General correspondence, 1878-1919

Component identifier:

Series 1

Content Summary:

The general correspondence is organised chronologically, with undated letters placed at the end. Deakin did not usually keep copies of his own letters, hence the series consists mostly of letters that he received.

A prodigious letter writer, Deakin corresponded with colleagues and political opponents; leaders in the various States before and after Federation; Governors and Governors-General, during and after their terms of office; politicians throughout the Empire; Australian and overseas journalists and newspapermen; diplomats, civil servants, colonial governors and administrators; Australian Agents-General in London; members of the armed services; writers, artists, musicians, doctors, lawyers, academics, judges, religious leaders; expatriate Australians from all walks of life; political party organisers, businessmen, municipal officials, feminists, property developers, town planners, associations of all kinds; social acquaintances, friends and many private individuals seeking help and advice.

Correspondence referring to general subjects or to more than one activity has been placed in this series. Letters relating to Australian and Imperial politics form an important part of the series, but the bulk of the political correspondence is in Series 15 and Series 16. Family correspondence is in Series 19.

This series contains Items 1/1 - 1/3690.

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.

Names:

Brookes, Ivy

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