RAHS Day Lecture – What You Didn’t Know About the Letters of Rachel Henning

Event Date & Time: Wednesday, 4 February 2026 @ 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm

Event Location: History House, 133 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000 (hybrid)

Cost: Free

Event Description:

In 1951–1952, The Bulletin published a series of letters written by Rachel Henning covering her experiences coming to and living in Australia, between 1853–1882. They became a publishing phenomenon with multiple subsequent standalone editions. However, only half of her original letters were ever published and those that were had been edited. In this illustrated lecture, Angela Phippen will explain what was edited and why. The lecture is based on Angela’s research as a State Library of NSW Visiting Fellow in 2025.

About the speaker:

Angela Phippen has been a professional librarian for over 40 years having worked at the Society of Australian Genealogists and as Local Studies Librarian with City of Ryde Libraries. She has diverse research interests including NSW divorce records; war memorials and honour boards; and the nineteenth-century stained-glass artist, pastoralist and surveyor, George Hedgeland – Rachel Henning’s brother-in-law.