Hazel de Berg

Hazel Estelle de Berg MBE (21 March 1913 – 3 February 1984) was a pioneer of oral history in Australia. Between 1957 and 1983 she produced 1291 hour-long sound tape reels of interviews with writers, historians, artists, musicians and scientists.

Hazel de Berg

MBE
Born
Hazel Estelle de Berg

21 March 1913
Deniliquin, New South Wales, Australia
Died3 February 1984 (aged 70)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
EducationMethodist Ladies College
OccupationOral Historian
Known forInterviews with writers, historians, artist, musicians and scientists.

Biography

Hazel Estelle de Berg was born on 21 March 1913 in Deniliquin, New South Wales to George Robert Holland and Ann Holland (née McIntosh).[1] Her father was a Methodist minister, whose pastoral work led to the family moving around country New South Wales during de Berg's childhood, living in Cessnock[2] Cobar[2] Orange[3] and Kempsey[4] In 1928 the family moved to Sydney, where de Berg enrolled at Methodist Ladies’ College, Burwood and completed her Leaving certificate in 1932.[1] She then trained as a photographer and worked in a professional studio, while continuing to live at home with her parents.[1]

Career

In 1957 de Berg was asked by historian Frank Clune to record a book for a blind friend.[5] Using a reel-to-reel tape machine she recorded Dame Mary Gilmour's Old Day, Old Ways. She subsequently recorded an interview with Dame Mary for background information.[6]

At the outset de Berg worked as a volunteer. In 1960 she was offered a Commonwealth Grant.

In the 1968 New Year's Honours de Berg was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for "service to the collection of archival material".[7]

Personal

De Berg converted to Judaism and in 1941 married Woolf de Berg, a Lithuanian-born businessman. For more than ten years she dedicated herself to raising their children.[1] De Berg died at home in Sydney on 3 February 1984.[5] She was survived by her two daughters and son. Her husband predeceased her in 1981.[1]

Legacy

De Berg's collection of sound tape reels of interviews with writers, historians, artists, musicians and scientists is held by the National Library of Australia.[8]

In 1989 a directory of her work, The Hazel de Berg Recordings: From the Oral History Collection of the National Library of Australia, was published.[9] In reviewing it, Barry York called it a "unique and invaluable oral history source" for "Australian researchers, librarians, broadcasters, teachers, students and writers."[10]

References
  1. Powell, Graeme, "De Berg, Hazel Estelle (1913–1984)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 28 August 2020
  2. ""Far West" Circuit". Northern Times (135). New South Wales, Australia. 17 March 1917. p. 4. Retrieved 28 August 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "METHODIST ANNIVERSARY SERVICES". Western Champion (1, 542). New South Wales, Australia. 22 March 1923. p. 12. Retrieved 28 August 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "TELEGRAMS". The Macleay Chronicle (2462). New South Wales, Australia. 24 February 1926. p. 4. Retrieved 28 August 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Oral historian dies suddenly". The Canberra Times. 58 (17, 667). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 11 February 1984. p. 12. Retrieved 28 August 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "de Berg, Hazel Estelle". The Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  7. "Hazel Estelle de Berg". Australian Honours Search Facility, Dept of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  8. "De Berg Collection | National Library of Australia". www.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  9. National Library of Australia; Bowden, Tim, 1937-, (writer of introduction.); Horton, Warren, 1938-2003, (writer of foreword.); National Library of Australia (1989), The Hazel de Berg recordings from the oral history collection of the National Library of Australia, National Library of Australia, ISBN 978-0-642-10485-4CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. "An ear to history". The Canberra Times. 64 (20, 130). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 24 May 1990. p. 12 (GOOD TIMES). Retrieved 28 August 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
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