About our collections
Archives
The University Archives collect and maintain records of and relating to Deakin University and its antecedent institutions, which are deemed to have continuing value as evidence of University business and activities. They are also a repository ensuring the preservation of the institutional memory of Deakin University and retain records determined to have particular relevance and importance to the University that are considered to benefit research, teaching and learning activities at Deakin University. The Archives team provides services which make those records accessible to the University community, to researchers and to the general public, in accordance with the Archives Act 1983 and relevant University policies.
The Archives contain predominantly records relating to Deakin and its antecedents. The Archives are comprehensive and can therefore support any subject chosen that relates to the history of Deakin. Suggested topics could be identified in the History of Deakin site. Examples could be:
- the life and times of Deakin's inaugural Vice Chancellor Fred Javons
- the Distance Education approach at Deakin
- Town and Gown, Deakin's relationship with the city of Geelong
- IKE/NIKERI
- Oral History Program focusing on significant Deakin people, including VCs not previously interviewed (Geoff Wilson, Sally Walker, Jane Den Hollander)
- The Residences at Deakin.
Special Collections
Deakin University Library’s Special Collections contain rare, valuable or fragile items that reflect the research and teaching of the University.
Noteworthy collections and collection strengths include:
- architecture
- Western Victoria
- natural and environmental history
- Papua New Guinea and Pacific history
- missionary work
- nutrition
- domestic life
- children’s literature
- school textbooks.
Potential research topics using the Special Collections may include:
- developments in pedagogy or popular children’s reading through annuals
- PNG and Pacific history and missionary research
- environmental research via practitioners such as Edmund Gill, Peter Alsop or Louis Lane
- changes in nutrition and domestic roles using the cookery book collection
- architectural research using the McGlashan Everist archive.