AJCP at the Flinders University Library

The Flinders University Library at Bedford Park is the only repository in South Australia with the full collection of the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) and the NSW State Archives Resource Pack (about 10000 microforms) which is a significant aid for family historians and is particularly useful for pre 1850 research.

The AJCP material consists of material relating to Australia copied from mainly English repositories with the majority of material being from The National Archives at Kew formerly known as the Public Record Office.

The project was the result of collaboration between the Mitchell Library and the National Library started in 1945 to microfilm all the records in the then Public Record Office (PRO) in London which related to Australia. In 1960, the project was broadened to include private papers and material relating to businesses, missionary societies, county records and other miscellaneous material, all relating to Australia and our region. The project was completed in 1993, and the complete collection contains approximately 10,000 microfilm reels of material dating from 1560 to 1975.

For purposes of arrangement and description, the AJCP material is sorted into two series: the PRO series and the Miscellaneous Series.
Public Records Office (PRO) Series
This series contains the records of the Colonial Office and later, the records of the Dominion Office. Almost 40% of all AJCP film is taken up by the despatches, correspondence, letter books and registers, dating from 1788 to 1951, of these two departments.
Miscellaneous Series (M Series)
Collections of private records range from those of the British Library and the National Libraries of Wales, Scotland and Ireland to university libraries, county record offices, museums, missionary societies, business archives and papers held by private families and individuals.

If you intend to use this material extensively you should consider purchasing the handbooks which will enable you to plan your research in advance. The handbook is available from the National Library of Australia.