This dataset contains the early research field notes (circa 1954) of anthropologist Dr Jeremy Beckett, consisting of handwritten notes, short stories and songs recorded in Kala Lagaw Ya and Meriam Mir, the languages of the Western, Central and Eastern Torres Strait Islands. The physical materials were deposited with AIATSIS, while ATSIDA retains preservation-quality digital copies of the collection.
Written summaries and additional contextual material have been prepared for a series of oral history audio recordings within the collection. These recordings are of interviews conducted in the 1990’s by Dr Beckett with Torres Strait Islander Elder Statesman Mr George Mye MBE, OAM, from the island of Erub (known as Darnley Island) in the Eastern Torres Strait Islands.
Access: Conditional. Please contact us for further information on how to access this dataset.