FROM THE ARCHIVES: Bringing school histories to life

By Naomi Skelly, Archives Manager

The Archives and Heritage Collection hold many stories of the life and faith of our communities, often preserved in photographs, documents, and the memories of those who lived them. At times, these stories come to us through research requests — each one opening a window into a different part of our shared history.

Not long into my time as Archives Manager, three such requests arrived from across the Archdiocese — Richmond School House, Our Lady of Mercy School in Deloraine, and St Brigid’s School in New Norfolk. Each request required careful work: locating material within our collections, drawing out the stories held there, and presenting them in a way that could be shared and understood within each local community.

This work has taken different forms depending on the site. At St Brigid’s, research was undertaken to support local understanding of the history of the school, the religious sisters involved in its establishment, and its place in the parish. At Richmond, the former schoolhouse — which has served many purposes over time, including as a tearoom — now hosts a small display reflecting its history, with further interpretive work planned. At Our Lady of Mercy in Deloraine, the project developed into a series of interpretive banners designed to present key moments and stories from the school’s past.

A particularly memorable example comes from the Deloraine project. While attending the Australian Society of Archivists conference in Sydney, I returned to my hotel one evening and read through the five completed banners for the school. The stories they contained were drawn together with great care, combining archival records with moments of lived experience.

One story that stood out was that of the school choir, which, to commemorate their success, recorded ‘Shepherd’s Dance’ with Columbia Records. As part of the interpretive work, a QR code was included linking to this original recording. Visitors can now scan the code and listen for themselves, connecting directly with a moment in the school’s history.

Projects such as these demonstrate the value of archival work not only in preserving the past, but in making it accessible in meaningful and engaging ways. By drawing together records, stories, and interpretation, the Archives can support communities in reconnecting with their own history.

There are many more stories held within the Archdiocesan Archives, each waiting to be discovered and shared.