21 Facts About Lionel Gilbert

Lionel Arthur Gilbert CF was an Australian historian, author, curator, lecturer, and biographer, specializing in applied, natural, and local history.

In 1963 Gilbert graduated from the University of New England with a Bachelor of Arts in History.

Lionel Gilbert attained a Doctor of Philosophy in Botanical History from the University of New England in 1972.

Lionel Gilbert was born in Burwood, a suburb of Sydney, on 8 December 1924.

In 1943, Lionel Gilbert enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force, joining 570 other Teachers College students who served in the armed forces during World War II, 68 of whom were killed during the conflict.

In 1955, Lionel Gilbert enrolled as an external student at the University of New England in the first class of the university's external studies program.

In July 1963, Lionel Gilbert accepted an appointment as lecturer in applied history and curator with the Armidale Teachers' College Museum of Education.

In 1974, Lionel Gilbert successfully requested an Innovations Grant from the Schools Commission to establish a Historical Resources Centre at the college.

Lionel Gilbert recalled in 2008 that between 1975 and 1978,5,758 primary or secondary pupils toured the museum on field trips.

In 1972, Lionel Gilbert was named chair of the school's newly formed Department of History.

Lionel Gilbert attained the position of Acting Deputy Principal for the college before retiring in June 1984.

In 1967, Lionel Gilbert assisted the National Trust of Australia and the Australian National University's Department of Adult Education with a series of lectures and exhibits on local history of the New England area.

In 1962, Lionel Gilbert succeeded Eric Dunlop as Honorary Curator of the Armidale City Council's Folk Museum, serving in the position until 1982.

In 1974, Lionel Gilbert joined William Patrick Driscoll, Alan Sutherland, and David Rose in publishing History Around Us: An Enquiry Approach to Local History, a book on historical research targeted at younger readers.

In 1980, two books by Lionel Gilbert were published: A Grave Look at History: Glimpses of a Vanishing Form of Folk Art and New England from Old Photographs.

Lionel Gilbert continued to write in retirement, often focusing on natural history.

Two years after its publication, Lionel Gilbert was appointed an Honorary Research Associate of the gardens.

Lionel Gilbert was a patron of the Australian National Museum of Education and a member of Australia's National Trust.

Lionel Gilbert was named a Fellow of the Society of Australian Genealogists in 1955, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Australian Historical Society in 1997, and a Fellow of the Federation of Australian Historical Societies in 2007.

Lionel Gilbert served as president of the Armidale and District Historical Society and has been honored with Freedom of the City of Armidale.

Lionel Gilbert died in Armidale on 28 January 2015 and was survived by his wife, daughter Anne, son-in-law Tony Bennett, and grandson Alexei.