'Bob Sharman died peacefully in Hobart on 28 August 2018, just short of 90 years old. Providing an account of his life and achievements is, for us, a sad and important task. We knew him as a friend and professional colleague. As well, one of us shared his strong interest in Tasmanian history and the challenges of leading an archival organisation, while the other was one of his students when he lectured at the Canberra College of Advanced Education in 1971 and was on the ASA Council in the early 1990s when he was its Treasurer.' (Introduction)