Summary heading

Series A1200, Photographic negatives and prints, single number series with 'L' [Library] prefix.

Function and purpose

This series comprises photographic negatives and prints taken by the Department's photographers. It is a distinct example of Australian society captured from a specific perspective.

The subjects covered by this series are diverse and include the Australian Government’s post-war initiatives such as the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme and developments in industry including engineering, mining, manufacturing, farming, forestry, agriculture, fisheries and food production.

Other subjects include Australian flora, fauna, a wide range of indigenous aspects both Papua New Guinean and Aboriginal, cities and towns, sporting events and recreational activities.

Official content includes Parliament in session, diplomatic visits of foreign dignitaries and officials, the Queen’s royal visit to Australia and the Prime Minister, Governor General and other ministers attending various events.

Using the series

Some negatives from this series are not accessible for Preservation reasons. They have been digitised and are viewable online, using the National Archives RecordSearch and PhotoSearch databases.

Caption information from the prints has been added to existing descriptive information to form the best description online in the National Archives RecordSearch database. It is best to utilise RecordSearch to view images and find information in this series because it is the most comprehensive and detailed representation of this series in its entirety.

System of arrangement and control

The items in this series are controlled using a single running number with ‘L’ (Library) or ‘RL’ (Restricted Library) prefix.  The order of the single running number approximately relates to the chronological order of the items.

The content of the negatives that were considered sensitive by the agency were allocated the 'RL’ (Restricted Library)' prefix. The ‘L’ and 'RL' negatives were kept together in running number sequence for the purposes of retrieval and control.

Relationships with other records

Series A1200 comprises one of the largest photographic series housed within the National Archives collection and is part of the wider group of series originating from the Australian Overseas Information Service. Other related series currently in NAA custody include A1500, A1501, A6135, A6180, A8746 and A9126.

Finding aids

Other finding aids include the Registers (which can be identified through the ‘Controlling series’ section of the series links screen) and a keyword document which can be accessed by NAA staff on behalf of public researchers on request.

Series history

Established in the late 1940s as a general series when news and information was part of the function of the Department of Information (CA 34), the series coexisted with an earlier current system, 'Photographic Negatives and Prints, 'CU' series' (A1811) which ran from about 1946 onwards.

In 1950, the Australian News and Information Bureau (CA 219) was established under the Department of the Interior (CA 31). A new series was started in July 1953 and was known as 'Photographic negatives and prints, 'current' series, general' (A1805). This system was begun because the earlier 'CU' system had become too unwieldy.

By 1954, the 'L' series appears to have been reorganised into group collections of prints (VIP visits, particular projects and events) identified by a cover title with some top-numbering into the 'current' series (A1805).

By 1955, the 'CU' series (A1811) had been extracted and re-registered into either the 'current' series (A1805) for current actions or into the 'L' series (A1200) for general and recurring use. The following year, after a culling of 'current' negatives, all valuable material was incorporated into the 'L' series. After the destruction of the remainder, the 'current' series (CRS A1805) ceased to exist.

The International Public Affairs Branch of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade assumed control of this series following the abolition of CA 6785, Australian Overseas Information Service on 7 March 1994.