Royal Historical Society of Queensland
Encyclopedia
The Royal Historical Society of Queensland (RHSQ) is a historical society
founded in Brisbane
, Australia
in 1913. It promotes the study of Australian history especially that of Queensland and adjacent Pacific islands. It maintains an important collection and catalogue of historical research materials and organises exhibitions of those materials. It organises meetings, lectures and conferences where research is presented and publishes these proceedings and other scholarly papers in its journal and other publications. It works with other historical societies and cultural organisations to advocate on behalf of the sector and to provide leadership and guidance.
The RHSQ is the Queensland constituent member of the Federation of Australian Historical Societies
and the peak body for historical societies in Queensland.
The building houses the RHSQ museum and the Welsby Library.
The building was badly damaged in the January 2011 flood and the society had to relocate temporarily.
. The Welsby Library is now housed on the second floor of the Commissariat Store.
was formed in Sydney in 1901 and the Historical Society of Victoria
in 1909. In Queensland, a provisional committee was formed with a view to furnishing Queensland with a similar society: a constitution was drafted, prospective members enrolled (limited to 100) and the Governor approached to be patron. In August 1913 the inaugral meeting, chaired by the Governor, Sir William MacGregor
, was held at the Albert Hall: a paper, "Methods of Historical Research with special reference to Australia", was read by its author and one of the moving spirits behind the formation of the Society, the constitution was adopted and officers and committee elected.
contributed to the knowledge and scholarship of Queensland history. The award entitles the fellow to the post-nominals "FRHistSQ".
In 1999, the society began awarding the Sir William MacGregor Medal for exceptional and outstanding service in the promotion of Queensland history. The medal is named in honour of the first patron of the society.
, the Society's president, he compiled a history for the Queensland centenary, Triumph in the Tropics (1959), and edited Queensland, Daughter of the Sun (1959) for the centenary of responsible government in Queensland. He contributed many articles to the society's journal.
Historical society
A historical society is an organization that collects, researches, interprets and preserves information or items of historical interest. Generally, a historical society focuses on a specific geographical area, such as a county or town or subject, such as aviation or rail. Many historical...
founded in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1913. It promotes the study of Australian history especially that of Queensland and adjacent Pacific islands. It maintains an important collection and catalogue of historical research materials and organises exhibitions of those materials. It organises meetings, lectures and conferences where research is presented and publishes these proceedings and other scholarly papers in its journal and other publications. It works with other historical societies and cultural organisations to advocate on behalf of the sector and to provide leadership and guidance.
The RHSQ is the Queensland constituent member of the Federation of Australian Historical Societies
Federation of Australian Historical Societies
The Federation of Australian Historical Societies is the peak body for historical societies throughout Australia. It has eight constituent members, one in each of the Australian states and internal self-governing territories. It lobbies governments on behalf of the sector and has formed alliances...
and the peak body for historical societies in Queensland.
Commissariat Store
It maintains a resource centre at the "Commissariat Store", one of Brisbane's oldest buildings. Convict-built in 1829, it is one of only two buildings which survive from the Moreton Bay penal colony. The first two storeys were built using local stone and convict labour in 1828-9. A third storey was added in 1913 in rendered brick. It was used as a government store until 1960. Queensland State Archives used the ground floor until 1968 and the upper floors were occupied by various government departments until 1976. Occupation was then granted to the society and extensive renovations were done before it was opened in 1978 as the society's headquarters. In 1998, a conservation plan was prepared and work done to reverse or modify inappropriate changes made during the 1970s' renovations.The building houses the RHSQ museum and the Welsby Library.
The building was badly damaged in the January 2011 flood and the society had to relocate temporarily.
Welsby Library
From its earliest days, the society began collecting books, manuscripts and periodicals; it also began a collection of photographs, maps, and press cutting books. Thomas Welsby was a foundation member of the society who served as a councillor, vice-president and president. During his life he donated many letters, newspaper cuttings, documents, scrap books, and copies of his published books and in his will he made a bequest of his library of more than 2,000 volumes. The society's library was amalgamated with the Welsby collection and was opened as the Welsby Library on 15 March 1947 in Newstead HouseNewstead House, Brisbane
Newstead House is Brisbane’s oldest surviving residence and is located on the Breakfast Creek bank of the Brisbane River,in the northern Brisbane suburb of Newstead, in Queensland, Australia...
. The Welsby Library is now housed on the second floor of the Commissariat Store.
History
The Australian Historical SocietyRoyal Australian Historical Society
The Royal Australian Historical Society is a voluntary organisation founded in Sydney, Australia in 1901 to encourage Australians to understand more about their history...
was formed in Sydney in 1901 and the Historical Society of Victoria
Royal Historical Society of Victoria
The Royal Historical Society of Victoria is a community organisation promoting the history of the state of Victoria, Australia. It functions to promote and research the history of that state after settlement, and as an umbrella organisation for more than 300 affiliated societies.It is operated by...
in 1909. In Queensland, a provisional committee was formed with a view to furnishing Queensland with a similar society: a constitution was drafted, prospective members enrolled (limited to 100) and the Governor approached to be patron. In August 1913 the inaugral meeting, chaired by the Governor, Sir William MacGregor
William MacGregor
Sir William MacGregor GCMG, CB was a Lieutenant-Governor of British New Guinea, Governor of Newfoundland and Governor of Queensland.-Early life:...
, was held at the Albert Hall: a paper, "Methods of Historical Research with special reference to Australia", was read by its author and one of the moving spirits behind the formation of the Society, the constitution was adopted and officers and committee elected.
Fellowship and the MacGregor Medal
On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the society in 1963, the society established a Fellowship as an award for those whocontributed to the knowledge and scholarship of Queensland history. The award entitles the fellow to the post-nominals "FRHistSQ".
In 1999, the society began awarding the Sir William MacGregor Medal for exceptional and outstanding service in the promotion of Queensland history. The medal is named in honour of the first patron of the society.
Kerr Medal
The society has established a joint committee with the Professional Historians Association (Queensland) to award an annual John Douglas Kerr Medal for Distinction in historiography, historical research and writing since 2005. The medal honours John Douglas Kerr (19422003), a CSIRO statistician, railways enthusiast and historian who joined the society in 1967. He served as a councillor, editor of the Journal (from 1985) and the honorary librarian.Clem Lack Oration
In 1973, the society inaugurated an annual oration named in honour of Clem Lack. Clem Llewellyn Lack (1900-1972) was a longterm member (1949-1972) of the Society who served as a councillor and editor of publications. He was made a fellow in 1962. With Sir Raphael CilentoRaphael Cilento
Sir Raphael West Cilento , often known as "Ray", was a notable Australian medical practitioner and public health administrator.-Early life and education:...
, the Society's president, he compiled a history for the Queensland centenary, Triumph in the Tropics (1959), and edited Queensland, Daughter of the Sun (1959) for the centenary of responsible government in Queensland. He contributed many articles to the society's journal.
Publications
The Society publishes a quarterly journal, a monthly bulletin and other publications.Queensland History Journal
In 1914, the Society began publishing a Journal which today appears quarterly as the Queensland History Journal in print and online . As the Society languished in the late 1920s and into the 1930s, the Journal was not published from 1929 to 1936. In 1974, it published under the name Historical papers from 1974 to 1984. In 1986, it began publishing every three months. In November, 2008 the Journal took the name Queensland History Journal.Bulletin
In 1942, the Society began publishing a bulletin ten times a year (monthly except January and December).Further reading
- Peter Biskup, The Politics of Preserving the Past: The Early Years of the Historical Society of Queensland, (1988) Royal Historical Society of Queensland Journal, Vol. 13, No. 8, p 289