Canberra University College, 1953-60

Component identifier:

Series 6

Content Summary:

Canberra University College, which was affiliated with the University of Melbourne, took its first students in 1930. Most of the students were public servants and all were part-timers. After the War, funding for the College was increased significantly. In January 1949 Herbert Burton was appointed Principal and Professor of Economic History and his immediate task was the appointment of new staff. His first appointment was Clark, who arrived in Canberra in September 1949 to take up the first chair of History. He remained in this position until 1960, when the College amalgamated with the Australian National University.

There are relatively few papers on Clark's work as a teacher or on Canberra University College generally. Most of the papers relate to meetings of Australian historians in 1955-58.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Manning Clark's association with the National Library extended over forty years and much of his research for A history of Australia was carried out in its reading rooms. In the final volume, published in 1987, he wrote that 'The Petherick Room, the Manuscripts Room, and the Newspaper Room are present in every page of this volume, just as they are present always in my heart'. In 1988 Clark began transferring papers from his home to the Library and they were formally presented under the Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme in April 1989. Further donations under the Scheme were made in January 1990, June 1990 and May 1991, a few days before his death. The papers received in 1989-91 make up the bulk of the collection. They include most of the correspondence, the drafts of his books and other writings, and the research material for A history of Australia. In his will Clark bequeathed his papers and unpublished works to the Library on condition that they be closed until the year 2000. The remaining papers were received from Dymphna Clark in 1994-95. They included his diaries, notebooks and further correspondence, including some substantial files of letters from major correspondents. Some correspondence, manuscript articles and references were also transferred from the History Department at the Australian National University.

Names:

Clark, Manning, AC, Professor (Charles Manning Hope)

Contents

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