Guide to the Papers of Donald Ian McDonald, 1956-1991

 

Collection context

Summary

Collection number:
MS 5147
Creator:
Donald Ian McDonald
Extent:
(28 ms boxes, 1 map folio item)
Language:
English and English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], MS 5147, National Library of Australia, Papers of Donald Ian McDonald, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The collection includes correspondence, manuscripts, notes, research material, minutes, newspapers clippings, newsletters and other printed material. The papers document McDonald's activities in the field of historical writing and research. The correspondence and research files reflect his meticulous and extensive study of many aspects of Australian history, particularly colonial architecture and the development of mental health services. There is also evidence of McDonald's generous assistance and advice to other students of history, and his commitment to the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Royal Australian Historical Society, Canberra and District Historical Society, ACT Historic Sites and Buildings Committee and associated groups.

McDonald published four books, and was a prolific writer and editor of journal articles and reviews. Among the works documented in this collection are his biographical writings on Colonial Architect James Barnet, architect and civil servant William Wilkinson Wardell and medical practitioner Frederic Norton Manning, together with his history of the shire of Harden in New South Wales. At the time of his death McDonald was working on an administrative history of the early Public Service, 'Your obedient servants : a history of the Commonwealth Public Service, 1901-1910'. The collection includes a comprehensive series of research files relating to the Commonwealth Government from the 1880s to 1910.

The major correspondents include Peter Alsop, John Bennett, Ken Cable, Christopher Cunneen, R.L. Edenborough, J.M. Freeland, H.C. Harper, Marsden Hordern, Peter Hughes, Ken Inglis, John Keaney, Hazel King, Errol Lea-Scarlett, R.A. Littlejohn, T. J. Linane, Peter Martin, Bede Nairn, Joy Newton, Patrick O'Farrell, Douglas Pike, Bruce Pratt, Salvatore Restifa, Alan Roberts, Geoffrey Serle, Russel Ward, Teresa Wardell and Stephen Welsh.

Provenance:

Donald Ian McDonald donated his papers to the Library in a number of instalments from 1972 to 1986. Following his death, two further instalments were received from McDonald's sister Gwen McDonald in September 1990 and April 1993.

Arrangement:

The arrangement of the papers as maintained by McDonald has been preserved by the Library. Related material held by the Library includes a folder of biographical material (MS 8425), compiled by Philip Selth for his article 'Donald Ian McDonald 1923-1990 - A scholar and a gentleman - a memoir', Canberra Historical Journal (1991).

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2618617).
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], MS 5147, National Library of Australia, Papers of Donald Ian McDonald, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact: