Guide to the Papers of A. J. Forbes, 1942-1993

Summary

Collection number:

MS 9875

Creator:

Alexander James Forbes, Dr

Extent:

7.2 metres and (47 MS Boxes)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of A. J. Forbes, National Library of Australia, MS 9875, [box number and series and/or file number]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The papers consist of memoranda, circulars, minutes, agenda, correspondence, speeches, drafts, articles, published materials and diaries.

The bulk of the papers relate to Forbes' roles as State President and later Federal President of the Liberal Party. There are memoranda, circulars, minutes and agenda of the many committees on which Forbes sat, as well as related correspondence from Tony Eggleton, John Atwill, Malcolm Fraser, John Elliott, John Howard, Andrew Peacock, Nick Minchin, Graham Wynn, Grahame Morris, John Valder, Chris Puplick, Sir Robert Crichton-Brown, Fred Chaney, John Olsen, Roger Goldsworthy, C. R. Story, Don Jessop, Don Willett, Ralph de Garis, Steele Hall and Amanda Vanstone.

There are some papers relating to Forbes' parliamentary career and a lesser number relating to his Ministerial positions. Correspondents include Malcolm Fraser, William McMahon, Billy Snedden and John Gorton.

There are also some papers relating to his terms as Chairman of the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories Commission and Chairman of the National Library of Australia Council.

Biographical Note:

Alexander James de Burgh Forbes was born in Hobart on the 16 December 1923, the son of Brigadier A.M. Forbes. He was educated at Knox Grammar School and St. Peters College in Adelaide and gained a BA (Hons) from the University of Adelaide in 1950 and a Ph.D from Oxford University in 1954.

Forbes graduated from the Royal Military College Duntroon in 1942 and saw active service in New Guinea and Bougainville, during which he was awarded the Military Cross.

Between 1954 and 1956 Forbes lectured in Political Science at the University of Adelaide, before entering Parliament as the Federal member for the South Australian seat of Barker. He held the seat from 1956 until 1975, when he chose not to stand for re-election.

During his parliamentary tenure Forbes was Minister for the Navy (1963), Minister for the Army and assisting the Treasury (1963-1966) Minister for Health (1966-1971) and Minister for Immigration (1971-1972).

Forbes was State President of the Liberal Party of Australia South Australian division in 1979-1982 and Federal President of the Liberal Party in 1982-1985.

He was Chairman of the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories in 1978-1984 and also served on the National Library of Australia Council from 1979 until 1985 and as Council Chairman in 1982-1985.

In 1978, Forbes was appointed as Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for distinguished parliamentary service.

Forbes married Margaret Blackburn in 1952 and they had five children.

Immediate Source of Acquisition:

The papers were transferred from the Adelaide repository of the National Archives of Australia at the request of Dr Forbes, and received by the National Library in 2002

Arrangement:

The papers have been largely kept in the order in which they were received. The numbers assigned to some papers by the National Archives of Australia appear to refer to an earlier document listing. This numerical order has not been maintained

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn298340).

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 A. J. Forbes, National Library of Australia, MS 9875, [box number and series and/or file number]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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