Research

Interests

Stockton, N.S.W.

Stockton, N.S.W. is located on a peninsula north of Newcastle, N.S.W. It is one of the earliest industrial and maritime centres after the European settlement of Australia. It has transformed from a maritime and industrial hub to a bedroom suburb but its links with its history remain strong. It's the focal point for a variety of Digital Humanities projects. Most of my work is found at my blog: History of Stockton, N.S.W.

Linked Open Data

I'm intested in using Linked Open Data (LOD) to make the research datasets I've compiled more accessible while contributing to the amount of historical data available for reuse by other historians and researchers. To enhance my knowledge of this methodology, I've attended the LOD sessions at Digital Humanities Down Under Summer School a number of times.

Social Network Analysis

Social Network Analysis (SNA) provides researchers with a methodological tool to examine historical relationships as interconnected networks. By mapping connections between historical people, organizations, and communities social network analysis reveals patterns not visible using traditional historical techniques. This involves working with a variety of programs such as Gephi.

Omeka

Once you've collected and collated historical sources, they need to go somewhere. Content management systems offer the ability to organise and make access material in user friendly way. They also offer the opportunity to publish this material for other people to use. I've worked with a number of commerical and open source content management systems. Currently, I'm working mostly with various versions of Omeka, including developing a bibliography of resources on Zotero - Omeka for GLAM.

Prosopography

Looking at how the people of Stockton are related by studying various organisations.

Family History

Family history offers a unique view of history at the mirco level and an opportunity to contribute to macro level historial research. My interest is particularly focused on how family historians, academic historians and archivists can work together to enhance and support each others work.

Projects

Datasets
  • Wise's New South Wales Post Office Directory - An annual listing of personal residential and business addresses.A great source for women's businesses and the nature of commerce in the suburb.
  • Stockton Council - list of mayors, mayoral terms, alderman.
  • Publicans' Licences - list of various hotels and other drinking establishments and the licencees.
  • Shipwrecks - list of shipwrecks and locations.
  • Census - The N.S.W. Census results for Stockton for 1891 and 1901.
  • Electoral Rolls - The N.S.W. State and Australian Federal electoral rolls.
  • Telephone Directories - A variety of telephone directories from the 1930's onward.
  • First World War Service People - A compliation of service personnel associated with Stockton who served in WW1.
  • Pneumonic Influenza Admissions in Newcastle - 1919 - Collation of the addmissions and severity of disease of patients during the Spanish Flu pandemic as experienced in Stockton and Newcastle, N.S.W.
Digitisation
  • Stockton Council Minutes - 16 volumes covering the full existance of the Stockton Municipal Council until 1938.
  • Stockton School of the Arts - ledgers, minutes, plans, catalogue and membership register.
  • Stockton Burns Club - minutes and financials
  • Stockton and Newcastle Baseball Association - membership lists, club colours, game attendance.
  • Pat and Ross Craig Collection - elements of the Pat and Ross Craig collection held by the University of Newcastl Special Collections and the Stockton Historical Society Inc.
Annnotated Bibliography

A comprehensive list of all resources related to Stockton, including archival holdings, books, manuscripts,articles, heritage studies,reports, and other publications.

Digital Mapping

Using a variety of source to map data about Stockton.