Margaret Lawrie Collection
Between 1964 and 1973, Margaret Lawrie recorded many Torres Strait Islander genealogies (family trees) and other cultural information including vocabularies, music and photographs. The material relates to seventeen Torres Strait Islander communities:
- Badu
- Mabuiag
- Thursday Island
- Bamaga (located on the mainland)
- Muraleg (Prince of Wales Island)
- Ugar
- Boigu Island
- Murray Island
- Warraber
- Dauan Island
- Naghir (Mount Ernest Island)
- Yam Island
- Erub (Darnley Island)
- Poruma (Coconut Island)
- Yorke Island
- Horn Island
- Saibai
- Kubin Village / St Pauls (Moa Island)
- Seisia (located on the mainland)
The Margaret Lawrie Collection was officially donated to the State Library of Queensland in 1996 and is held in the John Oxley Library (see catalogue record). Torres Strait Islanders wishing to access this material should phone 3842 9438.
Margaret Lawrie's published material
A limited number of Margaret Lawrie's books were printed. Her most acclaimed publications are:
- Tales from the Torres Strait (1972) collected and translated by Margaret Lawrie.
- Myths and Legends of Torres Strait (1970) collected and translated by Margaret Lawrie.
These books are available to view here at SLQ.
Online exhibition
Access to the collection
Access to the genealogies recorded by Margaret Lawrie and to selected sections of her research is restricted to members of the Torres Strait Islander families recorded within them. If you are researching on behalf of a Torres Strait Islander family or person you need to acquire their prior written consent to access restricted material.
To arrange for access, contact John Oxley Library (Phone: 3842 9438). Please allow 24 hours notice so that the materials can be retrieved.
The Torres Strait Islander Reference Group (TSIRG), comprising of State Library of Queensland staff and Torres Strait Islander community representatives, monitor and advise on any cultural matters that arise in relation to the Margaret Lawrie Collection.
See also
- Jorn Harbeck's paper about the Margaret Lawrie Collection [PDF 12 kb] delivered at the Access to Indigenous Records National Forum in 2003
Celebrate the soundtrack of our state as SLQ sets the stage for the music of Queensland.
Open till 17 Nov
State Library of Queensland provides special library services for members who have an SLQ membership card (formerly known as an e-services card).
