MS MAUREEEN FERRIS – Dip Museum Practice, MAAGRA

TYPE OF RESEARCHER: Record Agent

RESEARCH SPECIALITY: Convict/Criminal, Cemeteries, Family History & Trees, Genealogist Charts, Local History, Newspapers

GEOGRAPHICAL SPECIALITY: Tasmania

RESEARCHER BASED IN: Tasmania

For over four decades, my professional endeavors have been centered around researching Tasmanian history, with a particular emphasis on East Coast history. My work has been acknowledged through the publication of multiple books and participation in the panel of the Tasmanian Family History Society’s publication “Tasmanian Ancestry.” In collaboration with fellow researchers, I have undertaken extensive indexing of Tasmanian church registers and have amassed a substantial collection of photographs of Tasmanian churches.

In 2010 I complete my Diploma of Museum Practice CUL50204 while working as Curator of the East Coast Heritage Museum. After 15 years of service, I retired as the Curator in December 2022, in order to dedicate my efforts to personal projects.

​Presently, I hold the position of Senior Vice President and Research Officer at the Glamorgan Spring Bay Historical Society, and have previously served as its President, while also serving as a member of the publishing committee. I am an active member of various historical societies such as the Tasmanian Family History Society Inc.  Tasmanian Historical Research Association, the Female Convict Research Centre, Digital History Tasmania, Launceston Historical Society, and the newly formed Launceston History Centre. In addition, I am a member of the Irish and Glasgow Historical Groups. I have under-taken a course on ‘How to Research Your House’ and an archaeology surveying course, helping out with the ‘dig’ at the Triabunna Barracks.

​In 2007, I had the privilege of being featured on SBS’s ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ Australian series (Kate Ceberano), and in 2013, I was a guest on the BBC series ‘Coast Australia’ with Neil Oliver. I was a consultant on the BBC’s ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ (Anne Reid) and other research for WDYTYA and provided my expertise to Dr. John Carter, a Canadian historian, on North American Political Prisoners.

​I am actively involved in administering several Facebook groups and pages related to Tasmania, including Tasmanian Genealogy and History, Tasmanian Convicts, and Tasmanian Pictorial Church Index. Additionally, I manage my personal page, Maureen Martin Ferris.