External Affairs, 1903-1910

Component identifier:

Subseries 15_5_1

Content Summary:

Correspondence, notes, a notebook, memoranda, pamphlets, printed material and other documents. Following Barton's practice, Deakin took the additional portfolio of External Affairs during his first two terms as Prime Minister. However, papers on only a limited area of Australia's 'external relations' are gathered here. They concern immigration and Australia's relations with countries outside the British Empire, Papua New Guinea, the appointment of a High Commissioner in London, British interest in the New Hebrides and the administration of the Northern Territory.

Correspondence referring to imperial matters can be found in Series 1, Series 11, Subseries 15.1, Subseries 15.3 and Series 16. Imperial defence is dealt with in Subseries 15.5.7 and more generally in Series 1.

This subseries contains Items 15/2081 - 15/2567.

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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