Collection Policy & Holdings
Collection Policy
The Sydney Diocesan Archives collects only those records created by and within the Diocese of Sydney. The collection is essentially that of administrative records created by the offices and officers of the Diocese of Sydney, since the creation of the Diocese of Australia in 1836. If an organisation is ‘diocesan’, that is, it is created by, funded by, and accountable to, the Diocese of Sydney, then there is a reasonable chance that it may be represented in the holdings of the Sydney Diocesan Archives.
Holdings in other Dioceses
As each new diocese was created (from 1842 onwards), the new diocese assumed responsibility for its own records, from the date of creation of the diocese onwards. In as much as each Anglican diocese in Australia is financially and administratively independent, so too each Anglican diocese within Australia creates and cares for its own records and archives.
There is NO central Anglican archives or records centre in Australia.
Other organisations which are not purely diocesan, such as the General Synod, Church Missionary Society, and Bush Church Aid Society, employ their own archivists to care for and administer their archival records.
The Sydney Diocesan Archivist can assist with enquiries as to the relevant contact person in other Australian dioceses, and in the UK.
Diocesan Administrative Records
The Sydney Diocesan Archives holds records created by all of the major administrative units of the Archdeaconry of New South Wales, the Diocese of Australia and the Diocese of Sydney.
These include:
• Archdeacon of New South Wales
• Bishop of Australia
• Bishop of Sydney
• Archbishop of Sydney
• Sydney Diocesan Synod
• Standing Committee of Sydney Diocesan Synod
• Diocesan Secretary
• Church Property Trust
• Glebe Administration Board
• Trustees of the Estate of the late Thomas Moore
Church and Parish records
Some 300 churches have deposited their administrative records into the Sydney Diocesan Archives. New deposits of non-current church and parish records are made at a rate of between five and ten deposits per year.
Churches and parishes are not compelled to deposit their records into the Sydney Diocesan Archives, but they are welcome to do so. Many churches elect to deposit their records as a record managment solution to problems with lack of space, inadequate storage facilities, and lack of staff to address the proper care for the records, and to answer enquiries relating to the records.
Personal Papers
The Sydney Diocesan Archives holds a small collection of Personal Papers created by prominent clergy who were engaged in activities of personal interest by virtue of their office. However, personal, family and household records not directly connected with the work of the Diocese of Sydney are not held in this collection.
Schools
Most diocesan schools in the Diocese of Sydney have their own archives and employ their own archivists, and the school should be contacted directly.
The records of privately owned schools which were connected in some way with, but not owned by, the Church of England in this diocese are not held in the Sydney Diocesan Archives.
Library
The Sydney Diocesan Archives does not collect library material, and holds only a small selection of published works which have been donated to the Sydney Diocesan Archives.
Researchers should contact the Moore Theological College Library for all published works. The MTC Library website has a online searchable catalogue.
Moore Theological College Library telephone: +61 / 2 / 9577-9899
Moore Theological College Library website: Moore Theological College Library
The Sydney Diocesan Archives collection does include a small collection of journals and magazines directly connected with the Diocese of Sydney. However, the runs in these holdings are not complete and the Moore Theological College Library has far better holdings.
Photographs
The Sydney Diocesan Archives has only a small collection of photographs, which has not been entirely catalogued and many of which are as yet unidentified. A finding aid is not available for this collection.
We do not have a picture library, and cannot provide digital images of photographs. Due to funding limitations, the emphasis of the Sydney Diocesan Archives is upon business records.
The State Library of New South Wales has an excellent photographic collection, with an online searchable catalogue, “Manuscripts, Oral History and Pictures Catalogue” (formerly named PICMAN): ("A catalogue containing records of the manuscripts, oral history and pictures collections of the Mitchell Library, Sir William Dixson Research Library and Dixson Galleries catalogued since 1992.")
Manuscripts, Oral History and Pictures Catalogue
Audio-Visual Material
The Sydney Diocesan Archives holds a small collection of audio-visual material in a wide range of media. This collection has not yet been described and a finding aid is not available.
Museum Items
The Sydney Diocesan Archives has received a small number of museum items such as trowels, trophies, and other non-paper memorabilia.