Cricket and the Beechworth Asylum, 1910–1915: A collective biography

Prosopography, otherwise known as collective biography, is a method that has been widely used by historians but is less well known as a sociological research technique. In this article, we review definitions and uses of prosopography, its advantages and limitations. We describe steps in the method with reference to a study of the Beechworth Asylum cricket team in rural Victoria, Australia, and show the extent of members’ involvement with activities in the town. Prosopography is shown to be a useful tool for sociological research, while findings of the study add to the limited literature about staff in Australian asylums.