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Royal Historical Society of Queensland

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A historical society is non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting, and promoting the history of a particular place, group of people, or topic. They play a crucial role in promoting historical awareness and understanding by providing a platform for research, education, and public engagement.

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38-475: The Royal Historical Society of Queensland (RHSQ) is a historical society founded in Brisbane , Australia in 1913. It promotes the study of Australian history especially that of Queensland and adjacent Pacific islands . It maintains an important collection and catalogue of historical research materials and organises exhibitions of those materials. It organises meetings, lectures and conferences where research

76-436: A balancing of public policy that mandates with the society's mission creating a potential for political influence on historical interpretation. Collaboration with Universities: Some historical societies engage in partnerships with universities, tapping into academic knowledge and potentially utilizing shared resources or personnel. Governance arrangements may include a combined board or advisory committees. Benefits from of

114-774: A bequest of his library of more than 2,000 volumes. The society's library was amalgamated with the Welsby collection and was opened as the Welsby Library on 15 March 1947 in Newstead House . The Welsby Library is now housed on the second floor of the Commissariat Store. The Australian Historical Society was formed in Sydney in 1901 and the Historical Society of Victoria in 1909. In Queensland,

152-508: A crucial role in shaping the composition and responsibilities of the governing body, especially for organizations reliant on government support. The mission and focus of a society also influence its governance, with boards of societies dedicated to specific historical themes often benefitting from members with relevant expertise in the field. New York takes a unique approach to cultural agencies, viewing them not as nonprofit businesses but as educational organizations. These cultural agencies play

190-623: A deeper global understanding of Asia's rich history. Raphael Cilento Sir Raphael West Cilento (2 December 1893 – 15 April 1985), often known as "Ray", was an Australian medical practitioner and public health administrator . Cilento was born in Jamestown, South Australia , in 1893, son of Raphael Ambrose Cilento, a stationmaster (whose father Salvatore had emigrated from Naples , Italy in 1855), and Frances Ellen Elizabeth ( née West). His younger brother, Alan Watson West Cilento (b. 1908), became General Manager of

228-431: A firm basis in the nineteenth century. These ideas eventually would be discredited by the history as well as science unfolding from the 1920s, but even so Cilento hung on to them well past their waning. Into the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, he was still writing about the white man in the tropics and racial vitality in ways that ensured his reputation for good work in other domains would struggle to survive his own monomania." In

266-620: A focus on academic research, public engagement, and significant collections spanning archaeology, classical studies, and colonial-era documents. Despite grappling with their colonial past, these societies benefit from established infrastructure and funding for extensive research and global collaborations. Asian historical societies in countries like China, Japan, and India have diverse focuses, from specific dynasties to cultural traditions. With vast collections of ancient texts and artifacts, these societies bridge traditional knowledge systems with Western research methods, promoting cultural exchange and

304-479: A historical society itself has evolved over time. Early institutions have concentrated on material culture (like the Academy) while later ones embraced broader historical research methods. The inception of historical societies can be traced back to Western Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries, where they were often founded by enthusiasts of antiquity. These societies experienced a significant surge in growth in

342-860: A history for the Queensland centenary, Triumph in the Tropics (1959), and edited Queensland, Daughter of the Sun (1959) for the centenary of responsible government in Queensland. He contributed many articles to the society's journal. Historical society Historical societies vary in specialization, with focuses ranging from specific geographical areas such as countries, states/provinces or cities/towns, ethnographic such as ethnic and genealogical , and topical such as transportation, event based, or military history. Historical societies acquire and maintain historical materials like documents, photographs, artifacts, and audio recordings. These collections serve as

380-488: A hybrid model can leverage the strengths of different institutions and fosters collaboration across cultural sectors but navigating the complexities of inter-institutional decision make for potential conflicts of interest. Factors Affecting Governance are the size and budget of an organization can impact the structure of its board, with larger societies with paid staff often requiring a more formalized approach compared to smaller volunteer-run groups. The sources of funding play

418-594: A letter in The Courier-Mail (18 May 1965) on Australian clergy's attitude to the Vietnam War he said 'I am not a practising Christian – I am sorry for it ... I regret that I have not the gift of faith'. Cilento died on 15 April 1985 in the Brisbane suburb of Oxley and was survived by his wife and six children. Although he had been married in a Church of England service, he was brought up Catholic and

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456-632: A provisional committee was formed with a view to furnishing Queensland with a similar society: a constitution was drafted, prospective members enrolled (limited to 100) and the Governor approached to be patron. In August 1913 the inaugural meeting of the Historical Society of Queensland, chaired by the Governor, Sir William MacGregor , was held at the Albert Hall: a paper, "Methods of Historical Research with special reference to Australia",

494-488: A resource centre at the "Commissariat Store", one of Brisbane's oldest buildings. Convict-built in 1829, it is one of only two buildings which survive from the Moreton Bay penal colony. The first two storeys were built using local stone and convict labour in 1828–9. A third storey was added in 1913 in rendered brick. It was used as a government store until 1960. Queensland State Archives used the ground floor until 1968 and

532-751: A respectable bank balance. For the earlier part of his working life, Cilento's interests were mainly in public health and, specifically, tropical medicine. He served with the Australian Army's Tropical Force in New Guinea which superseded the German administration after the First World War. Later he joined the British colonial service in Malaya . On his return to Australia he was Director of

570-730: A vital resource for researchers, genealogists, and the general public. Many historical societies have staff historians who conduct research on their collections and broader historical topics. They publish books, articles, and educational materials to share their findings with the public. Historical societies organize lectures, workshops, tours, and exhibitions to engage the community and educate them about history. These programs can range from introductory talks for general audiences to specialized conferences for academic researchers. Historical societies often collaborate with local schools, libraries, and community centers to offer educational programs and promote historical literacy. The concept of

608-823: A vital role in the educational system, operating under Education Law instead of Corporation Law and falling under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York . American historical societies emphasize local and state history, often decentralized with strong volunteer bases. They hold extensive collections of documents and artifacts, focusing on oral histories to capture diverse community experiences. Despite funding and staffing challenges, their grassroots initiatives prioritize underrepresented stories. European historical societies, rooted in royal patronage, often feature centralized structures with

646-562: A year (monthly except January and December). On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the society in 1963, the society established a Fellowship as an award for those who contributed to the knowledge and scholarship of Queensland history. The award entitles the fellow to the post-nominals "FRHistSQ". In 1999, the society began awarding the Sir William MacGregor Medal for exceptional and outstanding service in

684-488: Is presented and publishes these proceedings and other scholarly papers in its journal and other publications. It works with other historical societies and cultural organisations to advocate on behalf of the sector and to provide leadership and guidance. The RHSQ is the Queensland constituent member of the Federation of Australian Historical Societies and the peak body for historical societies in Queensland. It maintains

722-729: Is the most prevalent structure. A volunteer board of directors , composed of community leaders, history enthusiasts, and sometimes professional expertise, oversees the society's operations. The board sets strategic direction, hires an executive director , and approves budgets. The benefits of this model provides diverse perspectives, fosters community engagement, and leverages volunteer expertise. Its challenges are that board members might require training on non-profit governance and historical best practices. Ensuring continuity of vision with board member turnover can be difficult. State Historical Societies: Some states have government-established historical societies that receive partial funding from

760-850: The Australian Institute of Tropical Medicine in Townsville, Queensland , from 1922 to 1924. Following a further term in New Guinea, Cilento became Director of the Commonwealth Government's Division of Tropical Hygiene in Brisbane . He held that role from 1928 to 1934. In 1934, Queensland's Forgan Smith Government set out to create one of the world's first universally free public health systems. Minister for Health Ned Hanlon recruited Cilento to achieve this goal as Director-General of Health and Medical Services. Cilento, despite his subsequent identification with

798-639: The Progressive Era to serve the public. Interest in local history surged in the 20th century, especially in preserving changing cities. The founding of the American Association for State and Local History in 1940 further emphasized this shift. Over time, historical societies diversified their focus to include marginalized groups, reflecting changes in the discipline of history and societal developments towards greater inclusivity. External support and contributions have long been integral to

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836-612: The Queensland History Journal in print and online. As the Society languished in the late 1920s and into the 1930s, the journal was not published from 1929 to 1936. From 1974 to 1984 it was published under the name Historical Papers . In 1986, it began publishing every three months. It obtained its current name in November, 2008. In 1942, the society began publishing a bulletin ( ISSN   0035-8916 ) ten times

874-742: The Savings Bank of South Australia from 1961 to 1968. He was educated at Prince Alfred College , but although he was determined from an early age to study medicine, he was initially thwarted in doing so due to lack of money. Therefore, he trained first as a school teacher, sponsored by the Education Department, from 1908 and taught at Port Pirie in 1910 and 1911. He eventually entered the University of Adelaide Medical School on borrowed funds, but while there he won so many scholarships and other prizes that he ended his course with

912-506: The Australian party-political mainstream. Professor Mark Finnane of Griffith University has written in the journal Queensland Review that "[m]uch of his brilliance, energetically applied to the development of sound research and policy in the control and eradication of tropical diseases, was directed also to applying the developing techniques of epidemiology and tropical medicine in the service of ideas about racial hierarchies which had

950-607: The first formally established historical society in the United States goes to the Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS), founded in 1791. While there were earlier informal groups with similar aims, the MHS stands out for its official structure and dedication to preserving American history. The MHS owes its creation to Reverend Jeremy Belknap , a passionate antiquarian and minister. Concerned about

988-479: The first half of the 19th century, coinciding with a renewed interest in history alongside the rise of bourgeois - nationalistic ideals, the strengthening of national identities, and advancements in scientific historical research methods. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, historical societies have played a pivotal role on a large scale, disseminating a wealth of historical source materials, producing their own publications, and organizing congresses. The title of

1026-612: The impression that he favoured it. Cilento was knighted by King George V in 1935 (when only 42 years old) for his contributions to public service and tropical medicine. He achieved international fame after World War II for his work in aiding refugees with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration . In July 1945 he was the first civilian doctor to enter Belsen concentration camp , after doing considerable work on malaria control in The Balkans . He

1064-417: The loss of historical materials, Belknap gathered a group of like-minded Bostonians, including scholars, politicians, and civic leaders. Together, they envisioned an organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, and studying the history of Massachusetts and, by extension, the broader American story. Historical societies evolved in the 19th century with more inclusive membership policies, transitioning in

1102-554: The political right wing, never lost his belief in government-funded health care. To assist in his policy-making objectives, he studied law and was admitted to the Bar in 1939. As Director-General (a position he held till 1945), and combined with the presidency of the state's Medical Board (as well as with the medicine professorship at the University of Queensland ), he firmly opposed the anti-polio methods of Elizabeth Kenny , although at first he had spoken politely enough of her work to give

1140-556: The promotion of Queensland history. The medal is named in honour of the first patron of the society. The society has established a joint committee with the Professional Historians Association (Queensland) to award an annual John Douglas Kerr Medal for Distinction in historiography, historical research and writing since 2005. The medal honours John Douglas Kerr (1942 – 2003), a CSIRO statistician, railways enthusiast and historian who joined

1178-478: The society in 1967. He served as a councillor, editor of the Journal (from 1985) and the honorary librarian. In 1973, the society inaugurated an annual oration named in honour of Clem Lack. Clem Llewellyn Lack (1900-1972) was a longterm member (1949-1972) of the Society who served as a councillor and editor of publications. He was made a fellow in 1962. With Sir Raphael Cilento , the Society's president, he compiled

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1216-525: The state legislature. These societies often have a board with a mix of appointed and elected members, balancing public accountability with expert guidance. Municipal or County Historical Societies:  These societies might receive funding from local governments while maintaining a degree of autonomy. Their boards might include a mix of appointed officials and community representatives. The benefits of this model are access to government funding can support larger projects and professional staffing but require

1254-417: The sustainability of historical societies. Donations, memberships, annual funds, corporate sponsorships, internships, volunteering, and utilizing historic spaces all play vital roles in the ongoing growth and preservation of these nonprofit organizations. Historical societies in the United States diversity in their governance structures. This reflects their varied missions, sizes, and funding sources. This

1292-478: The upper floors were occupied by various government departments until 1976. Occupation was then granted to the society and extensive renovations were done before it was opened in 1978 as the society's headquarters. In 1998, a conservation plan was prepared and work done to reverse or modify inappropriate changes made during the 1970s' renovations. The building houses the RHSQ museum and the Welsby Library. The building

1330-761: Was Director for Refugees and Displaced Persons from 1946 to 1947. In August 1948, as Director of the Division of Social Activities of the United Nations, Cilento toured the areas affected by the fighting in Palestine with Count Folke Bernadotte , the U.N. mediator. He viewed the Arab refugee problem as a disaster comparable to an earthquake, flood or tidal wave. He resigned in 1950 after expressing sympathy with dispossessed Palestinian refugees. He returned to Australia in 1951. Cilento's later life in his native land

1368-565: Was badly damaged in the January 2011 flood and the society had to relocate temporarily. From its earliest days, the society began collecting books, manuscripts and periodicals; it also began a collection of photographs, maps, and press cutting books. Thomas Welsby was a foundation member of the society who served as a councillor, vice-president and president. During his life he donated many letters, newspaper cuttings, documents, scrap books, and copies of his published books and in his will he made

1406-589: Was characterised by frustration at being unable to find appropriate employment in government service or academia. This failure was at least partly the consequence of his increasingly racist and ultra-conservative views, exemplified by his involvement with the Australian League of Rights during the 1950s and 1960s in particular, and his continued public support for the White Australia Policy long after this doctrine had ceased to be part of

1444-567: Was read by its author and one of the moving spirits behind the formation of the Society, the constitution was adopted and officers and committee elected. Foundation members included: The Society publishes a quarterly journal, a monthly bulletin and other publications. In 1914, the Society began publishing a Journal, later known as the Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland , which today appears quarterly as

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