Australian University Lists Greek Archives Online

Currently, approximately half of the records have been organized via the web, that makes up over 5,500 boxes, according to Neos Kosmos. The data is not open to the public. However, anyone can search key words and see the general list.

La Trobe Librarian and project manager Eva Fisch explained, "We are prevented from scanning that material and putting it online because of the copyright act, so what we've been doing is giving people access to the groups of material like the newspapers, the art objects, the letters, the photographs and so forth, so then if they are interested in anything to do with, say, women or Crete, they can do a search and come up with the information that we've listed."

Many interesting works have already been discovered that includes about 1,150 Greek original music records and aged plays. The Melbourne University plans to exhibit the most unique works within the year. Fisch stated, "We're putting together a proposal of specifically what will go into the display, and we're going to be working on how we can display those materials effectively and how we can make the display transportable."

The Archives were formed in the 1990s by Greek benefactor Zissis (Jack) Dardalis, in an effort to compile past records from the Greek-Australian community. The National Centre for Hellenic Studies and Research spearheaded the project before it shut down in 2007, and the Archives remained untouched.

Over the past year and a half, La Trobe University has been sorting through the records, that contain dated newspapers, movies, newsreels, art, costumes, and more. The Greek Archives list can be accessed at: www.latrobe.edu.au/library/research-and-grant-support/collection-strengt...

(Source: Neos Kosmos)