True or false? Fakes, forgeries and forensics

Every great library has its mysteries, and the State Library is no exception. This lecture examines the shadowy history of dubious documents, ambiguous artefacts, mistaken identities and scholarly detective work. Join us to discover the contentious attributions, scandals and surprise verifications that demonstrate how fragile (and fascinating) the historical record can be.

This talk is part of a series curated by Mitchell Librarian Richard Neville, reflecting on the history of the State Library of NSW. From the founding stories of this iconic institution to its evolution across 200 years, the series examines how libraries collect, preserve and share knowledge, imagination and creativity across generations.