Archives

The Archives exists for the preservation and conservation of the records of the Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia and the Solomon Islands accumulated in the practice of their ministries and the development of the Congregation.

The Archives also provides information and resources for the ongoing sharing of the ever ancient, ever new Dominican story.

Acquisition Focus

The Archives contain records, generated by the general administrative body of the Dominican Sisters, the Sisters themselves, and the ministries of the Sisters since 1867. They take the form of papers, photographs, slides, films, videos, DVDs, legal documents, plans, maps and artifacts. There is also a large collection of digitised photographs.

There are limited records, in the form of enrolment registers, annals and some photos, for St Mary’s Maitland, Star of the Sea Newcastle, St Mary's Elm Court, Moss Vale, All Hallows College Bathurst, St Dominic’s Priory Tamworth, School for Deaf Girls Waratah, St Mary's Delgany School for the Deaf Portsea, St Lucy’s School Homebush – schools which no longer exist.

Heritage Collection

The Archives building contains a small Heritage Centre featuring memorabilia pertaining to the lifestyle of the Sisters over time, and their ministries.

Library

The Archives has a large library containing books by, for or about Dominicans, many of which are no longer in print. There is also a collection of Dominican Periodicals – The Dominican, Doctrine and Life, Communication, International Dominican Information Bulletin, Cross and Crown, Religious Life Review, Bulletin of Christian Affairs, Dominican Saints of the Rosary, Ashram, Spirituality…..

This material can be made available on request.

Privacy Audit

The holdings include no files relating to the professional history of staff members of the schools and colleges currently sponsored or previously administered by the Sisters. Similarly, the Congregational Archives do not contain personal records of past or present students of these institutions.

Research

Limited research facilities are available by appointment, at the discretion of the archivist. There is no general access to the stacks, and generally no lending service, but materials can be sighted and sometimes photocopied.

Contact

Archivist: Sr Elizabeth OP
Phone: 02 9744 9511