The collection tracks the origin, concept, history, planning, publication and achievements of the National Photographic Index of Australian Birds from 1966 until 1997, under the direction of Donald Trounson. The name changed to National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife in 1977, and continued under the general editorship of Ronald Strahan (succeeding Vincent Serventy) until its termination in 1994. The collection of nearly 5,000 photographs by some 250 contributors was created between 1969 and 1980, and is held at the National Library; and at the Australian Museum. Funded by public subscription, the Photographic Index operated as an independent enterprise headed by an all-state Trust under the chairmanship of Sir Percy Spender. The collection details publication proposals, trips, photographic records, archival plans, trustees and executive committee members, some minutes of meetings and agenda papers, staffing, publishers agreements, and details of parallel publications. A separate album contains photographs of Trounson; staff, office accommodation, trips into the Outback, displays at the National Library, and Trounson with Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser ... [et al.] at National Library functions for the Photographic Index. An additional file of articles by Trounson relating to the discovery of Australian parrots, and related correspondence 1987-2001.
