Cultural Sensitivity Warning
It is a condition of use of the cultural components of the Museum Archives that users ensure that any disclosure of information contained in this collection is consistent with the views and sensitivities of Indigenous people. Users are warned that there may be words and descriptions that may be culturally sensitive and which might not normally be used in certain public or community contexts. Users should also be aware that some records document research into people and cultures using a scientific research model dating from the first half of the twentieth century, and depicts people as research subjects in ways which may today be considered offensive. Some records contain terms and annotations that reflect the author's attitude or that of the period in which the item was written, and may be considered inappropriate today in some circumstances. Users should be aware that in some Indigenous communities, hearing names of deceased persons might cause sadness or distress, particularly to the relatives of these people. Furthermore, certain totemic symbols may also have prohibitions relating to the age, initiation and ceremonial status or clan of the person who may see them. Records included may be subject to access conditions imposed by Indigenous communities and/or depositors. Users are advised that access to some materials may be subject to these terms and conditions that the Museum is required to maintain.
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Ngadlu tampinthi ngadlu Kaurna Miyurna yartangka. Munaintya puru purruna ngadlu-itya. Munaintyanangku yalaka tarrkarriana tuntarri.

We acknowledge we are on Kaurna Miyurna land. The Dreaming is still living. From the past, in the present, into the future, forever.

Family history

The Aboriginal family history unit was established in 1988 with the sole purpose of making the South Australian Museum's archival material available to Aboriginal family history researchers. We provide a confidential and professional genealogy research service to assist the Aboriginal people researching their family history.

Mapping family is a guide for Australian Aboriginal people derived from the genealogies and data cards recorded during the Harvard and Adelaide Universities, Board for Anthropological Research (BAR) expeditions in South Australia, 1938–1939. Mapping Family also includes expeditions undertaken to areas within South Australia between 1923-1963.

The guide is primarily an index of names – the Name Index and is available as a publication in hardcopy and a downloadable PDF. In addition to the Name Index, each of the original genealogies for South Australia have been reproduced in RootsMagic, a genealogy software that can be made available to family history researchers as an app, or by other means.

Its purpose is to provide information about the location of these records held in the South Australian Museum Archives and to assist Aboriginal people to link up with family and community. As well as a valuable tool for family history researchers, this resource can be utilised to grow family trees, incorporating successive generations into the future.

There are approximately 100 collections listed online. To see the full list of collections please click here.

Before contacting the South Australian Museum Archives or Family History teams please search the archives that are available here.

You can find out more about making a Family History application processes by clicking on this link.

If you wish to submit a family history application, please fill in the family history application form and/or contact Family History staff.

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