VPRS 14741 General Subject Files

Full description

This is an artificially constructed record series comprising two folders.

It includes a List of Photographic Folders as at 11 February 1952 and Photograph Filing Instructions.

The List of Photographic Folders lists numbers with alpha suffixes (eg 1a, 1b, 2b, 6g etc) with a description of what each reference relates to. As an example, 9a refers to Avon River; 6g refers to Goorambat. It is to be determined what photographic folders the list relates to and whether they are extant. It is possible that the system was superseded. Upper Murray competition folders for 1949-1951, for example, are in VPRS 14740 Photographs
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This record is in the form of a foolscap size number of pages stapled to form a booklet. An interesting reference is to former Victorian Premier Henry Bolte and his property at Meredith.

The Photograph Filing Instructions are in the form of a memorandum sent from Soil Conservation Authority Field Officer A.J. Wallis to the Executive Officer on 8 March 1951 on the subject of Photograph Filing. He described indexing at that time, being both alphabetical and numerical. He mentioned that a third system of filing may be required to show Erosion Types, Structures, Control Methods etc. This system was, in fact, adopted as revealed in VPRS 14739 and VPRS 14740. The example he used to explain the system at the time indicates that the Photo Register was probably in existence at that time whereas the Index to Photographs was introduced later.

The Field Officer had a number of "suggestions for any person who may take over the photo filing" including the initial of the photographer being included with the caption. On the same date he supplied a Suggested List of Abbreviations. An examination of the photographs reveals that this suggestion met with some success.