Submit an article

Provenance invites contributions on any subject. To be eligible for publication, articles must have been researched using original records held by Public Record Office Victoria or contain research that promotes a better understanding of the collection.

You can submit an article for consideration in the following sections:

• Peer reviewed article, a scholarly paper double blind refereed by experts in the field
• Forum article, a general paper based on your research findings or research journey, reviewed by our Editorial Board.

Submissions are encouraged from students, emerging scholars, community-based and family researchers, academics, and professional historians.

If you're interested in submitting to Provenance, or have any questions, please contact the editor at provenance@prov.vic.gov.au. 

Please read the author guidelines before submitting.

Next submission deadline: 29 July 2024

Next issue publication date: April 2025

See below for testimonials from some of our previous authors about what being published meant for them and their research. 

Testimonials

Catherine Gay
Matters of life and death: Girls' voices in nineteenth century coronial inquest files

Catherine Gay wrote about PROV's inquest records in the 2021 issue of Provenance:

"Writing for Provenance was a great experience for a first-time academic author. The opportunity to write an article devoted to PROV's archive allowed for deep engagement with the source materials, which led me to sources and conclusions I wouldn't have otherwise found. As an emerging historian, it was an invaluable opportunity that taught me how to convert my writing into a journal article. The peer-review and editing process offered insightful feedback, and I felt supported at every step." 

Read Catherine's article in Provenance...

Jennifer McNeice
Military exemption courts in 1916: A public hearing of private lives

Jennifer McNeice wrote about military exemption court records in the 2015 issue of Provenance:

"Writing for Provenance was a satisfying experience. It was an opportunity to share my interest in the fascinating WWI military exemption court records at Public Record Office Victoria. The writing process spurred me to learn more about the background and context of the records. When the article was accepted I appreciated the helpful and constructive editing. Publication of my article led to several speaking engagements, including a lecture at the National Army Museum in London."

Read Jennifer's article in Provenance...

James Kirby
Beyond failure and success: The soldier settlement on Ercildoune Road

James Kirby wrote about soldier settlement for the 2015 issue:

"My 2015 piece for Provenance was a crucial milestone in my development as an emerging scholar. For the first time, I learnt how to turn a research paper into a peer-reviewed journal article. The anonymous reviewers were tough. However, I was given ongoing support from the editors when responding to their suggestions and I was inspired to produce some of my best work. This became a fine template for submitting subsequent articles from my doctoral research. After publication, I was awarded the prize for 'Best Peer Reviewed Article' at the Victorian Community History Awards. Beyond an academic audience, my piece also became a work of public history. I was invited to give a talk in my research to the Burrumbeet Soldiers Memorial Hall Committee in the lead up to ANZAC Day earlier this year. My Provenance article has a prominent place in my CV, and I have been proud to mention it in fellowship proposals and at international academic conferences."

Read James's article in Provenance...

Miranda Francis
One woman's crèche is a bureaucrat's child-minding centre: "The Flat" at Footscray High School 1976-86

Miranda Francis wrote about the establishment of Footscray High School Crèche for the 2017 issue:

"If you work with records held by Public Record Office Victoria, please consider writing for Provenance. Always gratifying for an author, the articles are actually read - I had an email from an enthusiastic reader the day the issue went online. The Provenance editorial and communications teams are responsive and supportive. They work hard to promote Provenance widely - this took me to the ABC Radio studios in Southbank and a phone interview with a local newspaper. For a researcher these opportunities are golden, albeit nerve-wracking for a media novice. The radio interview prompted talk-back calls, texts and emails. This led me down unexpected research paths and interviews with women who have enriched my project enormously."

Read Miranda's article in Provenance...