Notebooks and general manuscripts, 1873-1917

Component identifier:

Series 3

Content Summary:

This series contains most of Deakin's notebooks. They were written from 1873 to 1917, with many of the notebooks dating from either the 1880s or from 1910 to 1917. Some material is undated. The notebooks are crammed with personal reflections on many subjects. As well, they comment on a vast variety of literature, including much of a mystical and philosophical nature, while some contain autobiographical reflections. Many begin with legal notes or financial accounts, indicating that they originally served a more prosaic purpose.

This series includes transcripts made by Herbert and Ivy Brookes and Vera White of a selection of entries from the notebooks. There are also miscellaneous notes for speeches, relating to such topics as education, the kindergarten movement, women's rights, political science and the descent of man. Two literary manuscripts, 'Autumn has come...' and 'Music', are also included.

Further writings dealing specifically with literature or religion are to be found in Series 4 and Series 5.

This series contains Items 3/1 - 3/303.

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

Contents

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