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Donald Both demonstration the portable iron lung. SLSA: PRG 1776/2/20

The amazing inventions of the Both Brothers

The stories that make us

When it comes to inventors, South Australians punch well above their weight, however many of their achievements are largely unknown outside the state, let alone...

Innovation
Any time is holiday time, tourism poster, 1938. SLSA ZPL 0532

Any time is holiday time

The stories that make us

Summer is traditionally holiday season, when we pack up and drive, sail, fly or ride the rails to catch up with family and friends or...

History
Algie's Romance, still one. SLSA: B 71527/1

Algie’s Romance, a 'lost' film

The stories that make us

Librarians love a research query challenge and finding the story behind the following four photographs in the Library’s digital collection has been keeping one of...

History
Note from a mother to a teacher, asking for her daughter to be put on the tram

Please put Wendy on the tram...

The stories that make us

At the State Library, we are always busy sleuthing and looking for things in the collection, and on occasion, we find something other than the...

Behind the scenes Children
Sister Janet Mead standing near a tree.

Vale Sister Janet Mead

State Library staff were saddened by the death of Sister Janet Mead after a short tussle with cancer at the age of 84. While known...

Biography
Bullfrog toy savings bank (SLSA: clrcri15835224-1)

The two bullfrogs - A curious mechanical savings bank

The stories that make us

What is that?? This rather grotesque-looking object is a mechanical savings bank in the shape of two frogs, the design for which was patented by...

Children
The ECOmmodore is the first hybrid-electric vehicle developed by an Australian automotive manufacturer. SLSA: BRG 213/199/5/2A/4

20 years ahead of its time - Australia’s own green car

The stories that make us

These days talk of climate change and reducing greenhouse emissions is commonplace, but did you know that over twenty years ago Australia was busily developing...

History Innovation
B 70024/45/crop

Christmas away, when thoughts turn to home

The stories that make us

The COVID19 pandemic has been especially hard for millions across the world who have been separated from the people and places they cherish. This article...

Children Christmas History
Christmas singing Mount Gambier

Remembering Christmas Past

The stories that make us

For most people Christmas Eve or Christmas Day is about getting together with friends and family for a special meal and tearing the paper off...

Children Christmas History
Greeting cards, SLSA: PRG 337/3/43

The Spirit of Giving

The stories that make us

South Australians have a long tradition of giving and of offering a helping hand. Sometimes that’s not easy. As Christmas approaches it’s easy to be...

Christmas History
Portrait photograph of Mary Bower, nee Hall.

The young lady who left home in 1877

The stories that make us

Sleuthing at the State Library using newspaper clippings, three books, inscriptions, newspaper archives, and censuses, pieces together the intriguing story of a run-away in 1877...

Biography Literature
Detail of Father Christmas featured in Vojtech Kubasta's story book. SLSA: clrc i22817190

A visit from Father Christmas

Christmas at the Mortlock this year is inspired by the designs of Czechoslovakian paper artist Vojtěch Kubašta (b.1914 Vienna, d.1992 Prague). Kubašta was one of...

Children History Literature
Lord Horatio Nelson's letter to Thomas Lloyd. SLSA: 941.073 N426

Real or fake: Lord Nelson's letter written in 1798

The stories that make us

For a long time, a large brown envelope with a crayoned inscription lay in the back of the special collection’s stacks. The inscription read, ‘Nelson...

Behind the scenes Biography History
Radio club badges and pins, clrc, slsa: box no. 177

Don't touch that dial! Children’s radio club badges and pins

The stories that make us

It might seem strange, but sometimes historical items are literally picked up off the ground. This collection of children’s radio club badges and pins was...

Children
Flower painting by Rosa Fiveash, SLSA: PRG 403/3/3/32

Captured Flowers

The capture of South Australia’s wildflowers and plants in paintings and sketches began early in the colony’s history. Flower painting was considered an acceptable genteel...

History
Spitfire and Bomber Squadron booklet

Make your own Spitfire and Bomber squadron

The stories that make us

We’ve recreated this striking cut-out model builder booklet so you can build your own bomber squadron base and experience what it would have been like...

Children
Dressed in their working aprons the taxidermists complete the tiger SLSA PRG 631/2/365

The tiger and the taxidermists

The stories that make us

Did you know that this photograph taken in the basement of the Mortlock Wing of the State Library shows one of the largest tigers ever...

Behind the scenes History
Passengers disembarking at Port Misery, South Australia

How our State Library began as a trunk full of donated books

The stories that make us

The story of the founding of the State Library begins in the 1830s in London, where Robert Gouger was lobbying the British Government to found...

Behind the scenes History Literature
Adelaide ‘Black Lives Matter’ Protest, King William Street [SLSA: PRG 1763/1/9]

Capturing the present for future generations

The stories that make us

“A good photograph is knowing where to stand” Ansel Adams Over the past few years the State Library of South Australia has been adding to...

Photography
BRG304_49

A legal constraint: the case of the corset

In 1904 there were two makers of WB corsets in South Australia. The English firm William Pretty and Sons made the WB Correct Form Corset...

Art, design, fashion History