Guide to the Papers of L. F. Crisp, 1878-1984

Summary

Collection number:

MS 5243

Creator:

L. F. Crisp

Extent:

20.8 metres and (140 boxes, 2 folio items)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of L. F. Crisp, National Library of Australia, MS 5243, [box number and series and/or file number]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for reference. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The collection comprises correspondence, diaries, journal articles, lectures, leaflets, manuscripts, memoranda, minutes, notes, newscuttings, reports, conference papers, speeches, talks, photographs, postcards, posters, menus and other ephemera. They document Crisp's long career as a public servant, an academic and a writer and his participation with a number of organisations and government bodies. The bulk of the papers consists of subject files covering a wide range of topics which Crisp had meticulously maintained and added to over the years. Other papers relate to his early career with the Commonwealth Public Service, his academic years at the Canberra University College, the Australian National University, the Australian Labor Party and the Commonwealth Banking Corporation.

The correspondents include Des Ball, W. Macmahon Ball, Kim Beazley Snr., Brian Beddie, Herbert Burton, Gerald Caiden, Sir John Crawford, Lionel Godfrey, Hartley Grattan, Gordon Greenwood, Sir Paul Hasluck, Colin Hughes, Harry Keen, John La Nauze, Henry Mayer, Louise Overacker, Gordon Reid, Clinton Rossiter, Peter Ryan, Stuart Sayers and Richard Spann.

Biographical Note:

Leslie Finlay Crisp was born in Sandringham, Victoria in 1917. He attended Black Rock State School (1924-28) and Caulfield Grammar School (1929). When he was twelve the family moved to Adelaide and he completed his studies at St Peter's College (1930-34).

Crisp attended Adelaide University from 1935 to 1938 and gained his Bachelor of Arts Degree with first class honours in Political Science and History. During this period he met his wife, Helen, and together they helped form the National Union of Australian University Students. He was already active in politics and a regular Workers' Education Association (WEA) lecturer in and around Adelaide.

He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship in 1938 and commenced studies at Balliol College, Oxford in 1939. In 1940 the war interrupted his studies and he returned to Australia and joined the Commonwealth Public Service. He returned to Oxford after the war, completing his BA and MA in 1947-48.

In 1940 Crisp began working for the Australian Shortwave Broadcasting Service in Melbourne. In 1941 he moved to the Department of Labour and National Service and in 1942 transferred to the Department of Post-War Reconstruction. In 1945 he was a member of an Australian delegation which attended the United Nations Conference on International Organisation in San Francisco. In 1949 he was appointed Director-General and stayed in this position until his resignation in 1950.

In 1949 Crisp was appointed Head of Political Science at the Canberra University College and took up the appointment in 1950. In October 1960 the Canberra University College merged with the Australian National University. The departments of Canberra University College formed the new School of General Studies. Crisp retained his postion within the new School.

During his long academic career, Crisp taught courses in Australian, American, British, Russian and German government and politics and some areas and aspects of political theory. In 1970 he vacated the Headship to concentrate on teaching, a role he enjoyed much more than being an adminstrator. On his retirement in 1977 he became Emeritus Professor and later Visiting Fellow within the Department of Political Science.

Crisp was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Commonwealth Banking Corporation in 1974. He was appointed Chairman in 1975 and served in this position until his death in 1984. He served on various other committees including the Prime Minister's Committee on the Future of the National Library, the Committee of Inquiry on the Integration of Data Systems and the Board of the Canberra Community Hospital.

Leslie Finlay Crisp, widely known as 'Fin', died unexpectedly of a heart attack in Canberra in December 1984.

Provenance:

The papers were received by the Library from Mrs Helen Crisp in several instalments in 1976, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1986 and 1988. The papers purchased in 1985 make up the bulk of the collection. At this time Crisp's extensive personal book library was also donated to the Library under the Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme.

Arrangement:

The various instalments have been amalgamated and arranged into tweny one series. Where possible the original arrangement of the papers and file titles has been preserved. The major exception occurs in Series 20. The subject files containing material relating to Australia have been re-organised into subject categories. Within each category they have been listed alphabetically under the file titles assigned to them by Crisp.

Indexed terms

Names:

L. F. Crisp

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1655808).

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 L. F. Crisp, National Library of Australia, MS 5243, [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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