Guide to the Papers of Keith Arthur Murdoch, 1908-1967

Summary

Collection number:

MS 2823

Creator:

Keith Arthur Murdoch and Murdoch, Rupert, Mr.

Extent:

3.22 metres and (12 ms boxes + 1 small folio box + 1 medium folio box + 1 large folio box + 1 security binder)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Keith Arthur Murdoch, National Library of Australia, MS 2823, [series/file/item number]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

MS 2823 comprises papers relating to the life and career of Keith Murdoch, including correspondence, speeches, press clippings, photographs and other material. The collection features Murdoch's iconic 1915 'Gallipoli letter', an account of the Gallipoli campaign written to Prime Minister Andrew Fisher. The correspondence also includes letters from Lionel Lindsay to Murdoch and letters from Murdoch's father Patrick Murdoch.

Biographical Note:

Keith Arthur Murdoch (1886-1952) journalist and Australian newspaper magnate, was born in Melbourne, son of Rev. Patrick John and Annie Brown Murdoch late of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He was educated at Camberwell Grammar School and the London School of Economics. He began a journalist career with the Melbourne Age, as a correspondent for the district of Malvern. 1907 Murdoch left for London were he attended the London School of Economics

1910 Murdoch returned to the Age as a staff reporter for two years. 1912 he became political correspondent for the Sydney evening Sun 1915 Denison transferred Murdoch to London as managing editor of the United Cable Service of the Sun and the Melbourne Herald. He was than commissioned by Fisher and Pearce to go to Gallipoli as war correspondence to investigate Australian Imperial Force mail service and associated matters.

He was knighted in 1933 and appointed Trustee of the National Gallery, Victoria in the same year; Director-General of Information, June-December 1940; President Australian-American-Association (Victorian Section) 1941-46; Chairman of Directors Herald and Weekly Times from 1942 and director of Herald, Sun News-Pictorial and associated publications.

Murdoch married Elisabeth, daughter of Rupert Greene in 1928. They had one son, Keith Rupert and three daughters.

Murdoch died in 1952

Indexed terms

Names:

Murdoch, Rupert, Mr.

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn913957).

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 Keith Arthur Murdoch, National Library of Australia, MS 2823, [series/file/item number]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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