Speeches and broadcasts, c. 1923-51

Component identifier:

Series 17

Content Summary:

As part of their official duties Lord and Lady Gowrie made many speeches (an estimated average of one per day whilst they were in Australia), as well as regular national broadcasts. Some of the typescripts of these are preserved in this series (proportionally more by Lady Gowrie than her husband, as Lord Gowrie spoke from typed notes rather than full transcripts, especially later in his career).

Lord Gowrie's speeches include a volume of indexed orations, delivered whilst Governor of South Australia between 1928 and 1934, and his maiden speech in the House of Lords. Within the files, speeches marked with a cross appear to have been rejected, or substantially reworked.

Another sequence of files contains a large number of drafts of Lady Gowrie's speeches and final typescripts, arranged according to her own subject divisions. Interfiled with these items are drafts and typescripts for prefaces to publications, some correspondence relating to her speeches and broadcasts, as well as copies of speeches by other individuals.

The series ends with some miscellaneous files, including the text of Gowrie's final broadcast to the people of Australia. Files 28-29 contain speeches by other individuals which appear to have been collected for their inherent interest, or as an aid to their own speech making activities. Speeches by R.G. Menzies, Canon W.J. Edwards, Sir Ernest Fisk and Lady Wakehurst are included.

Farewell speeches given by Gowrie upon relinquishment of the office of Governor-General are filed in Series 5; some general speeches delivered as Deputy Constable and Lieutenant-Governor of Windsor Castle are contained in Series 6.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers were donated to the National Library in seven instalments: by Gowrie's grandson, the Honourable Malise Hore-Ruthven, in 1970, 1981 (two instalments), 1983, 1986 and 1993, and; in 1999 by Barbara Blanch, widow of Gowrie's biographer, John Blanch. In addition, in 1969 the Library received a collection of books acquired by Lord Gowrie, which had been housed at Australia House since 1955. Most of the volumes were presentation copies inscribed by the authors. Those books not already held were added to the Library's general book collection, whilst duplicate titles were offered to other libraries through the Clearing Centre.

Names:

Hore-Ruthven, Malise

Contents

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