RAHS Online Test Catalogue

The RAHS has launched a test version of its online catalogue, which currently includes over 25,000 searchable items—representing around 40% of our total collection of 62,000 items. These records cover a wide range of resources, including books, Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society articles, RAHS History magazine articles, RAHS conference papers (1964–1995), newsletters from our affiliated societies, and other serials. New records are added weekly as we continue to make more of our collections searchable online.

Users of the RAHS Library catalogue should be aware that some materials contain terms that reflect views of the period in which the item was written or recorded. While the information may not reflect current understanding, it is provided in a historical context.

We welcome any feedback you have on our test catalogue. Please email your comments to library@rahs.org.au or call us on (02) 9247 8001.

Collection items discoverable on the RAHS internal databases at History House

The following materials are not currently searchable on the online catalogue, but the RAHS Librarian can search these collections on our internal databases. Please email the RAHS Librarian at library@rahs.org.au or arrange an in-person visit by calling (02) 9247 8001.

Manuscripts Collection: Materials created by historians and antiquarians from the 19th and 20th centuries, including correspondence, diaries, lectures, theses, drawings, maps, and plans.

Press Clippings Collection: Press clippings (scrapbooks) and memorabilia are valuable resources for historians, offering unique insights into historical events, social life, and community interests. The RAHS Library holds two significant scrapbook collections, each named in honour of their donors—dedicated members of the Society:

• The James Watson Press Clippings Collection, comprising 32 volumes, predominantly features newspaper clippings, along with some photographs.
• The Foster Press Clippings Collection, comprising 35 volumes, contains much more than newspapers. It includes souvenir booklets, small monographs, illustrations, correspondence, postcards, invitations, and records of RAHS excursions.

Gathered between the 1880s and 1930s, these collections document more than thirty years of historical events and social history in New South Wales and Australia, providing researchers with a rich and varied resource.

Glass Slide Collection: Glass lantern slides donated by individuals, documenting areas such as the Sydney CBD, Central Coast, Illawarra, New England, and Riverina (1890s–1930s).

Photograph Collection: The RAHS Photograph Collection includes thousands of images documenting local and regional New South Wales since the Society’s foundation. More than 500 photographs are now searchable in the online catalogue, and we are continuing to prepare additional images for future upload.