Paranormal Research: National Library of Australia’s TROVE (Part 3)

Referencing on Trove

Prior posts on this topic: 

Paranormal Research: The Manning Index of South Australia 

Paranormal Research: National Library of Australia’s TROVE (Part 1) – Basic Search

Paranormal Research: National Library of Australia’s TROVE (Part 2) - Advanced Search 

It is essential that researchers and writer in the paranormal field reference their work. Not only does this stop criticism from potential sceptics, as you can show where ideas and events are sourced from, it also stops plagiarism. Plagiarism is already rife in the field, and the more we stop it, the less infighting we will have.

Another valid point, that I am very vocal about on social media, is referencing our writing, showing our legitimate sources lends credence and respect to the field. It shows those in the scientific and research fields that we are serious about finding the truth about whatever it is we are researching. That we are more than just pseudoscience. 

So whether you are planning on writing a book or blog about ghosts, it is essential that you reference the materials you use in your research. It proves what you are talking about was reported widely. It proves you are not making the story up yourself, but it also proves you are not stealing the original work, word for word, or even worse, changing the story to fit your own narrative, as so many tour groups in this field are guilty of doing. 

Referencing is a standard convention within the academic and professional research communities, which is designed to inform the reader of the sources of information used in a piece of written work. 

There are several referencing systems in common use, with certain systems being preferred in different academic disciplines., my preferred styles are Chicago and Australian Harvard. I tend to lean more toward Chicago style now, and use extensive footnoting. (which we will get to in another blog post) 

There are two parts to every referencing system (or footnoting): 

1. The “in-text reference”; a reference to a source of information placed within the body of the work. 

In text Referencing Example: “Doyle write about looking for a Skeleton on Rundle Street. (The Register, 1921).” 

2. The “reference list”; a list of all sources referred to in the work, located at the end of the work. (A slight variation is the Bibliography). 

Luckily for us, Trove makes things a simple for referencing. 

If we search a newspaper story on Trove. You will find on the left-hand side are several symbols. The first is an information symbol, this is where Trove cites the work for you. Most of the time the 3rd citation down is Harvard. 

So, you can copy and paste, or write it down as is, and add it in your Reference List/Bibliography or in-text referencing: 

(Harvard Example)

‘1921 'GHOSTS AND SKELETONS', The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 25 February, p. 3. , viewed 05 May 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55150338

Because of the layout of Blogger, I cannot add the content of this talk in its entirety in one blog post. This transcript was originally presented as an interactive video presentation at the City Library in Adelaide and does not transcribe well to this format. 

© 2017 - Allen Tiller - originally presented by Allen Tiller as part of the 'Haunted Buildings in Adelaide' - Paranormal historian in residence project at the Adelaide City Libraries in conjunction with the City of Adelaide.

Paranormal Research: National Library of Australia’s TROVE (Part 2) - Advanced Search

Paranormal Research: National Library of Australia’s TROVE (Part 1)

"Advanced Search"

Prior post on this topic:

Manning Index of South Australia

Trove Part 1

Head to Trove at this location: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/search?adv=y

Now, just under the search window is a couple of checkboxes, which let us search Australian content only or through library holdings, but let's go to the last option though, 'Advanced Search'.

This search window allows us to search in another way that can be much more helpful than basic newspaper search.

 In the top search box:  “All of these words” window, lets type in “Adelaide Arcade” in inverted commas.

In the box “Any of these Words” window lets type in 'Murder, Suicide, death, crime' – then hit search

Trove has now searched every newspaper in its catalogue for the term 'Adelaide Arcade', and the terms we used. As you will see in your results, there is now a ton of deaths, crimes and suicides to look through for this one location – including the death of Sydney Byron Kennedy and a number of others.

For the murder of Florence Horton, which happened at the Rundle Mall end of The Adelaide Arcade, we would change our search to “Rundle Street” instead of "Adelaide Arcade" in inverted commas, as her death, and subsequent haunting of the Arcade were reported as a crime on the street rather than in the Arcade.

Let’s just jump back to our Advanced search window, in the top search "All of these words" write “Adelaide” in inverted commas, in the “Any of these words” section type;  'ghosts, paranormal.' Now in our “Without these words” window we will type;  'theatre, movie'. then press "search"

We’ll refine a little more by selecting South Australia from our “place” limiter and now we have a ton of reports of ghosts, and UFO’s from South Australia.

If we scroll down to number 8 “Ghosts and Skeletons” you will see one of the stories I used, as a jump-off point for more research for my book The Haunts of Adelaide, which involves Sir Arthur Conan Doyle looking for a photo of a skeleton displayed in Rundle Street Adelaide.

As you can see we get a lot of newspaper stories, some are about published poems, but many are local ghost sightings.

Next Week: How to Reference your book, blog or writing using Trove.

Because of the layout of Blogger, I cannot add the content of this talk in its entirety in one blog post. This transcript was originally presented as an interactive video presentation at the City Library in Adelaide and does not transcribe well to this format.

 Next week I will look at Advanced searching options on Trove.

© 2017 - Allen Tiller - originally presented by Allen Tiller as part of the 'Haunted Buildings in Adelaide' - Paranormal historian in residence project at the Adelaide City Libraries in conjunction with the City of Adelaide.