Institutions Photo Album Heritage Project, Christian Brothers, Western Australia

The Christian Brothers Former Resident and Student Photographs series includes
Photo albums containing photographs of boys at the four institutions – Clontarf, Castledare, Bindoon and Tardun. Many students have been identified in these albums. There is a group of photos called “Departure” which contain groups of child migrants from Malta and the UK before departure. It is believed these albums were compiled in 2004. Start and end dates of this series are estimates only. Most range between 1940-1960. There are 5 photo albums.

Access Conditions

People (and their relations) who spent time in ‘care’ with the Christian Brothers will generally be able to access or obtain a copy of records relating to their (or their relations) time in ‘care’. To protect the privacy of people who spent time in ‘care’ the Christian Brothers may request proof of identity or relation in some circumstances before access to records or copies of records will be provided. In some cases original documents will be made available.

The photographs fall into three main categories:

• School class or group photographs
• Photographs of people who have been identified by name
• Photographs of people who have not been identified

Many, but not all, of the school class or group photographs include a caption with students’ names as originally printed. Class photos are only available for Clontarf, and only some years or classes. The Clontarf Junior Certificate class photos are available for the all years from 1953 to 1971 (except for 1957).

Other photographs include the names of people as identified by volunteers several decades after the photos were taken. There are also photographs in which no students or former residents are as yet identified. These are sorted into approximate decades or activities such as farming, sports, school plays, etc.