1994. ‘What is archival theory and why is it important?’, Archivaria, vol. 37. Available at: https://archivaria.ca/index.php/archivaria/article/viewFile/11991/12954

Library of Congress, 2019. ‘Paper collections: documents, art on paper, posters, maps, etc’. Available at: https://www.loc.gov/preservation/about/faqs/paper.html

The Institute of Conservation, 2006. ‘Care and conservation of documents and archives’. Available at: https://icon.org.uk/system/files/documents/care_and_conservation_of_documents_and_archives.pdf

National Archives, 2019. ‘Handing documents’. Available at: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/visit-us/researching-here/handling-documents/

National Archives, 2016. ‘Safe Access – Handling’, Archive Principles and Practice: an introduction to archives for non-archivists. Available at: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/archives/archive-principles-and-practice-an-introduction-to-archives-for-non-archivists.pdf

National Archives and Records Administration, 2016. Basic Laws and Authorities of the National Archives and Records Administration. Available at: https://www.archives.gov/files/about/laws/basic-laws-book-2016.pdf

Public Record Office Victoria, 2012. ‘Fact Sheet 1a: Archival principles, series and consignment’. Available at: https://prov.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2016-05/1013fs1a.pdf

Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, 1995. ‘Paper Documents’. Available at: https://www.si.edu/mci/downloads/RELACT/paper_documents.pdf

Holding events

Both the History Teachers Association of Victoria and the Federation of Australian Historical Societies has great information about working with schools

And a bit more here from History Teachers Association of Victoria

And History South Australia started a great brainstormed list of event ideas to which we’ve added

Don’t forget that the RHSV is happy, when possible, to use our Zoom subscription to host our member historical society’s Zoom events. Just email office@historyvictoria.org.au with the details.

This article from Arts Hub is about authors doing on-house talks to primary school students – it is not entirely relevant to historical societies wanting to connect with primary school students but it does have great ideas on how to make your talk engaging. Worth reading.

 

TOURS, EVENTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN CEMETERIES:

  • Victorian public cemeteries are situated on Crown land.
  • Cemetery trusts are the appointed land managers for public cemeteries.
  • Conducting tours, events and recreational activities in public cemeteries requires the approval of the relevant cemetery trust.

Click on heading above for more information