Using Trove for working dog research

Key facts

Service

Trove [source]

Maintained by

National Library of Australia [source]

Research scope

Collections from partner libraries, museums and other institutions [source]

Build a search vocabulary

Start with the dog’s registered name, call name, handler, property and district. Try historical spelling and broader phrases such as sheep dog, stock dog and trial. Record which combinations you used so a later researcher can extend the work instead of repeating the same searches.

Follow the item

The National Library describes Trove as a service connecting collections from many partner institutions. A search result may represent a digitised article, catalogue record or material held elsewhere. Follow the record to establish what you can actually read and which institution holds the original.

Read the surrounding page

For a newspaper claim, inspect the scanned issue as well as searchable text. Check the masthead, publication date, column and any continuation. An advertisement for a forthcoming trial is evidence of an announcement, while a later report may establish what actually happened.

Create a reusable citation

Record title, date, page, persistent link and a short note explaining what the item supports. Transcribe a name exactly before adding a modern interpretation. If a scan is unclear, mark the uncertainty instead of resolving it from expectation. Keep rights checks separate from historical verification before reproducing any image or substantial extract.

Check whether later issues contain a correction, follow-up report or letter discussing the same event. Preserve that subsequent evidence with the initial discovery.

Common questions

Sources & further reading

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

• National Library: Using Trove (opens in a new tab)

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