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Fact Sheet 7 

ABI - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Biographical Index

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What is the ABI?

 

How to search the ABI?

 

 

 

What is the ABI:

  • The ABI is a personal name index to published material held in the AIATSIS Library.
  • There are approximately 65 000 records in the ABI.
  • It is available to search online at http://mura.aiatsis.gov.au and is a part of Mura® the AIATSIS Library catalogue or by clicking here  

 

Materials indexed include:

  • Books including local histories as well as personal and family histories.
  • Journals: Current publications such as Deadly Vibe and Torres News; Ceased publications: Dawn and New Dawn, Australian Evangel, Identity, The Lutheran, the Australian Board of Missions Review and the Newsletter for the Aboriginal People of Victoria.
  • State government reports including Protector’s Reports.
  • Manuscripts, including name lists as indicated in the catalogue.

 

An example of an ABI record

ABI_record_small

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  • Call Number is the location of the serial on the Library shelf.
  • Personal name refers to the subject of the entry.  Michael Dodson is the subject of this record.
  • Source is the publication, which refers to him. It is the Aboriginal Law Bulletin, volume 2, no. 60, 1993, p 2. This information is important in finding the material or requesting a photocopy of the item.
  • To inquire about items in the ABI or to apply for a photocopy of an item, please contact Family History Unit Staff on 1800 730 129 (Freecall) or by email family@aiatsis.gov.au.
 
How to search the ABI:
  • Open the AIATSIS homepage, www.aiatsis.gov.au 
  • Click on Catalogue – found in the Library column 
  • Click on the Enter the catalogue link at the bottom of the screen. 
  • Choose Search Family History Resources at the top of the screen (shown in yellow below)

Small_search_FHU_screen_dump 

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  • Click on  Search ABI  from the menu box 

ABI_search_small

  • Click in Personal Name and type in a surname then a space and the first name (If you are not sure of the first name, you can type in just the surname.) 
  • At the bottom of the screen click on the search button with the mouse arrow.
  • To look at a full record, click on the details button along side it. 
  • The Source area of the record gives you the information you will need to find the item in the Library or to request a photocopy through the Family History Unit.

 

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 Updated: January 2008
 

 

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