Online Archives Search

Discover just some of the amazing material held in the Archives.

The Online Archives Search is a limited search of the UNSW Archives' collection - please note that it does not cover everything held by the Archives.

UNSW staff can also search for archival records through the RAMS interface.

A small selection of the Archives' digital photographs are also available for searching and viewing via UNSW Digital Collections.

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    Agencies Series
    Description
    The Secretariat of the Department of Technical Education undertook secretarial and administrative work on behalf of the Developmental Council and Council of the University and their sub-committees. The Secretariat's Officer in Charge, Mr John Fraser, was Secretary to the Developmental Council and its Committees and following the incorporation of the New South Wales University of Technology became the Assistant Registrar and Secretary to Council and its Committees. When Unisearch was established in 1959 Fraser was appointed General Manager of Unisearch and Secretary while he also continued in his position of Assistant Registrar and Secretary to Council. From 20 November 1962 Fraser was seconded as fulltime Secretary to Unisearch (Executive Committee Meeting of Council, 25 September 1961 and CN956/8 File: 3201001E). He was succeeded in his position as Assistant Registrar and Secretary to Council by Mr LM Stewart. Mr Stewart stayed in this position until 1975. A restructure seems to have occurred after his retirement from the university and from 1976 onwards the Assistant Registrar and Secretary to Council is part of and in charge of the Secretariat. In 1988 the Secretariat was part of the Administrative Services Branch of the Registrar's Division and its role was defined as providing secretarial services for the University Council, the Academic Board, the faculties and boards of studies, and their standing committees. (04/17/1 Administration Manual [15 August 1988] Amendment: Issued 8/88). In 1993 the Office of the Secretary to Council while remaining within the Division of the Registrar and Deputy Principal was separated from the Secretariat. (UNSW Calendar 1994: 104) By 1995 the Secretary to Council's Office was reporting directly to the Registrar while the Secretariat had been transferred from the Administrative Services Department to the Student Services Department. The two offices were merged again in 2003 within the Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and the unit was renamed Secretariat Services. (UNSW Calendar 2004: 86). The Head of Secretariat Services undertook the duties of the Secretary to Council. In 2009 Secretariat Services was merged with the Policy Management Unit to form the new Governance Support Unit. The Secretariat as a separate section thus ceased to exist from this time (news@unsw 10 December 2009 issue). The duties of the Secretary to Council were now carried out by the Legal Officer, Mrs Carol Kirby. Controlling Organisation: UNSW -
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    Agencies Series
    Description
    At its annual meeting in Adelaide in 1955 the Australian Automobile Association passed a resolution calling for active steps to be taken in the training of traffic engineers. The Association also resolved to fund a Chair of Traffic Engineering to a sum of 25,000 pounds through an annual grant of 5,000 pounds for five years at a university to be nominated by the Prime Minister, Robert Menzies. Mr Menzies selected the New South Wales University of Technology as the site for the new program. (SRF - Highway and Traffic, Schools of) On 12 March 1956 Council approved the appointment of W. Ross Blunden, Scientific Adviser to the Australian Military Board, as Foundation Chair of Traffic Engineering. (resolution 687) Professor Blunden commenced his duties on 20 August 1956. He then spent approximately three months at the Institute of Transportation and Traffic Engineering at the University of California - Berkeley and afterwards visited other universities in the United States as well as traffic agencies and research organisations in Washington DC. He also visited a number of city and state traffic departments and various automobile and traffic control equipment manufacturers. (BRF - Blunden; CN956/30 File: 5601071E) The School of Traffic Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering was approved by Council on 13 May 1957 (resolution 57/64). From the time of its inception the School was primarily postgraduate in character. It defined traffic engineering as the science of measuring traffic and travel, the study of the basic laws relating to traffic generation and flow and the application of this knowledge to the professional practice of planning, designing and operating traffic systems to achieve safe and efficient movement of persons and goods. The School's primary objectives were: (1) The evolution of a basic technical discipline for the phenomena of traffic and travel; (2) The application of this in the whole field of transportation, seeking integrated solutions to transport problems of all kinds. (The University of New South Wales, c.1961: 122) Each year the School offered a full-time course of 14 weeks duration in traffic planning and control. The course also included introductory material on statistics, the theory of traffic behaviour, town planning and road traffic law. By the early 1960s over 90 students had undertaken the course from Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia and India. Extension courses were also taught in cities throughout Australia. (The University of New South Wales, c.1961: 122) In 1959 a Master of Technology degree program was introduced for students with undergraduate degrees in engineering or science. It consisted of formal lectures in the theory of statistics, the theory of traffic behaviour, the application and practice of traffic engineering, operational analysis, data reduction, road location and design, town planning, and traffic law. There was also a thesis component which consisted of a specific traffic study. (The University of New South Wales, c.1961: 122) On 13 November 1972 the name of the School was changed to the School of Transportation and Traffic Engineering to broaden the focus of the school. (resolution 72/225; SRF - Highway and Traffic, Schools of) At a meeting on 17 January 1977 Council resolved (resolution 77/4) that the School of Transportation and Traffic Engineering and the School of Highway Engineering would form a new School of Transport and Highways, effective from 25 July 1977. The School as a separate entity thus ceased to exist from this date. Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 13/05/1957-25/07/1977
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    Agencies Series
    Description
    A Library operated from the very beginning of the University's existence. Originally, however, the Department of Technical Education provided this service from the Sydney Technical College Library as a joint arrangement for both the University and the College. Council determined at its 12th September, 1949 meeting that for the time being the use of the library of the Department of Technical Education be continued, publications and records being duplicated wherever necessary and provision made for endowment or bequest of books to the University and immediate consideration be given to the proper housing of the library in its work of serving the two institutions (resolution 21). Accordingly, a Library Committee of the Professorial Board was established on 6th June, 1950 and a Library Committee of Council on 13th November, 1950 (resolution 89). Edith Sims was the Librarian responsible for supervising both the University and Department of Technical Education library services. Sometimes referred to as the Acting Librarian of the New South Wales University of Technology, she remained in this position for ten years as the Library was shared across the two sites of Ultimo and Kensington. At Kensington the location of the Library was initially in part of a wing of the Main Building from 1955, before moving to a floor of the Dalton Building in 1958. The first University Librarian, John Metcalfe, was also appointed in this year by Council on 18th November (resolution 58/149) effective 2nd February, 1959 and from this point the Library essentially became an independent entity of the University. The top floor of the Heffron Building was allocated to the Library from 1962, but it was not until 1965-66 that the Library was given its own purpose-built area in the form of the Robert Menzies Building. In 1975-76 Stage 2 was added to the Library, providing additional space. From mid-1994 the Library was brought under the control of the new Division of Information Services (DIS) and the position of University Librarian replaced by that of Principal Librarian from 23rd October, 1995. On 1st October, 2000, however, following the split up of DIS the position of University Librarian was reinstated. In 2004, the University Librarian was Andrew Wells. Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 01/07/1949-
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    Agencies Series
    Description
    At Council's 14 November 1960 meeting - as a result of the Student Failure and Wastage Survey - it approved the recommendations of the Personnel Sub-Committee from 8 November 1960, which included the establishment of an Educational Research Unit with Research and Teaching Aid Sections. The functions of the unit included teaching methods, examinations, curriculum, university environment, teaching aids, objectives in university education and graduate courses (resolution 60/152).The unit was under the administrative directive of a Pro-Vice-Chancellor. (Powell, J P and E M Barrett. TERC 1961 - 1982: a brief history of a higher education Research and Development Centre: 1 V71). The unit was to be an academic unit created to meet the growing demand for higher education and to respond to challenges that UNSW was facing within this environment. The stated purposes of the Unit were: to undertake the study of all aspects of the educational work of the University; to provide a focus within the University for the study of educational matters which are of general interest or are the particular concern of individual Schools within the University; to provide information which may be required by the Professorial Board or faculties; by research and teaching to promote the improvement of educational practices within the University; to study the general problems of higher education in this State and the Commonwealth; to study developments in higher education in other countries with a view top the adaptation of successful practices for use in Australia; and to serve as a clearing house for studies of higher education and to develop contacts with individuals and institutions engaged in similar work, both in Australia and overseas. (UNSW Calendar 1962: 108) On 8 May 1961 Council approved (resolution 61/59) the recommendations of the Personnel Sub-Committee of 11 April 1961 that the Director of Educational Research would be offered to Dr L. N. Short, who would be responsible to the second Pro-Vice Chancellor (the position of second PVC was established by the same resolution and offered to Professor Myers). A Closed-Circuit Television System was begun on 30 October 1962; a Test Scoring Service in 1964 (from 1967 the Educational Testing Centre); and a Film Library (later called Film Centre) in 1965. (Powell and Barrett: 4 -5) On 9 September 1968 Council changed the name of the Unit to the Tertiary Education Research Centre to indicate more clearly the scope of its activities and to avoid confusion with the newly-established School of Education. From this point TERC took on a more staff development role working with schools and faculties to improve teaching programmes. (UNSW Annual Report 1968: 2.67; Powell and Barrett: 6). The Closed-Circuit Television System had been transferred to the Division of Postgraduate Extension Studies in early 1968. (UNSW Annual Report 1968: 2.67) From 19 April 1982 the Education Testing Centre became an autonomous unit separate from TERC and in the same month the Film Centre was placed with the UNSW Library. (Focus 23 April 1982: 1; TERC Annual Report 1982: 1) As at 21 June 1985 the Tertiary Education Research Centre reported to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor Jarlath Ronayne (Focus 21 June 1985). At the 9 May 1988 meeting of Council, Professor Ronayne's position was changed from Pro-Vice-Chancellor to Deputy Vice-Chancellor. From 1 September 1988 the Tertiary Education Research Centre reported to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor Alan Gilbert (Focus 27 May 1988). TERC had been studied by reviews in 1979 and 1981 which had led to internal changes. (TERC Annual Report 1982: 1) In August 1985 the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Birt, asked a review group comprising Pro-Vice-Chancellors, J Ronayne and R M Golding as well as the Deputy Principal and Registrar, I R Way, to undertake an executive review of TERC. The review group submitted its draft report in May 1988 with the main recommendation being that TERC be abolished. (Executive Review of the Tertiary Education Research Centre. Draft Report to Vice-Chancellor. May 1988 in Focus 10 June 1988: 9 -16) In October 1988 the Vice-Chancellor released his response to the Executive Review of the Tertiary Education Research Centre (TERC). As a result, the Tertiary Education Research Centre and the Staff Development Unit within the Division of the Deputy Principal & Registrar were combined to form a new Professional Development Centre (file 860333, Focus 4 November, 1988). A Staff Development Advisory Committee was formed in January 1989 to oversee the transition period. (Focus 12 May 1989: 3) Subordinate agency: Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Unit (1962 - 1982) / Audio Visual Unit (1982 - 1998) / Media & Educational Technology Support Unit (METS) (1998 - 2000) - 01/03/1962 - 31/12/1967 Subordinate agency: Test Scoring Service (1964 - 1967) / Educational Testing Centre (1967 - 2004) / Educational Assessment Australia (2004 - ) - 01/01/1964 - 03/03/1982 Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 14/11/1960-c. 26/10/1988
  • Start date
    Type
    Archives Series
    Description
    Membership records of the Staff Association consisting of membership and staff books, membership registers, staff sheets indicating appointments and resignations and staff lists organised by faculty, school and date. ACCESSION0157 converted to SERIES01504, CONSIGNMENT00892
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    Type
    Agencies Series
    Description
    The French-Australian Research Centre was established within the Faculty of Arts by the Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Committee on 10 July 1985. The aims of the Centre were to co-ordinate and develop research, teaching and professional activities across the whole range of French-Australian interactions: cultural, scientific, technological, commercial. The disestablishment of the Centre, among a number of other inactive centres, was recommended at the 9 October 1991 meeting of the Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Committee. This was later approved by the Vice-Chancellor to be effective from 1 June 1992 (file 850817). Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 10/07/1985-31/05/1992
  • Type
    Archives Series
    Description
    The Science Course covered subjects taught by several faculties. Together with the Arts Course the Science Course differed from most other courses in the University in as much as it allowed a wide choice of different subjects. The Archives currently only holds items from this series for the years 1972 - 1973. It is unclear if issues for other years were ever published.
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    Archives Series
    Description
    This series contains the Orientation Magazine / SPEER of the Students Union / Guild. Each item is a typed and paper bound volume, which was released annually to new students and introduces the Univeristy, faculties and campus.
  • Start date
    Type
    Archives Series
    Description
    This series consists of material relating to the University of New South Wales Travelling Science Show, through the faculties of Applied Science, Engineering and Science. Each item is a typed booklet or brochure, outlining details of the show, including a programme of scheduled shows. The Travelling Science Show is aimed at High School students in Year 10.
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    Archives Series
    Description
    This series consists of UNSW Research Highlights. Each item is a typed book containing highlights of research from each Faculty and School within the University. The guide is intended to inform research workers in Australia and overseas about the research activities of their colleagues in the University, and to highlight the considerable reseach achievements resulting from the investment of public and private sector funds in our research programs. The Archives holds two copies of this publication.