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State Library of Queensland  >  Find...  >  Databases  >  Offsite  >  Family history

Family History

Queenslanders have access to a number of authoritative, subscription-only databases that are not available through Google or other free search engines.

Offsite access
To access these databases away from the library - from any computer connected to the internet (eg home or office) - you must be a Queensland resident and:

  • own a State Library e-services card ;
    OR
  • be a member of a Queensland public library with a QPL account (register for a QPL account - immediate access after email verification)

Click the Connect button beside the database to begin searching. You will be asked to login using your e-services card or QPL account. Terms and conditions apply.

Title

Access

19th Century British Library Newspapers Full text

A rich collection of primary source material, this database provides full runs of 48 titles from the 19th-century, totaling more than two million easily searchable pages.  Here you will find a broad yet detailed view of British life in the 19th century; from business to sport, from politics to entertainment and the arts. Articles include monumental historic events, such as the battle of Trafalgar and the  defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as reports on the cricket match that started the Ashes, Jack the Ripper and Florence Nightingale.

Coverage: 1800-1900
Access: onsite@slq + offsite access for e-services members and Queensland public library (QPL) account holders
Licence: unlimited users

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Convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database

You can find details for over 123 000 of the estimated 160 000 convicts transported to Australia in the 18th and 19th centuries - names, term of years, transport ships and more.
Please note: The original records on which this database is based is not an exhaustive list of all convicts sent to Australia.

Coverage: 1787-1867
Access: freely available

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Historic Australian Newspapers, 1803 to 1954 Full text

The Australian Newspapers Beta service allows access to historic Australian newspapers digitised as part of the Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program.

Coverage: 1803 to 1954
Access: freely available

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Miners involved in Queensland mining accidents (1882-1900)

In the period 1882 to 1900, Queensland mining accidents were listed annually in the Queensland Legislative Assembly Votes and Proceedings. This index lists, in alphabetical order by last name, the names of those miners involved and provides details of the accident.

Coverage: 1882-1900
Access: freely available

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Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Full text

The most authoritative biographical dictionary of British people, containing more than 57,000 entries. Included are noteworthy people in any walk of life who were connected with the British Isles or British history worldwide. 

Coverage:  4th century B.C. onwards.  Does not include living people.
Access: onsite@slq + offsite access for e-services members and Queensland public library (QPL) account holders
Licence: 9 users

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Papers Past Full text

Papers Past contains more than one million pages of digitised New Zealand newspapers and periodicals. Includes publications from all regions of New Zealand.

Coverage: 1839-1932
Access: freely available

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Persons called before Queensland Government committees (1860-1901)

This index covers select committees, royal commissions and boards of enquiry published in the Queensland Legislative Assembly Votes and Proceedings.

The following information is provided:

  • the name of the witness
  • occupation of the witness
  • the name of the enquiry
  • the year, volume and page of the Votes and Proceedings.

Approximately four and a half thousand people provided information at these enquiries. The advantage of this list is that it indexes people from a variety of backgrounds and includes civil servants, miners, farmers, graziers, labourers, railway employees, publicans, builders, seaman, clergyman and police.

Coverage: 1860-1901
Access: freely available

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Persons before Queensland Government committees (1902-1920)

This index covers select committees, royal commissions and boards of inquiry published in the Queensland Parliamentary Papers.

The following information is provided:

  • the name of the witness
  • occupation of the witness
  • the name of the enquiry
  • the year, volume and page of the Votes and Proceedings

Nearly three and a half thousand people provided information at these inquiries from 1902 to 1920. They came from a variety of backgrounds and included civil servants, miners, farmers, graziers, labourers, railway employees, publicans, builders, seamen, clergymen and police.

Coverage: 1902-1920
Access: freely available

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Queensland railway employees, June 1890 - June 1901

In the period June 1890 to June 1901, the appointments and removals of Queensland railway employees were listed annually in the Queensland Legislative Assembly Votes and Proceedings. This index collects the names of those employees and presents them in an alphabetical listing.

Coverage: 1890-1901
Access: freely available

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Queensland Southern and Western Railway employee appointments and removals, 1866-1876

In the period October 1866 to June 1876, the appointments and removals of employees of the Traffic Branch of Queensland Southern and Western Railway were published in the 1876 (vol. 3) edition of the Queensland Legislative Assembly Votes and Proceedings. These indexes collect the names of those employees and present them in two alphabetical listings, one for appointments and one for removals. The appointments listing is presented over four pages devoted to appointments, with another two pages listing the removals.

Coverage: 1866-1901
Access: freely available

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Queenslanders in the South African War, 1899-1902

Search the State Library's own database for the names of Boer War soldiers whose portraits appeared in 1899-1902 issues of The Queenslander newspaper.

Coverage: 1899-1902
Access: freely available

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Times Digital Archive Full text

Complete digital edition of The Times (London), searchable by keyword. Database includes  all articles, advertisements and illustrations/photos divided into categories to facilitate searching.

Coverage: 1785-2006
Access: onsite@slq + offsite access for e-services members and Queensland public library (QPL) account holders
Licence: 5 users

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Who's Who in Australia

Biographical information about notable Australians from all walks of life, including business, politics, sports, academia and the arts. Also includes biographies of Australians who have received the Star of Courage for acts of selfless bravery, and a list of Australian Nobel prize winners.

Coverage: Currently living persons only. Content updated daily.
Access: onsite@slq + offsite access for e-services members and Queensland public library (QPL) account holders
Licence: unlimited users

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Who’s Who in Business in Australia

Comprehensive, detailed information about Australian companies, including company subsidiaries, key personnel, statistics and share information. Search by company name, personal name, ASX code or industry sector.
NOTE: you will need to select the 'Who's Who in Business in Australia' link located near the top of the screen.

Coverage: updated daily
Access: onsite@slq + offsite access for e-services members and Queensland public library (QPL) account holders
Licence: unlimited users

 

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Find more offsite access databases in other subject areas.

Access all of State Library's onsite and offsite access databases.

More information

For general enquiries:

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Last updated: 8th February 2012

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