Series 169 Registrar's Department Correspondence
Digitisation Project and Online Guide

Series 169 is an artificial series of correspondence and other documents dated from 1872-1923 and arranged primarily by subject. It includes records of the University Association, which was the body responsible for the establishment of the University of Adelaide. Topics cover most aspects of the University's operation until the early 1900s. Some of the correspondence for 1874-1885 had previously been removed from its original organisation and confused with the papers of Sir Henry Ayers (Treasurer 1874-1886). Other documents were taken from a variety of subject-based envelopes and arranged into 'historical notes' without regard to provenance.

In September 2004, a team from the University Archives Volunteer Group began a project with the aim of providing an online finding aid for this series of records. The online Series 169 Digital Archive Guide is the first instalment of the project and includes images of the original documents as well as transcriptions of the text where it was considered necessary. The guide will be updated at regular intervals.

The digitisation project has been undertaken by members of the Volunteer Group working for three hours per week. It consists of a multi stage process that includes:

• photocopying of original documents
• transcription of handwritten text
• creation of document metadata for use in the database
• checking of transcriptions and metadata to ensure accuracy and consistency
• scanning of original documents
• entry of metadata and transcription into the Heritage Documentation Management System (HDMS)
• creation and publication of the online guide.

Access the Series 169 Digital Archive Guide.

For more information on the Series 169 Digitisation Project, contact the Collection Archivist.

Research enquiries about the University of Adelaide's archival records should be directed to the Reference Archivist.