Colonialism and Its Aftermath (CAIA) is an interdisciplinary research centre based at the University of Tasmania.
It provides a forum for research, teaching, and scholarship in the fields of colonial and postcolonial studies, and facilitates interaction with the state’s leading cultural institutions, heritage and tourism industries, and the local community.
CAIA draws together humanities scholars for inter-disciplinary and collaborative work, including conferences, research field trips, grant applications, and work-in-progress seminars.
CAIA is a joint initiative between many schools in the Faculty of Arts: its members include independent researchers in addition to staff and postgraduate students from English, Journalism, and European Languages; History and Classics; Aboriginal Studies; Asian Languages and Studies; the Schools of Art; Architecture; and Philosophy. We regularly host international scholars on their visits to Australia, and we welcome contact with others interested in cognate fields.
CAIA has extensive national and international links with cognate research centres and associations.
Dr Mitchell Rolls,
Riawunna Centre
Email: Mitchell.Rolls@utas.edu.au
Cultural Environments and Heritage Projects 2013
The Cultural Environments and Heritage (CEH) Program is an exciting initiative of the Faculty of Arts and the Centre for Colonialism and its Aftermath, offering honours students the opportunity to work with material from a number of outstanding cultural institutions located within the extraordinary cultural environments of Tasmania. Each year, successful applicants undertake their honours research under the joint supervision of an academic from their home discipline and a specialist from the cultural institution.
We are pleased to announce the following CEH Projects for 2013 and to invite applications from eligible students:
The Hamilton Literary Society
Founded in 1889 by Lady Hamilton, wife of the Governor of Tasmania, the Hamilton Literary Society is the oldest continuing society of its kind in Australia. Its purpose is to foster an interest in the reading and writing of literature, and its membership—strictly limited to 30—has included literary luminaries such as the poet Gwen Harwood, and prolific novelist Hilda Bridges. Many of the original papers given by its members over the decades are housed in the Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office. The successful applicant/s for this project will use the archive to explore facets of the society’s long and intriguing history.
Partner institution: Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office
Discipline/s: Creative writing, English, gender studies
The life and work of Joan Wise
Between the 1950s and 1970s, Tasmanian writer Joan Wise published poems, short stories and children’s novels. But both the writer and her works, including the books Trapped on Tasman, The Silver Fish and The Blue Star, are largely unknown by today’s reading public. Working from Wise’s publications, as well as a selection of family papers, the successful applicant will piece together an understanding of this little known author’s life and works.
Partner institution: Morris Miller Library
Discipline/s: English
Curiouser and curiouser: the Radcliffe and Ward Collections
The Radcliffe and Ward Collections, many items from which are held at the Port Arthur Historic Site, were “curiosity” collections whose disparate contents included everything from leg irons to sewing machines, Pompeii stones to a Tasmanian emu leg, and Staffordshire crockery to hand cuffs. A history student taking up this project may explore such questions as: how were these collections amassed, how were they themed, and how were they financed? What can be learned about the collectors themselves, their interests and their aims? A creative writing student, on the other hand, may produce works of short fiction or creative non-fiction that respond to a selection of Radcliffe and/or Ward Collection items and their histories.
Partner institution: Port Arthur Historic Site
Discipline/s: History, creative writing
Port Arthur Medical Records
The Port Arthur Historic Site has recently acquired copies of detailed medical records relating to convict health in the penal settlement in the 1860s. The records incorporate patient lists, doctors’ reports, prescription information and details of hospital admissions. An analysis of these records, together with an examination of information relating to the design and construction of the “new” Port Arthur hospital (completed in 1842), would yield fascinating insights into medical treatment in the convict system of the time.
Partner institution: Port Arthur Historic Site
Discipline/s: History
Reading at Port Arthur
“Account books,” writes novelist Hilary Mantel, “form a narrative as engaging as any tale of sea monsters or cannibals.” Awaiting attention in the Port Arthur Historic Site archive is the account book for the Port Arthur Subscription Library and Reading Room, covering the period 1860-1877 and including records of library loans, as well as donations and fines. Who was using the library, and what were they reading? Did convicts and officers have similar access to books, and how much would a fine set you back? The successful applicant for this project will transcribe and analyse the account book in order to extract insights about borrowing and reading practices at the Port Arthur Library.
Partner institution: Port Arthur Historic Site
Discipline/s: History, English
Additional Information
Generous scholarships are available for this program. For information about scholarships supporting the Cultural Environments and Heritage Program projects please visit the University Scholarships Office: http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/scholarships/
Please note that you must also complete an application with the Scholarship’s Office as well as the CEH application if you wish to be considered for one of the Honours’ Scholarships associated with the CEH program.
Information about CAIA’s Cultural Environments and Heritage (CEH) Program, along with the experiences of past students and details of projects from previous years is available at http://colonial.arts.utas.edu.au/cehhomepage.html
If you wish to apply for this program please contact CAIA.centre@utas.edu.au for an application form.
Please return your completed application to:
The Centre for Colonialism and its Aftermath
Faculty of Arts, University of Tasmania
Private Bag 44
Hobart TAS 7001
Email: CAIA.centre@utas.edu.au
Please note applications must be received by COB on Wednesday 31 October 2012