Talking Art and Drawing Words: Paper and Oral History Collections in the National Gallery of Australia's Research Library (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Oral history interviews and personal records arc used by researchers in a range of disciplines. They have become a focus of public and academic interest, with a number of publications about their value in research, history, and social memory, where they provide a unique primary resource for the historian to explore the lives of subjects previously 'hidden in history'. Oral history is increasingly accepted as a legitimate resource, and its use has increased markedly over the last two decades. Oral histories are now found in most major Commonwealth collecting institutions, such as the National Library of Australia, the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia, and Old Parliament House, furthering these institutions' collection remits to preserve and promote Australian history.