UNESCO Australian Memory of the World
Four major University collections are inscribed onto the UNESCO Australian Memory of the World Program, which honours documentary heritage of significance for Australia and the world, and advocates for its preservation.
From unique records written by children in the Kaurna language, to records documenting the conception and foundation of the University, these significant collections from the University of Adelaide hold major cultural importance worthy of preservation and wider sharing through the online register.
Kaurna Children’s Letters (1840-1843)
The Kaurna Children’s Letters are three manuscript items in Kaurna language from the early nineteenth century. They were written by three children taught by Lutheran missionaries at a school established in 1839 close to what is now called the Torrens River in South Australia.
Collections of Professor Frank Fenner (1914-2010)
The collections of Professor Frank Fenner AC FAA FRS in the Australian Academy of Science, the Barr Smith Library in the University of Adelaide, and The Australian University Archives record the life and work of a distinguished Australian scientist.
Board for Anthropological Research Collections (1923-1974)
The Board for Anthropological Research Collections document approximately 5,500 Australian Indigenous people. The collections document both the history of Australian Indigenous people and the history of technology, instruments and methodology used in anthropological field survey research.
Registrar's Minutes, Correspondence, Reference Files, Registers & Indexes (1872-1924)
These records document the conception and emergence of tertiary education for a settlement of only 30,000 individuals. The Registrar's records are an irreplaceable primary source for the foundation and development of the University as a key educational and cultural institution of South Australia.
