Guide to the Papers of Alfred Deakin, 1804-1975 (bulk 1880-1919)

Summary

Collection number:

MS 1540

Creator:

Deakin, Alfred, 1856-1919 and Brookes, Ivy

Extent:

19.48 metres and (33 security binders, 83 boxes, 3 small folio boxes, 3 medium folio boxes, 2 large folio boxes, 1 medium phase box, 7 map folios)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Alfred Deakin, National Library of Australia, MS 1540, [series number, subseries number and item number(s)]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The Deakin Papers form one of the finest political collections in Australia. They cover most of Deakin's life, and, above all, document the Federation movement of the 1890s and the first decade of the Commonwealth. In addition to the extensive correspondence and other papers on Australian politics and government, there are many diaries, notebooks and manuscripts in which Deakin set down his religious and philosophical reflections, extracts and commentaries on his readings, verse and other literary writings. There is a wide range of material in the papers, including correspondence, diaries, notebooks, literary manuscripts, legal briefs, official documents and publications, press clippings, pamphlets, books, certificates, posters, menus, programs, receipts, photographs, briefcases and memorabilia. Most of the correspondence was written to Deakin, but there are many letters that he wrote to his family and drafts or copies of some of his other letters.

Immediate Source of Acquisition:

On 3 December 1965 Ivy Brookes, the eldest daughter of Alfred Deakin, formally presented the Deakin Papers to the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, for permanent preservation in the National Library.

After Deakin's death in 1919 his papers remained in the possession of his widow, Pattie, until her death in 1934. They were used extensively by Herbert Brookes, and by Professor Walter Murdoch while he was working on the first biography of Deakin, published in 1923. In 1945 the Deakin Papers were examined by an officer of the National Library and it was agreed that the papers would ultimately be deposited in the Library.

In 1948 Professor R.M. Crawford of the University of Melbourne became custodian of the papers on the understanding that either an extensive selection of documents or a biography would be based on them. Subsequently his colleague, Professor J.A. La Nauze, began Deakin's biography and the papers remained in his custody until the work was completed in 1965. From time to time other papers relating to Deakin were added to the original collection by Herbert and Ivy Brookes, Lady Rivett and Sir Thomas and Lady White. Professors Crawford and La Nauze also added letters or copies of Deakin letters that they had acquired from other sources.

Arrangement:

The Deakin Papers have been arranged into twenty-three series, each of which has been described. In addition, all the correspondence in the collection has been indexed - refer to the attached Correspondence Index (Appendix I in the Related Documentation tab).

Container List:

Series	Subseries	Items	Container
1	1.1	1-39	Security Binder 1
1	1.2	40-97	Security Binder 1
1	1.3	98-114	Security Binder 1
1	1.3	115-138	Security Binder 2
1	1.4	139a, 140-194	Security Binder 2
1	1.5	139, 195-239	Security Binder 2
1	1.6	240-278	Security Binder 3
1	1.7	279-313	Security Binder 3
1	1.8	314-357	Security Binder 3
1	1.9	358-359	Security Binder 3
1	1.9	360-407	Security Binder 4
1	1.1	408-516	Security Binder 4
1	1.1	517-533	Security Binder 5
1	1.11	534-588	Security Binder 5
1	1.12	589-619j	Security Binder 5
1	1.12	620-656	Security Binder 6
1	1.13	657-781	Security Binder 6
1	1.13	782-813	Security Binder 7
1	1.14	814-889	Security Binder 7
1	1.14	890-944	Security Binder 8
1	1.15	945-999	Security Binder 8
1	1.15	1000-1087	Security Binder 9
1	1.16	1088-1104	Security Binder 9
1	1.16	1105-1172	Security Binder 10
1	1.17	1173-1204	Security Binder 10
1	1.17	1205-1283	Security Binder 11
1	1.18	1284-1329	Security Binder 11
1	1.18	1330-1434	Security Binder 12
1	1.18	1435-1463	Security Binder 13
1	1.19	1464-1539	Security Binder 13
1	1.19	1540-1614	Security Binder 14
1	1.2	1614a-1639	Security Binder 14
1	1.2	1640-1713	Security Binder 15
1	1.21	1714-1759	Security Binder 15
1	1.21	1760-1843	Security Binder 16
1	1.22	1844-1879	Security Binder 16
1	1.22	1880-2009	Security Binder 17
1	1.22	2010-2047	Security Binder 18
1	1.23	2048-2129	Security Binder 18
1	1.23	2130-2261	Security Binder 19
1	1.24	2262-2279	Security Binder 19
1	1.24	2280-2350	Security Binder 20
1	1.24	2351-2351a	Box 6
1	1.24	2352-2385	Security Binder 20
1	1.24	2386-2399	Security Binder 20
1	1.25	2400	Security Binder 21
1	1.25	2401	Box 6
1	1.25	2402-2472	Security Binder 21
1	1.26	2473-2529	Security Binder 21
1	1.26	2530-2601	Security Binder 22
1	1.27	2602-2644	Security Binder 22
1	1.27	2645-2697	Security Binder 23
1	1.28	2698-2769	Security Binder 23
1	1.28	2770-2810	Security Binder 24
1	1.29	2811-2897	Security Binder 24
1	1.3	2898-2919	Security Binder 24
1	1.3	2920-2995	Security Binder 25
1	1.31	2996-3034	Security Binder 25
1	1.31	3035-3107	Security Binder 26
1	1.32	3108-3129	Security Binder 26
1	1.32	3130-3229	Security Binder 27
1	1.33	3230-3249	Security Binder 27
1	1.33	3250-3337	Security Binder 28
1	1.34	3338-3364	Security Binder 28
1	1.34	3365-3366	Box 6
1	1.34	3367-3374	Security Binder 28
1	1.34	3375-3425	Security Binder 29
1	1.35	3426-3474	Security Binder 29
1	1.35	3475-3520	Security Binder 30
1	1.36	3521-3542	Security Binder 30
1	1.37	3543-3578	Security Binder 30
1	1.38	3579-3589	Security Binder 30
1	1.38	3590-3689	Security Binder 31
1	1.38	3690	Box 6
2	-	1-21	Box 7
2	-	22-36	Box 8
2	-	37-39	Box 9
3	3.1	1-2	Box 10
3	3.2	3-4	Box 10
3	3.3	5	Box 10
3	3.4	6-10	Box 10
3	3.5	11-21	Box 10
3	3.6	22-24	Box 10
3	3.7	25	Box 10
3	3.8	26-28	Box 10
3	3.9	29	Box 10
3	3.1	30-82	Box 11
3	3.11	83-87	Box 11
3	3.12.1	88	Box 11
3	3.12.2	89	Box 11
3	3.12.3	90	Box 11
3	3.12.4	91	Box 11
3	3.13	92-280	Box 11
3	3.14	281	Box 11
3	3.15.1	282	Box 12
3	3.15.2	283-284	Box 12
3	3.15.3	285-286	Box 12
3	3.15.4	287	Box 12
3	3.15.5	288	Box 12
3	3.16	289-289a	Box 12
3	3.17	290-291	Box 13
3	3.18	292	Box 13
3	3.19	293	Box 13
3	3.2	294-295	Box 13
3	3.21	296-299	Box 13
3	3.22	300	Box 14
3	3.23	301	Box 14
3	3.24	302-303	Box 14
4	4.1	1	Box 15
4	4.2	2-108	Box 15
4	4.3	109-111	Box 15
4	4.4	112-403	Box 15
4	4.5	404-581	Box 15
4	4.6	582-634	Box 16
4	4.7	635-721	Box 16
4	4.8.1	722-795	Box 16
4	4.8.2	796-857	Box 16
4	4.9.1	858	Box 16
4	4.9.2	859	Box 16
4	4.9.3	862-863	Box 17
4	4.9.4	864-869	Box 17
4	4.1	860	Box 17
4	4.11	861	Box 17
4	4.12	870	Box 17
5	5.1	1-32	Box 18
5	5.2	33-45	Box 18
5	5.3	46-200	Box 18
5	5.3	1459	Box 21
5	5.3	1460-1499	Box 22
5	5.3	1506-1507	Box 22
5	5.3	1514	Box 22
5	5.4	201-610	Box 18
5	5.5	611-683	Box 18
5	5.6	684-814	Box 18
5	5.7	815-911	Box 18
5	5.7	912-1055	Box 19
5	5.7	1457-1458	Box 21
5	5.8	1056	Box 19
5	5.8	1058	Box 19
5	5.9	1057	Box 19
5	5.1	1059-1172	Box 19
5	5.1	1454-1456	Box 21
5	5.11	1173-1174	19
5	5.12	1175-1452	Box 20
5	5.13	1453	Box 20
5	5.14	1500-1505	Box 22
5	5.14	1520-1521	Box 23
5	5.15	1508-1513	Box 22
5	5.16	1515-1516	Box 22
5	5.16	1517-1519	Box 23
6	6.1	1-15	Box 24
6	6.2	16-178	Box 24
6	6.3	179-184, 189	Box 24
6	6.3	185-188	Folio Box 2
6	6.3	190-302	Folio Box 2
6	6.3	303	Box 24
7	7.1.1	1-30	Box 25
7	7.1.2	31-70	Box 25
7	7.2	71-130	Box 25
7	7.3	131-181	Box 25
7	7.4.1	182-197	Box 25
7	7.4.2	198-222	Box 25
7	7.4.3	223-268	Box 25
7	7.4.4	269-303	Box 25
7	7.4.5	304-335	Box 25
7	7.4.6	336-373	Box 25
7	7.5	374	Folio Box 1
8	8.1	1-42	Box 26
8	8.2	43-73	Box 26
8	8.3	74-79	Box 26
8	8.4	80-160	Box 26
8	8.5	161-221	Box 26
8	8.6.1	222-273	Box 26
8	8.6.2	274-534	Box 26
8	8.7	535-537	Box 26
8	8.7	538	Box 27
9	9.1.1	1-145	Box 27
9	9.1.2	46-102	Box 27
9	9.2	103-112	Box 27
9	9.3.1	113	Box 27
9	9.3.2	114-171	Box 27
9	9.3.3	172-195	Box 27
9	9.3.4	196-238	Box 27
9	9.3.5	239-257	Box 28
9	9.3.6	258-283	Box 28
9	9.3.7	284-298	Box 28
9	9.3.7	299-300	Folio Box 2
9	9.3.7	301-332	Box 28
9	9.3.8	333-337	Box 28
9	9.4.1	338	Folio Box 2
9	9.4.2	339-381	Box 28
9	9.4.3	382-425	Box 28
9	9.4.4	426-438	Box 28
9	9.4.5	439-444	Box 28
9	9.4.6	445-479	Box 28
10	10.1.1	1-40	Box 29
10	10.1.2	41-101	Box 29
10	10.2	102-111	Box 29
10	10.3	112-126	Box 29
10	10.4	127-271	Box 29
10	10.5	272-276	Box 29
10	10.6	277-329	Box 29
10	10.6	373	Folio Box 4
10	10.7	330-350	Box 29
10	10.8	351-372	Box 30
11	11.1.1	1-27	Box 31
11	11.1.2	28-44	Box 31
11	11.1.3	45-85	Box 31
11	11.1.4	86-141	Box 31
11	11.1.5	142-171	Box 31
11	11.2	172-203	Box 31
11	11.3	204-206	Box 31
11	11.4	207-213	Box 31
11	11.4	214	Map Cabinet
11	11.4	215-222	Box 31
11	11.4	223	Folio Box 2
11	11.5	224-246	Box 31
11	11.6	247	Box 31
11	11.6	248	Map Cabinet
11	11.6	249-253	Box 31
11	11.7	254-285	Box 31
11	11.8	286	Box 31
11	11.8	1426	Folio Box 4
11	11.9	287-291	Box 32
11	11.9	1419a-1425	Folio Box 4
11	11.1	293-330	Box 32
11	11.11	331-338	Box 32
11	11.11	339-345	Box 33
11	11.12	346-365	Box 33
11	11.13.1	366-582	Box 33
11	11.13.2	583-584	Box 33
11	11.13.3	585	Box 33
11	11.13.4	586-655	Box 34
11	11.13.5	656-660	Box 34
11	11.14.1.1	661-691	Box 34
11	11.14.1.2	692-716	Box 34
11	11.14.1.3	717-743	Box 34
11	11.14.1.4	744-773	Box 34
11	11.14.1.5	774-801	Box 34
11	11.14.1.6	802-827	Box 34
11	11.14.1.7	828-853	Box 34
11	11.14.1.8	854-880	Box 35
11	11.14.1.9	881-907	Box 35
11	11.14.1.10	908-933	Box 35
11	11.14.1.11	934-951	Box 35
11	11.14.1.12	952-970	Box 35
11	11.14.1.13	971-986	Box 35
11	11.14.1.14	987-1000	Box 35
11	11.14.1.15	1001-1027	Box 35
11	11.14.1.16	1028-1052	Box 35
11	11.14.1.17	1053-1079	Box 35
11	11.14.1.18	1080-1109	Box 36
11	11.14.1.19	1110-1140	Box 36
11	11.14.1.20	1141-1172	Box 36
11	11.14.1.21	1173-1209	Box 36
11	11.14.1.22	1210-1237	Box 36
11	11.14.1.23	1238-1267	Box 36
11	11.14.2	1268-1270	Box 36
11	11.14.3	1271-1369	Box 36
11	11.14.4	1370	Box 36
11	11.15	292	Box 32
11	11.15	1370a-1416	Folio Box 3
11	11.16	1417-1419	Folio Box 5
12	12.1	1-30	Box 37
12	12.2	31-89	Box 37
12	12.3	90-138	Box 37
13	13.1.1	1-48	Box 37
13	13.1.2	49-111	Box 37
13	13.2	112-133	Box 37
14	14.1.1	1-49	Box 38
14	14.1.2	50-105	Box 38
14	14.1.3.1	106-250	Box 38
14	14.1.3.2	251-283	Box 38
14	14.1.3.3	284-324	Box 38
14	14.1.3.4	325-327	Box 38
14	14.1.4	328-407	Box 38
14	14.2	408-410	Box 38
14	14.2	1074	Folio Box 5
14	14.3	411-439	Box 38
14	14.3	1058-1017	Folio Box 3
14	14.4	440-502	Box 38
14	14.5	503-554	Box 38
14	14.6.1	555-646	Box 39
14	14.6.2	647-890	Box 39
14	14.6.3	891-934	Box 39
14	14.6.4	935-1027	Box 39
14	14.6.5	1028-1056	Box 39
14	14.6.6	1057	Folio Box 5
15	15.1.1	1-308	Box 40
15	15.1.2	309-368	Box 40
15	15.1.3	369-485	Box 40
15	15.1.4	486-679	Box 40
15	15.1.5	680-764	Box 40
15	15.1.6	765-832	Box 40
15	15.1.6	833-854	Box 41
15	15.1.7	855-953	Box 41
15	15.1.8	954-1013	Box 41
15	15.2.1.1	1014-1049	Box 41
15	15.2.1.2	1050-1086	Box 41
15	15.2.1.3	1087-1133	Box 41
15	15.2.2.1	1134-1213	Box 41
15	15.2.2.2	1214-1279	Box 41
15	15.2.2.3	1280-1287	Box 41
15	15.2.3	1288-1297	Box 41
15	15.2.4	1298-1381	Box 41
15	15.3.1	1382-1597	Box 42
15	15.3.2	1598-1661	Box 42
15	15.3.3	1662-1665	Box 42
15	15.3.4	1666-1667	Box 42
15	15.3.5	1668-1685	Box 43
15	15.3.6	1686-1741	Box 43
15	15.3.7	4297-4299	Map Cabinet
15	15.3.8	4300-4302	Folio Box 5
15	15.4.1	1742-1757	Box 43
15	15.4.2	1758-1806	Box 43
15	15.4.3	1807-1816	Box 43
15	15.4.4	1817-1886	Box 43
15	15.4.5	1887-2002	Box 44
15	15.4.6	2003-2011	Box 44
15	15.4.7	2012-2021	Box 44
15	15.4.8	2022-2080	Box 44
15	15.5.1.1.1	2081-2150	Box 44
15	15.5.1.1.2	2151-2213	Box 44
15	15.5.1.1.3	2214-2271	Box 44
15	15.5.1.1.4	2548-2567	Box 45
15	15.5.1.2.1	2272-2374	Box 45
15	15.5.1.2.2	2375-2425	Box 45
15	15.5.1.3	2426-2480	Box 45
15	15.5.1.4	2481-2498	Box 45
15	15.5.1.5	2499-2547	Box 45
15	15.5.2.1	2568-2606	Box 45
15	15.5.2.2	2607-2677	Box 45
15	15.5.2.3	2678-2695	Box 45
15	15.5.2.4	2696-2775	Box 45
15	15.5.2.5	2776-2814	Box 46
15	15.5.2.6	2815-2933a	Box 46
15	15.5.3.1	2934-2978	Box 46
15	15.5.3.2	2979-3065	Box 46
15	15.5.3.3	3066-3251	Box 46
15	15.5.3.3	3252-3277	Box 47
15	15.5.3.4	3278-3290	Box 47
15	15.5.4.1	3291-3324	Box 47
15	15.5.4.2	3325-3340	Box 47
15	15.5.5.1	3341-3379	Box 47
15	15.5.5.2	3380-3410	Box 47
15	15.5.5.3.1	3411-3451	Box 47
15	15.5.5.3.2	3452-3476	Box 47
15	15.5.6	3477-3514	Box 48
15	15.5.7.1	3515-3542	Box 48
15	15.5.7.2	3543-3606	Box 48
15	15.5.7.3	3607-3670	Box 48
15	15.5.7.4	3671-3703	Box 48
15	15.5.7.5	3703a-3857	Box 48
15	15.5.7.6.1	3858-3918	Box 48
15	15.5.7.6.2	3919-3944	Box 48
15	15.5.7.7	3944a-4004	Box 48
15	15.5.7.8	4005-4101	Box 49
15	15.5.7.9	4102-4231	Box 49
15	15.5.7.10	4232-4296	Box 49
16	16.1.1	1-6	Box 50
16	16.1.2	7-198	Box 50
16	16.1.3	199-439	Box 50
16	16.1.4	440-458	Box 50
16	16.1.5	459-603	Box 50
16	16.1.6	604-648	Box 50
16	16.1.7	649-733	Box 51
16	16.1.8	734-796	Box 51
16	16.1.9	797-828	Box 51
16	16.2	829-997	Box 51
16	16.3	998-1031	Box 51
16	16.3	1032-1045	Box 52
16	16.4	1046-1071	Box 52
16	16.5.1.1	1072-1111	Box 52
16	16.5.1.2	1112-1181	Box 52
16	16.5.1.3	1182-1262	Box 52
16	16.5.1.4	1263-1381	Box 52
16	16.5.1.5	1382-1402	Box 52
16	16.5.2	1403-1443	Box 52
16	16.5.3	1444-1496	Box 52
16	16.5.4	1497-1510	Box 52
16	16.5.5	1511-1520	Box 53
16	16.5.6.1	1521-1564	Box 53
16	16.5.6.2	1565-1629	Box 53
16	16.5.7.1	1630-1780	Box 53
16	16.5.7.2	1781-1785	Box 53
16	16.5.7.2	1786-1787	Folio Box 2
16	16.5.7.3	1788-1818	Box 53
16	16.5.7.3	1819-1911	Box 54
16	16.5.7.4	1914-1931	Box 54
16	16.5.8	1912-1913	Box 54
16	16.5.9	1932-1952	Box 54
17	17.1.1	1-74	Box 55
17	17.1.2.1	75-227	Box 55
17	17.1.2.2	228-343	Box 55
17	17.1.3	344-355	Box 55
17	17.2	356-399	Box 55
17	17.3	400-407	Box 55
17	17.3	408	Map Cabinet
17	17.3	409-495	Box 55
17	17.3	944	Map Cabinet
17	17.4	496-742	Box 55
17	17.4	743-932	Box 56
17	17.4	933	Folio Box 2
17	17.4	934-936	Box 56
17	17.4	937-938	Folio Box 2
17	17.4	939	Box 56
17	17.4	940	Folio Box 2
17	17.4	941-943	Box 56
18	18.1	1-145	Box 56
18	18.2	146-221	Box 56
18	18.3	222-367b	Box 56
18	18.4	368-398	Box 56
18	18.5	399-410	Box 56
19	19.1.1	1-63	Box 57
19	19.1.2	64-110	Box 57
19	19.1.3	111-172	Box 57
19	19.1.4	173-211	Box 57
19	19.1.5	212-237	Box 57
19	19.1.6	238-274	Box 57
19	19.2	275-356	Box 57
19	19.3	357-400	Box 57
19	19.4.1	401-475	Box 57
19	19.4.1	615	Folio Box 5
19	19.4.2	476-499	Box 58
19	19.4.3	500-519	Box 58
19	19.4.3	520	Folio Box 2
19	19.4.3	521-523	Box 58
19	19.4.3	524	Folio Box 2
19	19.4.3	525	Box 58
19	19.5	526-530	Box 58
19	19.6	531-539	Box 58
19	19.7	540-612	Box 58
19	19.7	613	Folio Box 6
19	19.7	614	Folio Box 7
20	20.1.1	1-52	Box 59
20	20.1.2	53-100	Box 59
20	20.2	101-133	Box 59
20	20.3	134-153	Box 59
20	20.4	154-167	Box 59
20	20.5	168-172	Box 59
20	20.6	173-182	Box 59
20	20.7	183-259	Box 59
20	20.7	330-440	Box 60
20	20.7	441	Folio Box 8
20	20.7	442	Folio Box 9
20	20.8	260-329	Box 59
21	-	1-23	Box 60
21	-	24-65	Box 61
21	-	66-107	Box 62
21	-	108-114	Box 63
21	-	115-121	Folio Box 5
21	-	122-126	Box 63
21	-	127-128	Folio Box 5
21	-	129-149	Box 63
21	-	150-162	Box 64
21	-	163	Folio Box 2
21	-	164-188	Box 64
21	-	189-308	Box 65
22	-	-	Boxes 66 - 87
22	-	-	Folio Box 2
23	23.1 - 23.5	-	Box 88

Related

Related Documentation:

1. Supplementary finding aid (Type: pdf, Size: 675.23 KB)

   Appendix I – Correspondence Index

2. Supplementary finding aid (Type: pdf, Size: 181.53 KB)

   Appendix II - Microfilm List

Existence and Location of Copies:

The Deakin Papers were microfilmed in 1999, with the exception of Series 21 and 22 which comprise printed material. An index of the microfilm reels is available - refer to the attached Microfilm List (Appendix II in the Related Documentation tab).

In 2002 the National Library, in collaboration with Deakin University, began digitising a selection of material from the Deakin Papers. Those series selected for digitisation are Series 2, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15 and 16, together with the photograph albums in Series 19. Please note that where printed items were duplicated within these series, the duplicates have not been digitised.

A small number of items from Series 6 have also been digitised as part of the National Treasures from Australia's Great Libraries exhibition (http://nationaltreasures.nla.gov.au).

The items that have been digitised are available online through this finding aid.

Indexed terms

Names:

Brookes, Ivy

Conditions Governing Access:

This collection is available for research.

Conditions Governing Use:

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Alfred Deakin, National Library of Australia, MS 1540, [series number, subseries number and item number(s)]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

Contact us