Australian National University, 1960-76

Component identifier:

Series 7

Content Summary:

The 1946 Australian National University Act provided for the possible incorporation of Canberra University College. There was strong opposition to the idea from some academics, but at the end of 1959 the Prime Minister announced that the two institutions would be amalgamated. The amalgamation took place on 1 October 1960. The departments of Canberra University College formed the new School of General Studies and were organised into four faculties: Arts, Economics, Law and Science. Herbert Burton continued to be Principal of the School until his retirement in 1965.

Clark was the Head of the Department of History from October 1960 until 31 December 1971. He then remained in the Department as the first Professor of Australian History, finally retiring in 1975. He was also Dean of the Faculty of Arts in 1961-63.

The bulk of the papers in this series were files kept in the office of the History Department; they were transferred to the Library after Clark's death. The correspondence files contain both in-letters and out-letters, but the latter predominate. Many of them relate to the University and to colleagues and students, but there are other letters on public matters or of a personal kind. In some instances, the letters written to Clark can be found in Series 1, whereas the replies are in this series. The recipients of letters include Don Baker, Geoffrey Bolton, John Cobley, R. M Crawford, Geoffrey Dutton, Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Alan Gilbert, Bruce Grant, Ken Inglis, Noel McLachlan, Ann Moyal, Les Murray, Patrick O'Farrell, Geoffrey Serle, G.P. Shaw, Sir Patrick Shaw, Keith Sinclair, Sir Richard Southern, Hugh Stretton, J. M Ward, Russel Ward, Patrick White, E. G Whitlam, Robin Winks and Judith Wright.

Files 45-57 were received from Clark's home. They contain correspondence, minutes of Faculty meetings and leaflets and other papers documenting student protest activities at the University. The correspondents include Sir Leonard Huxley, Sir John Crawford, Cecil Gibb, Herbert Burton and W. S Hamilton.

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)

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