Subverting Japanese radio propaganda during World War II: Charles Cousens and Iva Toguri

Subverting Japanese radio propaganda during World War II: Charles Cousens and Iva Toguri

August 15, 2025

Ask a librarian, Victorian history:

Read the unusual story of Major Charles Cousens, an Australian officer and former radio announcer captured by the Japanese at the Fall of Singapore. Starving, ill and under severe duress, he was forced to broadcast Japanese propaganda over Radio Tokyo. He used his language skills to sabotage the broadcasts and bring hope to those at home in Australia. It is also the story of Iva Toguri, a young woman born and raised in the United States to Japanese parents. Trapped in Japan, she found herself in the unlikely position of broadcasting light “propaganda” sketches created by Charles Cousens.

he Twins, directed by Lynne Ellis, La Mama, 1990. Photo by Maggie Diaz. This item is in copyright;  H2014.1059/99b

Cracking the narrative: pruning the misinformation from your family tree

August 11, 2025

Family matters, Research tips & tricks:

Is misinformation sinking its tendrils into your family tree? Are dates not lining up, people aren’t where they should be, or maybe there’s no record of Grandma Joan before the age of 25? Our Family History Librarians are here to help you separate fact from fiction in your lineage, and give you some tips to strengthen your research.

Online Collection Spotlight: History of Disabilities: Disabilities in Society, Seventeenth to Twentieth Century

Online Collection Spotlight: History of Disabilities: Disabilities in Society, Seventeenth to Twentieth Century

August 8, 2025

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

Through five collections, the ‘History of Disabilities’ database provides an insight into how society viewed disability and difference from the seventeenth century through to today. While some of the practices and terminology may no longer be acceptable, inclusion of challenging content is important to understand how the landscape has changed over time.

Finding Florrie

Finding Florrie

August 3, 2025

Ask a librarian, Family matters, Our stories, Victorian history:

When librarian Sarah Matthews stumbled across a female publican in her family tree, she couldn’t resist investigating. In this blog, Sarah explains how the library’s collection supported her research, and shares some fascinating findings from her own family’s archive.

A Library Week look at our favourite photographs

A Library Week look at our favourite photographs

August 3, 2025

Our stories, Victorian history:

It is Library week and some or our librarians have picked some favourite photographs from our collections. Our collection of images is varied, eclectic and endlessly fascinating and many have been digitised and are often available to download as high resolution TIFF files

‘Break up that cold!’ with historic Victorian winter tonics

‘Break up that cold!’ with historic Victorian winter tonics

July 29, 2025

Ask a librarian, Health, Such was life, Victorian history, Visual arts:

Let’s explore the advertising history of Victorian winter tonics that were promoted through captivating campaigns, featuring everything from racing cars to bombing planes and involving everyone from VFL footballers to Indian Maharajas!

‘By the time I found my voice to speak…’: Leslie Feinberg’s Stone butch blues

‘By the time I found my voice to speak…’: Leslie Feinberg’s Stone butch blues

July 25, 2025

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories, Rare Books & Arts:

To celebrate Rare Book Week 2025, we turn our attention to one of the fascinating books in State Library Victoria’s Rare Books Collection: Leslie Feinberg’s ‘Stone butch blues.’  The book brings with it stories of struggle — both within and beyond it’s pages — along with questions about control, artistic ethics and the ways we find (and too often don’t find) the stories we seek: stories of people like us.

Wikimedians-in-residence

Wikimedians-in-residence

July 25, 2025

People & professions, Victorian history:

The Library has hosted two Wikimedians this year as they worked on improving the visibility of Australian feminist activists, organisations, and movements.

An historic Antarctic landing

An historic Antarctic landing

July 17, 2025

Our stories, Victorian history:

In the 1880s Melbourne’s men of science formed a committee to revive interest in Antarctic exploration. They canvassed the colonies and the world in attempts to raise an expedition. Ultimately unsuccessful, they did though inspire the first publicly recorded landing on the Antarctic continent by Henrik Bull and the crew of his whaling expedition.

David G (1966) Anti conscription demonstrations through Melbourne streets,

Online Collection Spotlight: Power to the People

July 11, 2025

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

Where can I find more information about the Australian labour movement? What was political ephemera like in the 1970s? Which former world leader excels at cleaning toilets…and what’s the best dish to make with flank of U.S. President? All these questions and much more are answered in this month’s Online Collection Spotlight on Gale’s Power to the People database!

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Such was life

‘Break up that cold!’ with historic Victorian winter tonics

‘Break up that cold!’ with historic Victorian winter tonics

July 29, 2025 — 3 comments

Let’s explore the advertising history of Victorian winter tonics that were promoted through captivating campaigns, featuring everything from racing cars to bombing planes and involving everyone from VFL footballers to Indian Maharajas!

Arts

‘Break up that cold!’ with historic Victorian winter tonics

‘Break up that cold!’ with historic Victorian winter tonics

July 29, 2025 — 3 comments

Let’s explore the advertising history of Victorian winter tonics that were promoted through captivating campaigns, featuring everything from racing cars to bombing planes and involving everyone from VFL footballers to Indian Maharajas!