On the 35th anniversary of the publication of Struggletown: Public and Private Life in Richmond 1900–1965, this article explores the reception of the book and its subsequent impact on Australian historiography. In undertaking this project, author Janet McCalman drew upon strands of social history, women’s history, oral history and urban history, and indeed the book has continued to influence the further development of these sub-disciplines. In the tradition of oral history research – which draws upon collaboration and dialogue to develop historical knowledge – I have interviewed McCalman about her experiences of writing Struggletown and invited the perspectives of a group of influential Australian historians. From a modest birth in 1984, the book was received with widespread acclaim and has entered the ranks of works that outlive the time of their publication and continue to influence scholars decades after they are created.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	history, historiography, oral history, women's history, urban history, public history, Australian history, social history
Research Division:	History, Heritage and Archaeology
Research Group:	Historical studies
Research Field:	Australian history
Objective Division:	Culture and Society
Objective Group:	Understanding past societies
Objective Field:	Understanding Australia's past
UTAS Author:	Pascoe Leahy, C (Dr Carla Pascoe Leahy)
ID Code:	148735
Year Published:	2019
Deposited By:	History and Classics
Deposited On:	2022-02-04
Last Modified:	2022-03-17
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