MARGARET LAWRIE COLLECTION OF TORRES STRAIT ISLANDS MATERIAL
The Margaret Lawrie Collection is the culmination of the life's work of Margaret Lawrie, documenting the history, languages and cultures of the Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Margaret Lawrie was a contemporary of noted Aboriginal poet Kath Walker (Oodgeroo Noonuccal) and travelled widely with her throughout the 1950s and 1960s. During this time they were both important influences on the development of services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples.
Later, Margaret Lawrie became interested in the history and cultures of the Torres Strait Islander peoples and spent significant periods within the various Torres Strait Islands communities. She gathered information and material about the myths, legends, languages, history, art and culture of the region between 1964 and 1973.
Also contained within the collection are the manuscripts of the two works she published, Myths and legends of the Torres Strait and Tales from Torres Strait. The former work was published in both Australia and the United States and although out of print, is still widely considered an iconic work.
The Margaret Lawrie Collection complements the earlier work done by Alfred Haddon. His expedition team from Cambridge University visited the Torres Strait in 1898 publishing the results of their regional ethnography in six volumes between 1901 and 1935.
The Margaret Lawrie Collection has been included on UNESCO's Australian Memory of the World Register.
How do I access items in this collection?
Access at the State Library of Queensland
- Find items in the collection via our One Search catalogue.
- Browse Level 4 or request items from on-site ‘Closed Access’ storage with your e-services card. If you order Closed Access items via the One Search catalogue ahead of your visit, items should be waiting for you when you arrive. You can order up to 3 days in advance. See delivery times for more information.
- Use our e-collections computers on level 2 to search the library’s catalogue; to search our databases for electronic journal, magazine and newspaper articles and to view images and manuscripts from our collection. These e-collections computers do not need to be booked and have no time limits on their use.
- You can also access our electronic resources via the State Library’s free wireless service if you have a laptop. Check our Info Guide on how to access wireless for details.
Access off-site
You can access selected offsite databases to search for electronic journal, magazine and newspaper articles. You will be prompted to login with your e-services card or QPL account.
Some State Library items are available for loan to other libraries. Contact your local library for information about interlibrary loan and copy services.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander material and information accessed on this site may be culturally sensitive for some individuals and communities. Refer to the State Library of Queensland's Protocols for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collections for further information.
Search our collections:
Related links
- Family History information in the Margaret Lawrie Collection
- Manuscripts - Finding aid for the Margaret Lawrie Collection
- Discover Margaret Lawrie resources
- Reports of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits
- Meriba Gidhal: Torres Strait Island treasures of the Margaret Lawrie collection
- ReTold: A re-telling of stories and songs from Myths and legends of the Torres Strait
External links
Last updated: 16th November 2011
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