Bio
Deborah Jordan is an independent historian, writer and research fellow with
thirty years experience in professional and academic work mainly in Australia.
She has extensive experience in researching and writing commissioned
histories, archival and oral history research, academic articles and teaching.
She is an Associate Researcher of the Global Change Institute at the University
of Queensland and secretary/treasurer of the Australasian Association for the
Study of Literature, Environment and Culture. She has recently completed
‘Theorising climate change narratives for the humanities in Australia: An
annotated bibliography’ for the University of Queensland. As long term
biographer of Vance and Nettie Palmer, Queensland’s pre-eminent, past
literary couple, she is working on a selection of their writings on SE
Queensland.
Skills and Services Offered
Women's history
Cultural and literary history
Historical research including commissioned histories and site specific heritage
research and significance assessments
Biographical research including commissioned life narratives, memoirs
Maritime and environmental history
Oral history and interviewing skills
Cultural heritage training, policy and education (especially maritime)
Educational and public outreach
Climate Change Cultural Strategies for Adaptation and Mitigation
Qualifications
B.A. (Hons), Grad Dip. Women’s Studies, PhD History
Publications and Experience

15 years as an academic historian

‘Climate Change Narratives in Australian Literature’ (research associate)
(2011-2012) Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, high level
research and analysis, bibliography, annotation.

Economies of Literary Fiction: the History of the University of Queensland
Press (research fellow) the University of West Sydney for the University of
Queensland (2008-2009) Archival research and academic writing

Between the Vance and Nettie Palmer: The complete correspondence
(research fellow) University of Queensland (2005-2007) Transcription,
editing, annotation, archival research.

15 years experience as a professional historian the public/private sector
including:

Brisbane City Town Hall Archaeological Project (2011), Report for
Context (Historical site research).

Thornside Primary Centenary History, (2011) archival search.

Centenary of Women’s Suffrage in Queensland, (2004) University of
Queensland (Historical research and writing).

Centenary of Federation, Women in Queensland, (1999) Historical
research.

Eastcoast Shipwrecks, Maritime heritage Unit, Melbourne Victoria
(1995) commissioned history, recommendations to National Heritage Estate.

Onkaparinga District Council, South Australian Centre for Settlement
Studies, University of South Australia, (1985) commissioned history,
business, local government, education histories.

5 years as a Writer, Arts/History Sector

‘Climate Change Narratives’ Conference Fund Arts Queensland’ (2012).

Vance and Nettie Palmer, Literature Board, Australia Council (2003-2004).

‘Australian Sea Lions’ SA Ministry of Arts, Literature Award (1996).

Publications Books/Government Reports

 (edited and selected with Carole Ferrier) Hibiscus and Ti-Tree Women in
Queensland, St Lucia: Hecate Press, 2009 (336p).

(edited and selected with Sarah Paddle) Lyn Jordan, There’s a Woman in the
House: A 1950’s Journey, Uki, N.S.W. Nadroj, 2002. (www.https//:nadroj.biz)

Nettie Palmer: Search for an Aesthetic, History Monograph, Uni. of Melbourne,
Melbourne 1999, East Coast Shipwrecks: A Thematic Historical Survey,
Maritime Heritage Unit, Heritage Victoria, 1996.

The World of Work in South Australia (Committee to Review Australian Studies
Tertiary Education report), National Centre for Research in Australian Studies,
Monash University, Melbourne 1992.

The History of the Independent Schools in South Australia (design Phil Heaton)
Independent Schools Steering Committee for the Jubilee 150 Hyde Park
Press, Adelaide 1986.

Articles/Chapters

 2011 ‘Heeding the Warnings : ‘Sucking up the Seas’ in Vance Palmer’s
Cyclone’ Etropic : Electronic Journal of Studies in the Tropics 10: 20-31.

2011 ‘The University of Queensland Press Archive: Poetry and Material
Culture’, Fryer Folios, June: 14-17.

2011 ‘Re-thinking Nature, Fact and Fiction: University of Queensland Press’
Environmental List 1965-1995’, International Journal of the Book, 8, 1: 121-134.

2010 ‘American Dreams and the University of Queensland Press’, in Robert
Dixon and Nicholas Birns (eds), Reading Across the Pacific Australia-United
States Intellectual Histories, Sydney: Sydney University Press: 323-338.

2010 ‘Emerging Black Writing and the University of Queensland Press’ chapter
in Robert Dixon and Katherine Bode (eds) Resourceful Reading: The New
Empiricism, eResearch and Australian Literary Culture, Sydney: Sydney
University Press: 156-175.

Mobile
0428 313 094
Email 2
deborah.jordan@monash.edu.au
Skills and expertise of PHAQ member

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