Graeme Powell - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Graeme Powell

Journal of Pacific History, Oct 1, 1983

The Journal of Pacific History, 1983

Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 1991

On 3 December 1965 the papers of Alfred Deakin were formally presented to the National Library by... more On 3 December 1965 the papers of Alfred Deakin were formally presented to the National Library by his eldest daughter, Ivy Brookes. His other daughters, Lady Rivett and Lady White, were present at the ceremony. In accepting the papers on behalf of the Library, Sir Robert Menzies described Deakin as the greatest Prime Minister in Australia's history. He added that he did not compare himself with Deakin either as a statesman or as a preserver of personal papers 1 • The role of Deakin as a 'preserver of papers' had long been recognized by the staff of the Library. One of the principal librarians, CA Burmester, described the Deakin Papers as 'the most important collection of papers ever to come to the Library'. Rankings can be invidious, but in the last 25 years no other collection has received more use or aroused such enthusiasm among researchers. The papers document many of the major political events and movements in the period 1875-1915 and the life and thoughts of one of the most gifted and intriguing men in Australian history. The acquisition of the papers was a triumph for the Library but it was not achieved easily. An outline of the process by which the Deakin Papers eventually came to be housed in the Library illustrates some of the problems faced in acquiring manuscripts and personal papers and the methods used by Library staff to overcome such problems. Deakin died on 7 October 1919. By a codicil in his will, ownership of his papers passed to his daughter Ivy and her husband Herbert Brookes, although the papers remained in the home of Pattie Deakin until her death in 1934. The first Commonwealth Parliamentary Librarian, Arthur Wadsworth, had been a pupil of Deakin at All Saints Grammar School at St Kilda and had known him for 40 years 2 • He was in touch with Brookes in the early 1920s, but does not seem to have discussed the possible interest of the Library in the Deakin Papers. Wadsworth's successor, Kenneth Binns, was a more ambitious and acquisitive librarian. In the 1930s he spoke to Thomas White of his hopes that the Deakin Papers would eventually be placed in the Library. White, a federal politician, was married to Vera, Deakin's youngest daughter, but it was well known that the Brookes and the Whites were not on speaking terms. In 1937 Binns made the first formal approach, writing to Deakin's three sons-in-law. He referred to the recent acquisition of the papers of Sir Littleton Groom, which included over 70 letters of Deakin, and stated that for the benefit of future historians the papers of all the great figures in the federation movement should be held in one institution. White and David Rivett responded sympathetically, but the decision rested with Herbert Brookes. In a brief reply he promised that Binns' suggestion would be remembered when the ultimate destiny of the papers was decided, but 'that time in our judgement has not arrived'.

Graeme Powell recounts his meeting with Christina Stead in 1975; Stead subsequently decided to be... more Graeme Powell recounts his meeting with Christina Stead in 1975; Stead subsequently decided to bequeath her manuscripts and papers to the National Library of Australia

Archives & Manuscripts, Nov 1, 1984

The 1982-83 official annual report of the Australian Joint Copying Project has been amended and s... more The 1982-83 official annual report of the Australian Joint Copying Project has been amended and slightly expanded in order to give readers an insight into one year' s activities. In April 1981 the Review of Commonwealth Government Functions Committee recommended severe reductions in the staff of the Australian High Commission in London. Among the proposed victims were the two officers who worked full-time for the Australian Joint Copying Project. In the months that followed most of the activities of the Project had to be curtailed, while in Australia archivists, librarians and historians urged the Government to reject this proposal of the 'Razor Gang'. After a long period of uncertainty, a reprieve was announced and the A. J.C.P. was able to resume the task which it had been carrying out continuously since 1948. In view of the threatened dissolution of the A.J.C.P. in 1981. it is satisfying to report that the Project has regained its momentum. In fact, 1982/83 was an exceptionally productive year. On the searching side, some useful classes were examined at the Public Record Office, while collections were listed at two of the national libraries, several county record offices and university libraries, and some distinguished learned societies. On the filming side, a total of 365 reels were produced, comprising 199 reels in the Public Record Office Series and 166 reels in the Miscellaneous Series. This was possibly a record figure, as the Project has always aimed at about 200 reels a year. There was also a fairly good balance between the different categories of records filmed-political, legal, military, convict, emigrant, shipping, missionary and scientific. At the Public Record Office, where records are now open to 1953. the A.J.C.P. has moved decisively into the twentieth century. Most of the classes searched or filmed during the year contained relatively modern records. They included Admiralty papers, dealing particularly with Australian defence in the inter-war years (Adm. 1 16), despatches and papers concerning the involvement of the Dominions in World War I (C.O. 616). Dominions Office Confidential Prints (D.O. 114), and private

Archives & Manuscripts, Aug 1, 1976

Archives & Manuscripts, Nov 1, 1971

Twenty five years ago the Commonwealth National Library and the Mitchell Library agreed to microf... more Twenty five years ago the Commonwealth National Library and the Mitchell Library agreed to microfilm all the documents in the Public Record Office in London relating to Australia. At the same time it was decided that the two libraries should cooperate in the filming of records in archives, libraries, societies and in private possession throughout the British Isles, and ultimately in Europe, although priority would be given to the Public Record Office material. The geographical coverage of the Australian Joint Copying Project, as it came to be called, was later extended to take in New Zealand, the Pacific, Antarctica, and part of South East Asia. The Project, which is likely to continue for many more decades, has produced over 4,600 reels of film, that is, over five million pages of manuscripts, and partial or complete sets of the film have been acquired by libraries in New Zealand, Fiji, and Hawaii, as well as in every State of Australia. 1. See J.M. Ward. Historiography, in A.L. McLeod, ed. The Pattern of Australian culture.

Archives & Manuscripts, Feb 1, 1974

Archives & Manuscripts, Nov 1, 1983

This article discusses some of the difficulties faced by British libraries and record offices in ... more This article discusses some of the difficulties faced by British libraries and record offices in participating in the long-established and flourishing market in manuscripts and personal papers. Rising prices have led to a high degree of cooperation between repositories, some questioning of traditional methods of acquisition, and a greater reliance on external sources, both public and private, for assistance with manuscript purchases. In 1976 the archivist of Winchester College resigned in protest against the proposed sale of the most famous document in his archives, the 15th century manuscript of Sir Thomas Malory's Morte d' Arthur. The governors of the college, who intended to use the money to create scholarships, were unmoved by his noble gesture and proceeded to sell the manuscript to the British Library for £150,000.' In 1980 a learned society followed the Winchester example, with even more spectacular results. Faced with serious financial problems, the Royal Asiatic Society decided to part with a 14th century manuscript, the World History of Rashid al-Din, which had been bequeathed to the society in 1841. Again there were protests, again to no avail. At a Sotheby auction the manuscript was bought by a Swiss dealer for the remarkable price of £935.000. These two incidents illustrate the tendency of individuals, families and private institutions in Britain to alleviate their financial difficulties by selling manuscripts and personal papers. In recent years there have been a large number of sales, by both public auction and private treaty, in which manuscripts or personal archives have been sold for sums exceeding £50,000. The sales have often been well-publicised and have encouraged owners to adopt a much more mercenary attitude towards their family papers, including papers deposited in local record offices. The sales have also provoked a vigorous and at times acrimonious debate about the disposal and dispersal of historical records. At meetings of historians and archivists, in articles and letters in newspapers, and even in the House of Commons, arguments and counter-arguments have been advanced about the preservation of the national heritage, the needs of historians, the rights

An admirable biographical summary by his former deputy, C. A. Burmester, was published last year,... more An admirable biographical summary by his former deputy, C. A. Burmester, was published last year,' and a calm objective and thor oughly documented assessment of his very considerable contribution to Australian librarianship will doubtless soon appear. As for any study of his role in Australian archival development, we may expect that this will eventually followas a fitting echo of the sequence of so much else which grew from the rib of librarianship in the days before the ASA. Even so, Sir Harold was proud of his record in the archives field, and we may note that particularly after his retirement as National Librarian in 1970, characteristically he was concerned that his work be accorded due recog nition. Bob Sharman for example has related how he was taken to task at the LAA 50th anniversary celebrations in 1987for apparently not giv ing adequate emphasis to his and the National Library' s pivotal role in directing the attention of governments and librarians to the importance of archives!2 It was also in 1987 that, in connection with some research on archival history, the editor received an hour-long phone call from him detailing his role in apparently single-handedly having Dr Schellenberg visit Australia in 1954 as well as in earlier developments such as the drafting of the Tasmanian Public Records Act of 1943. For immediate purposes, this Journal acknowledges Sir Harold's early quite advanced writing on archives (early and advanced for Aus tralia that is); his long participation on the Commonwealth Archives Committee; his involvement with branches of the Business Archives Council of Australia, including a Vice-Presidency with the Victorian Branch; and his vigorous and single-minded efforts to obtain and defend the National Library's role in acquiring government and business records, one episode in which MichaelSaclier has recently revealed.3 His competitive zeal in the 1950s associated with the National Library's assumption of the Guide to Pre-Federation Archives project, and associ ated with the Paton inquiry into, inter alia, the Library' s role beyond that of provisional national archives, have also been documented. His membership of the Archives Section of the Library Association of Aus tralia, support of the Australian Joint Copying Project, and contribution

Oral history association of Australia journal, 1978

The International Oral History Conference, which was also the Oral History Society's annual c... more The International Oral History Conference, which was also the Oral History Society's annual conference, was organised in the following sessions. (i) Women's history and family history. (ii) The industrial working class. (iii) The artisan and the small master. (iv) Democratic history. (v) Discussion groups. (vi) Rural history. (vii) The Old World and the New. (viii) Fascism and the Resistenc'e. From one to five papers were given in each session.

A letter from the pen of Mr John Metcalfe, former Principal Librarian of the Public Library of Ne... more A letter from the pen of Mr John Metcalfe, former Principal Librarian of the Public Library of New South Wales, printed elsewhere in this issue (letters, p. 17) comments on the use of the term "Commonwealth National Library", and takes issue with Mr Powell, the author of this present article, for his use of that term in an article in Archives and Manuscripts volume 4, no. 5, November 1971, entitled "Origins of the Australian Joint Copying Project." Though the Editor defers to the wide experience and detailed knowledge of Mr Metcalfe in other matters, he must confess to being unrepentant in this question of the name "Commonwealth National Library" when used in reference to the institution which became the National Library of Australia in 1960. It is true, of course, that "Commonwealth National Library" had no basis in statute.However, the term is justified by usage. Its adoption is consistent with other editorial practices of the journal; for instance, the term "Queensland State Archives" has no statutory justification, but refers to an institution the reality of which can be guaranteed. Editor The Administration of the Project In the early years of this century the Commonwealth National Library and the Public Library of N.S.W. had taken the initiative in building up strong collections of primary source materials on the history of Australia and also in copying and publishing British records relating to Australia. The common interest of the two libraries in the collecting of historical records was finally recognized when, in October 1945, they drew up an agreement which has formed the basis of the Australian Joint Copying Project up to the present day. The agreement stipulated that the National Library and the Public Library ofN.S.W.

'The Miners in the Modern World' was the theme of a conference organized jointly by the O... more 'The Miners in the Modern World' was the theme of a conference organized jointly by the Oral History Society, Llafur (Society for the Study of Welsh Labour History) and the South Wales Area of the National Union of Mineworkers. It was held at Swansea, a few miles from the Afan, Rhondda, Aberdare and Neath valleys, and the men from the valleys dominated the main sessions of the Conference. They did not encourage academic discussions of the value and techniques of oral history, and, quite justifiably, much of the talk was concentrated on the modern world: pit closures, mechanization, pay rates, accidents, the leadership of the Union and the relations between its branches, the energy crisis, uranium mining, and the iniquities of the National Coal Board and the Thatcher Government. Labour historians were given more opportunities to speak about their research at the various workshops and those interested in the written and oral records of the coalminers were given a tour of the South Wales Miners Library, which was established in 1973 within the University College of Swansea. Even so, some oral historians at the Conference felt that, like a small craft union, they were being crushed by the power of the miners.

The majority of British oral historians are concerned with aspects of local history. Each issue o... more The majority of British oral historians are concerned with aspects of local history. Each issue of the journal Oral History records the establishment of new projects focused on the history of particular countries, districts, towns, parishes, villages and even streets. In the last decade a variety of institutions, such as county libraries, local museums, polytechnics, the School of Scottish Studies, the Welsh Folklore Museum and the School of Manchester Studies have sponsored local histories based on oral sources. A plethora of oral history groups and workshops, often bearing the radical name of 'people's histories', have been set up in towns and in the suburbs of London and other cities. Above all, a large number of individuals have concentrated on small geographical areas, partly due to the logistics of interviewing. Most of the work of George Ewart Evans was done in East Anglia and other well-known oral historians have followed his example: Ronald Blythe with a Suffolk...

Constitution once again. It was proposed that the Common-Y/ealth should have power to deal with "... more Constitution once again. It was proposed that the Common-Y/ealth should have power to deal with "industrial matters", including labour, employment and unemployment, the terms and conditions of labour in any industry or occupation, and industrial disputes. The Government would only be granted the additional powers for three years, by which time a Constitutional Convention would be held. Despite qualified Labour Party support, the proposal was rejected at a referendum in October, 1919.^ Hughes was forced to turn once again to legislation. In 1920 three important measures passed through the Federal Parliament. The Arbitration (Public Service) Act empowered the Government to appoint a Public Service Arbitrator who would deal with the plaints of the Commonwealth public service unions. The Act was intended to relieve some of the congestion in the Arbitration Court and was part of a general attempt to introduce an element of expertise into industrial regulation. The 1920 Arbitration Act provided for the appointment of an unspecified number of Deputy Presidents. TYJO other sections were strenuously opposed by the Labour Party. It extended the definition of "strike" and "lockout" to include an ujireasonable refusal to accept or give work. Secondly, in future only the Full Court, and not just the President, could increase standard hours or reduce them to less than 48 a week. 1. Knowles. op.cit. pp.257-60 barrister's ability to take in rapidly the main points in a brief, so that he could speak with complete assurance on almost any topic. In 1918 he had known little about arbitration, but by 1920 he was addressing Parliament on the subject,^ and even at this stage he managed to avoid the hackneyed phrases of the employers. In fact, despite his Flinders Lane background, his relations with employers were•sometimes strained and he was always more courteous to union leaders. Employers might find Bruce arrogant and insulting, unionists might be irritated by his English accent and aloof manner, but both sides admired the ease with which he distinguished the essential questions at issue in an industrial dispute. Within Bruce's ov/n department there was no-one who could give him expert advice on industrial matters. The Prime Minister's Department was mainly staffed by poorly-educated clerks who handled its extensive correspondence, ensuring that letters were directed to the most appropriate department. The Department was headed by Percy Deane and Frank Strahan, both of whom were young men of considerable ability, but they were treated as personal servants by Bruce, who did not expect them to advise him on major policy questions and who was even reluctant to allow them to draft important letters. In any case, the suave and gregarious Deane was more interested in 1.

Australian Literary Studies, 1998

Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 2005

The National Library first acquired papers of a Prime Minister, Sir Edmund Barton, in 1929. In th... more The National Library first acquired papers of a Prime Minister, Sir Edmund Barton, in 1929. In the next fifty years it sought the papers of every Prime Minister, dead or alive. Negotiations were frequently protracted and frustrating, but ultimately the success rate was high: the Library now holds the personal archives of eleven Prime Ministers and smaller collections of another four. Since 1980 it has deferred to the National Archives in collecting further papers of Prime Ministers and has instead placed greater emphasis on making the existing collections better known and encouraging their use by researchers.