J M Main Bequest

In 1984 the University received a large bequest from the late Mr J M Main, who had taught at the University since its foundation. The Bequest has been managed as an inflation proofed fund, the proceeds of which are for 'the purchase of books, microfilms, maps and other documents and materials of a like nature relating to Australian history' for deposit in the University Library.

Since then, the Library and the advisory committee (on which members of the Department of History sit), have been active in purchasing a wide range of out of print items, significant microfilm runs of newspapers and the complete microfilm set of the Australian Joint Copying Project (probably only one of two in Australia). There are many other items which have also been acquired. 

In addition the Advisory Committee is authorised to support the purchase of items relevant to the research interests of specific scholars as long as they fall within the broad definition of 'Australian history'. Thus, for instance, we have acquired shipping lists of most of the emigrants assisted from Britain and Ireland to colonial Australia.

Consequently, Flinders University has created a research holding of published and other materials in Australian history probably the equal of any other university in Australia. It can support a wide variety of projects for research by staff and research students, as well as enquiries from visiting scholars.

Other holdings of interest
The Library also holds the Evatt Papers, a mine of material, sometimes vital, sometimes banal, on twentieth century Australian history accumulated by Bert Evatt. For more information see: Flinders University Library