2: Letters to the King's Private Secretary, 1914-1920

Containers:

Box 1

Component identifier:

Series

Content Summary:

Copies of Novar's 'Personal' letters to Major Clive Wigram, 1914-1915, and Lord Stamfordham, 1915-1920, Private Secretaries to the King. The letters appear to be a complete series and the bundle incorporates some duplicate copies and drafts of final letters. There are only two letters to Wigram, the other 36 being sent regularly, most often monthly, to Stamfordham. Occasionally, enclosures relevant to the correspondence are included. Subjects covered: general survey of Australian politics; the policies of W.A.Holman and the New South Wales Government and their resultant friction with the Federal Government; the general conduct of the War; recruiting; miscellaneous official matters dealt with by Novar; the conscription referendum of 1916; the granting of honours; Novar's relations with State Governors; the visit of Lord Jellicoe to Australia in 1919; and the Prince of Wales' visit in 1920.

Comprises Items 162-372.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers were received in 1961 from Mr A.B.L. Munro Ferguson and the Trustees of the late Viscount Novar. Thirty photographs copied from the Novar albums in the possession of Mr Munro Ferguson were added to the collection in 1985. Subsequent additions include five illuminated manuscripts purchased from a dealer in 1990 and transcripts of extracts from Novar's diaries donated by Professor John Poynter in 1997. Six volumes of diaries, on long-term loan from Mr Ronald Munro Ferguson (great nephew of Lord Novar), were added to the collection on 12 January 2004. The diaries were kept by Lord Novar while he was Governor General of Australia between 1915 and 1920.

Access and use