I recently had the opportunity to attend the inaugural Past in Practice: NSW Records Masterclass, hosted by the Family History Academy and the Society of Australian Genealogists at the Museums of History NSW reading rooms in Kingswood, Sydney.
The three-day masterclass introduced participants to a range of archival collections and, importantly, gave us time to conduct our own research. Programs like this are invaluable for anyone interested in family history. They help you understand what records exist in your local archives, how to search them effectively, and how to rethink your research questions.
Perhaps the most important lesson is this: a vast amount of historical material is still not online. Many records can only be accessed in person, and visiting an archive can uncover information you would never find through online indexes alone.
Testing a Family Story
During my time in the archives, I investigated a long-standing family story. Like many such stories, it had been passed down more as a memory than a detailed account, and I wanted to see how much of it was fact.
The story involved a couple I’ll call Mr. and Mrs. A. According to family lore, they had “run” the restaurant or refreshment room at Central Station in Sydney. They were also said to have owned a small store in a nearby suburb. There was also a quiet rumour that Mr. A may have died by suicide.
With several elements to investigate, the question became: where should I start?
My first stop was the minutes book of the Estates and Refreshment Rooms Branch of the NSW Railways, hoping to find references to Mr. or Mrs. A. Unfortunately, this search produced nothing.
Next, I turned to the NSW Railway Personal History Cards, which are available online. Searching the surname revealed a card for Mrs. A, though none for her husband.
Her card confirmed she was employed as a pantrymaid at Central Station, beginning on 1 October 1941 and retiring on 26 August 1956. The record also listed her wages and a lump-sum superannuation payment upon retirement. The birth date matched, confirming this was indeed the correct Mrs. A.
But there was still no trace of Mr. A in railway employment records.
An Unexpected Discovery
A broader search uncovered an inquest record for Mr. A. The death date matched my existing research, so I ordered the file to view at the archive.
The instructors had warned us that inquest files sometimes contain disturbing material, but even with that warning I was not fully prepared for the emotional impact of what I found.
The records revealed that Mr. A died in 1945 at the age of 72. He had been suffering from throat cancer for some time and was in significant pain. While his daughter was out running an errand, he wrote a note, attached it to the front door, and ended his life. When she returned home, she found the note and then discovered him in the kitchen.
As I carefully worked through the file, I came across the original note he had left for his daughter. It was faded and difficult to read, but unmistakably the same note described in the report. Holding such a personal piece of the past was a powerful and sobering moment. I experienced a visceral reaction to this simple piece of paper.
Reconstructing the Story
Although tragic, the records helped clarify the family story and place events into context.
Previous research had located some information. Electoral rolls show that between 1930 and 1937 Mr. A was listed as a provision vendor, which likely refers to the small store remembered in family stories. By 1943 he was recorded with no occupation.
When viewed alongside the inquest record, the timeline begins to make sense. If Mr. A had been suffering from cancer for several years, it is likely that by around 1941 he was no longer able to work, prompting Mrs. A to seek employment at Central Station to support the household.
This may well be the origin of the family memory that they “ran” the refreshment rooms. In reality, Mrs. A worked there as a pantrymaid, though the full scope of her duties remains unclear.
Approximately five years after she began that work, Mr. A died. Mrs. A continued working until 1956, retiring at the age of 65.
Why Archives Matter
By the end of this research session, I had been able to separate fact from family memory, build a clearer timeline, and add depth to the story of this couple’s lives.
None of this would have been possible without accessing the original archival records. Indexes are incredibly useful starting points, but they rarely tell the full story. The original files often contain details—sometimes emotional or confronting—that help us understand the lives of our ancestors in a much richer way.
Beyond One Story
While investigating this particular story, I also explored a range of other record types at the archive, including:
- school administrative files
- probate records
- divorce records
- business registers
- government employment files
And these are just a small sample of what is available.
A Final Recommendation
If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend:
- attending a class or workshop about your local archives
- visiting an archive in person
- ordering digital copies of archival records
- or engaging a researcher to access records on your behalf
Archives hold the documents that bring family stories to life—and sometimes, they reveal truths we never expected to find.