Conference on Source Materials on Australian Studies, 1961

Containers:

Box 5-6

Component identifier:

Series 3

Content Summary:

The Conference on Source Materials on Australian Studies was organised by the National Library and took place in the Australian Academy of Science in Canberra on 12 July 1961. It was chaired by Dr Grenfell Price and there were representatives of the National Library, all the State libraries, ten of the universities and several research councils and associations. It represented an attempt by Harold White in particular to reduce conflict and competition with the State libraries in the collecting of unique materials and gain recognition for the central role of the National Library in collecting. While not altogether successful, the Conference was useful in clarifying the intentions and policies of several institutions. There was discussion of a union catalogue of archival materials, which ultimately led to the publication of the Guide to collections of manuscripts relating to Australia.

Burmester was the secretary of the Conference and the papers in this series include drafts of the minutes, written by his colleague Larry Lake, as well as the final versions. There are also reports, policy documents and a few letters.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers were donated by C.A. Burmester in many instalments between 1976 and 1989.

Names:

C. A. Burmester

Contents

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