Guide to the Papers of Paul McGuire, 1878-1987

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Summary

Collection number:
MS 6453
Creator:
Paul McGuire
Extent:
10.92 metres and (78 boxes, 1 folio box)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Paul McGuire, National Library of Australia, MS 6453, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Available for reference. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The papers include manuscripts, lectures, essays, official papers, literary correspondence, speeches, diaries, notebooks, subject files, photographs, newspaper cuttings, publications and other papers relating to McGuire's literary career, his official position as Minister and Ambassador to Italy and his interest in Catholic issues.

The literary papers include typescripts, research material, correspondence, reviews and other material relating to McGuire's books Australian journey, Westward the course, The Australian theatre, Experiment in world order, There's freedom for the brave, and Inns of Australia. There is also correspondence with English and American publishers and literary agents, papers relating to McGuire's work as a foreign correspondent, articles, speeches, poetry and lecture notes.

The official and personal papers deal particularly with McGuire's time in Rome, but also includes material relating to his work during World War II for the Far Eastern Liaison Office, and his involvement in Catholic Action, Good Neighbour Council of South Australia, Catholic Guild for Social Studies and other bodies.

Among the correspondents are Sir Robert Menzies, Lord Casey, B.A. Santamaria, Hugh McClure-Smith, Sir William McKell, Douglas Stewart, Kevin Kelly, Dame Enid Lyons, Mel Pratt, Lewis Ambrose, Hugh Rain, Joan Counihan, John Grimwade, Sir Paul Hasluck, Sir Wilfrid Kent Hughes, Sir Edward Knox, Allen Mears, Stanis McGuire, Carol Robinson (Jackson), Sir Thomas White, Sir John Bunting, Sir Arthur. Tange and Ewen Waterman.

Biographical Note:

Dominic Paul McGuire was born in Peterborough, South Australia, on 3 April 1903. He was educated at the Christian Brothers' College, Adelaide and the University of Adelaide. He married Frances Margaret Cheadle in 1927 and shortly afterwards left for England, where he lived for several years.

McGuire was the author of many works of fiction, verse, literary criticism, history, travel and politics. His publications included Australian journey (1939), Westward the course (1942), Three corners of the world (1948), There's freedom for the brave (1949), and numerous mystery and detective novels.

In 1932 the McGuires returned to live in South Australia, and together with Father James O'Dougherty founded the Catholic Guild for Social Studies to raise awareness of Catholic principles. McGuire lectured and wrote on Catholic subjects during the 1930s and early 1940s, touring in Europe, the United States, and Canada. In 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, McGuire travelled to Spain as a correspondent with the Catholic Herald (London) where he investigated the suitability of conditions for the return of expatriated Spanish children. His articles from this time were published in Australian Catholic newspapers. He afterwards went to Hungary to attend the International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest.

McGuire served in the Royal Australian Navy Volunteer Reserve from 1942 until 1945 and performed intelligence duties in Melbourne as deputy director of psychological warfare, Far Eastern Liaison Office. During this time he made 400 short wave radio broadcasts containing news and information throughout South East Asia.

After the War, McGuire went abroad as correspondent for the Melbourne Argus and wrote non-fiction on Australia and world politics. In 1951 he travelled to London as an advisor to the Prime Minister for the British Commonwealth Prime Ministers' meeting. He was a member of the Australian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in 1953 and was named Ambassador to Ireland. His appointment to Dublin was cancelled in January 1954 and he served instead as Australian Minister to Italy (1954-1957) and Australian Ambassador to Italy (1957-1959). In 1959, McGuire represented Australia at the funeral of Pope Pius XII and the coronation of Pope John XXIII.

McGuire was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1951), received the papal honour of the Grand Cross of the Order of St Sylvester and was awarded Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1967).

He died in Adelaide on 15 June 1978.

Provenance:

The collection was donated to the Library by Frances McGuire in 1980, 1984 and 1993. A small quantity of material from the 1980 instalment was purchased by the Library. Paul McGuire destroyed parts of his papers (particularly relating to the 1939-45 War) shortly before his death.

Arrangement:

The papers have been organised into 21 series by Library staff. Many of the papers were kept in files or envelopes with titles supplied by either Paul or Frances McGuire. The order of the contents of these files has been retained. The cuttings files relating to World War II (series 5, subseries 2) form the only discernible sequence. Other files were arranged, usually chronologically, by Library staff.

Indexed terms

Names:
Paul McGuire

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn131322).
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 Paul McGuire, National Library of Australia, MS 6453, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact:
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