Imperial Federation League, 1885-1911

Component identifier:

Series 12

Content Summary:

Deakin, while a passive supporter of the aims of the Imperial Federation League, appears not to have become involved in its organisation until 1905, when he took office as President of the Victorian Branch. The correspondence dates from 1905 to 1909, and mainly concerns the activities of the Victorian Branch. Although Deakin was a latecomer to the League, he acquired the minute books kept from its inception in Victoria, dating from 1885 to 1910. Other material in the series includes lists of members, reports and balance sheets, letters to members, pamphlets, addresses and proceedings.

Further correspondence on imperial matters can be found in Series 1 and Series 15.

This series contains Items 12/1 - 12/138.

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

Access and use