We would love you to be involved in Deaf History Collections! We need people to:

• Suggest new materials
• Make suggestions for corrections and improvements
• Transcribe, identify and translate material that is already on the website

If you would like to help us, please just contact us.

If you own old photos, videos, documents or other historical items, it is a good idea to keep them in a place that is:

• Dry
• Cool
• Dark

This will help them stay in good condition for longer.

It is also a good idea to tell your family about the materials and let them known what you would like them to do with the materials after you have passed away.

If you have historical materials, you might like to think about donating them to a state library or other organisation for safe keeping.

You don’t have to donate things – it is up to you. Many things may also be important to your family so it is a good idea to discuss it with other family members before you make donations.

Where can things be donated?

Usually historical documents and photos can be donated to the relevant state or national library, for example:

• State Library South Australia
• State Library Victoria
• State Library of Queensland
• State Library of NSW
• State Library of Western Australia
• Tasmanian Archives and State Library
• National Library of Australia

The National Film and Sound Archive is a good place to donate videos.

What are the advantages of donating materials?

If you donate historical materials to a public institution like a state library, the advantages may be:

• The materials will usually be kept in very good conditions – right light, right temperature, right humidity. This means they will last longer.
• The materials will usually be available for researchers, community members, and other people who are interested in learning about the Deaf Community.
• Sometimes big institutions can make materials available online.
• The materials have a lower risk of getting lost or being thrown away by accident.

How do I donate materials?

You can contact the organisation directly to ask about their process for donations. Usually they ask you to:

1. Check their catalogue to see if they have the item already.
2. If they don’t already have it, you can fill out a form about the item/s you want to donate.

They will let you know when to go and drop off the items.

We can discuss donations with you and support you to make donations if you want to.

By donating materials to organisations which can keep them safe and make them accessible, we are all contributing to keeping the history of the Deaf Community safe and remembered!