Guide to the Papers of Maxwell Ralph Jacobs, 1929-1979

Summary

Collection number:

MS 6336

Creator:

M. R. Jacobs

Extent:

5.5 metres and (36 boxes)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Maxwell Ralph Jacobs, National Library of Australia, MS 6336, [box number and series and/or file number]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for reference. Not for loan.

Background

Biographical Note:

Dr Maxwell Ralph Jacobs was born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1905. He took up an appointment as a forest assessor in the Federal Capital Territory in 1926, after receiving his earlier education in South Australia. He received the Lowry Scholarship to study forest soils and was one of the first postgraduate students at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute in the University of Adelaide. In 1928 Jacobs became chief forester of the Federal Capital Territory and in 1929 received a Commonwealth Scholarship in forest management which enabled him to undertake post-graduate studies at the Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford, and the Forestry School at Tharandt in Saxony.

In 1941-44 Jacobs served with the Royal Australian Engineers in the Northern Territory and Papua New Guinea. In December 1944 he was appointed principal lecturer in silviculture of the Australian Forestry School, holding his post till 1959 when he became Acting Director General and later Director-General.

One of his research projects was the growth stresses found in growing trees. A pioneer in his field he produced several papers published by the Forestry Bureau on the subject. Another field of research was on the effect of wind sway on trees. In 1955 much of his work was consolidated in a book, The growth habit of the Eucalyptus. During his service as Director General Dr Jacobs collaborated with State heads of forest services and Commonwealth and State Ministers in the formation of the Australian Forestry Council. After retirement in 1970 from the Public Service, Dr Jacobs became a consultant to several organisations, including the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nation. He died in Canberra in 1976.

Provenance:

The papers were presented to the National Library in 1980.

Indexed terms

Names:

M. R. Jacobs

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn979451).

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 Maxwell Ralph Jacobs, National Library of Australia, MS 6336, [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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