Researching working life through the National Museum

Key facts

Institution

National Museum of Australia [source]

Discovery tool

Collection Explorer [source]

Start with the object question

Decide whether you are investigating equipment, rural work, a place, a person or an artistic representation. Search those terms alongside dog-related words. A working dog can be part of a larger story without appearing in the main catalogue heading, so read related object descriptions before concluding that a collection has nothing relevant.

Use the museum resources

The Museum provides an online Collection Explorer and collection information. Its published guidance notes that access to objects not on display requires an advance request and appointment. Check the current process before planning a research visit; a catalogue entry does not establish that an object can be seen in a public gallery.

Record provenance

Keep the accession identifier, maker, dates, materials and documented history with your notes. Distinguish an object’s original use from later acquisition or interpretation. For a dog-related item, ask what the record actually establishes about the animal rather than extending a donor story into an unsupported pedigree or complete working biography.

Prepare a focused enquiry

Provide the relevant identifiers and explain what you hope to establish when contacting collection staff. Ask about access, reproduction and any associated documentation separately. Preserve the answer and date with the research log. If publishing a new interpretation, clearly distinguish it from the Museum’s own description and link to the original record so readers can assess both.

Common questions

Sources & further reading

References for this guide. Rules and services can change; check the responsible organisation for current details.

• National Museum of Australia: Collection (opens in a new tab)

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