About school yearbooks
School yearbooks are created by schools or their students each year. They record and celebrate the events and activities from that school year.
Not all schools create year books. A small number of primary schools have produced yearbooks, but it has not been common. Yearbooks are mostly created by secondary and Prep to Year 12 schools. Schools are not legally required to create a yearbook.
The earliest yearbook we know of is from 1874.
Schools, archives and libraries may use different names for the same type of publication. These names include 'school yearbook' and 'school magazine'.
Why school yearbooks are important
School yearbooks are among the most useful school records. They can provide useful information to former students, family historians, and researchers. They can also be a valuable resource for victim-survivors.
A record of school culture
A yearbook can show a school’s culture. School culture is reflected in how the school presents itself publicly and what it values.
Yearbooks often feature different activities at the school, including:
- sports
- languages
- music
- social events
- academic and other achievements.
These details help to show what life was like for students and staff at the school during that year.
Yearbooks as sources of evidence
Yearbooks can provide evidence of many different parts of school life in a particular year. This can be very useful if other official records are missing. For example, they may:
- confirm a student’s enrolment
- list teachers and other staff
- include photographs of students and staff
- describe school camps, excursions and sporting events.
How to get a school yearbook
If a school is open
Contact the school directly to see if they can provide a copy of the relevant yearbook.
If the school cannot provide a copy, please see other locations.
If a school is closed
Contact the Department of Education’s Records team at archives.records@education.vic.gov.au.
Other locations
Public Record Office Victoria
Many yearbooks from open and closed schools have been transferred to the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV).
Search the PROV catalogue under the name of the school.
State Library Victoria
The State Library Victoria (SLV) has a large collection of school yearbooks.
SLV has guidance available on how to search for school yearbooks.
Sign-up as a State Library Victoria member so that you can order and look at yearbooks in the reading room in the SLV.
State Library Victoria holds collections of school yearbooks from over 250 schools.
Local historical societies, libraries, museums and former students
Local historical societies, libraries or museums may also hold yearbooks from local schools.
Former students might also have copies of school yearbooks from their time at school. Social media sites such as Facebook might have groups for ex-students that can be contacted.
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