Stories
Explore fascinating stories from the collections of the State Library of South Australia.
We also have extended stories from the collection for you to read and explore.
In conversation with Pip Williams and Peter Zajicek
The stories that make us.Watch a conversation between Pip Williams, author of the internationally acclaimed novels The dictionary of lost words and The bookbinder of Jericho, and Peter Zajicek...
Precious blooms: in memory of the lost and fallen
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month we pause to remember those who gave their lives for their country. In...
From analogue to digital: Preserving South Australia’s musical history
The stories that make us.Find out how we are saving music recorded on cassette tape in this behind the scenes story for UNESCO's World Day for Audiovisual Heritage...
Baby socks help to preserve our Audio-Visual heritage
The stories that make us.Discover the surprising role of baby socks in preserving our audiovisual heritage in this behind the scenes story for UNESCO's World Day for Audiovisual Heritage...
The people's park
The stories that make us.Belair National Park is a big, beautiful place filled with stories of tranquil walks, family picnics and joyful outings, all of them true. But this...
Rear Vision: The Holden Collection
The stories that make us.Get a sneak peek into the excitement of our upcoming exhibition with this short teaser of The Holden Collection . Opening in February 2025, to...
Serial Thrillers: Crime and thriller writers in the State Library's collection
The stories that make us.Crime pays. Or it did for Australian fiction writers when reading was a major form of entertainment. From the colonial era, local magazines and newspapers...
Union Movement in South Australia - a brief history
The stories that make us.Whilst the history of trade unions in South Australia is well documented, we invite you to take a look into its history through the archives...
The funeral business in early South Australia
The stories that make us.Did you know that Colonel William Light included a public cemetery in his original plan of the city of Adelaide? It was on West Terrace...
"Greetings from..." Letters and postcards in the State Library Collection
The stories that make us.Join us for a captivating talk where we delve into the timeless treasure trove of postcards and letters donated to the State Library. These seemingly...
The Pictures of Pastor William Brooker
The stories that make us.William Charles Brooker was born in the Adelaide suburb of Croydon in 1875. He completed four years of a medical degree but left before graduation...
The Art of Joseph Stanislaw Ostoja-Kotkowski
The stories that make us.Watch Maria Zagala, Curator of Prints, Drawings and Photographs at the Art Gallery of South Australia, as she delves into the artistic evolution of Joseph...
Shall I Pen You a Letter: Initials in Manuscript and Print
The stories that make us.People have enjoyed embellishing the written word with illustrations, doodles, and commentary for centuries. Examples have been found all over the world, showing up on...
Inking up: the art of tattooing
The stories that make us.Delve into the intriguing world of tattooing, as we uncover the history, symbolism, and evolution of this timeless art form, showcased through items held within...
Cornucopia
The stories that make us.Step into a world of blooming beauty and historical wonder at Cornucopia: gardens and gardening in South Australia. Immerse yourself in South Australia's rich gardening...
Departed Spirits: Lost pubs of Adelaide
The stories that make us.Explore the history of Adelaide pubs that were once vibrant, bustling places but are now silent witnesses to the past. Known as the city of...
Open books, hidden lives
The stories that make us.How the Adelaide Circulation Library began The South Australian Mechanics Institute opened in 1839 and in 1844 the South Australian Subscription Library was formed and...
Young Rupert's Paper Trail: Succession, seditions, and power in 1950s Adelaide
The stories that make us.We invited journalist Walter Marsh to piece together the story of young Rupert Murdoch’s early battles against Adelaide’s conservative establishment. He explores how these formative...
The Cheer Ups and Mrs Seager
The stories that make us.Alexandra Seager ran a small but successful business in the city of Adelaide during World War I, providing household help and workers for homes and...
The 'Celestials' in South Australia
The stories that make us.South Australia and China have shared some fascinating history. In centuries past, the Emperor of China was known as the Son of Heaven and so...