Harvard University, 1975-79

Component identifier:

Series 8

Content Summary:

In 1975, in observance of the bicentennial celebrations of the American Revolution, the Australian Government made a gift to Harvard University to establish an Australian Bicentennial Chair in Australian Studies. Clark was involved in the negotiations that led to the gift and in December 1975 visited Boston to discuss the arrangements with officers of Harvard University. In September 1978 he took up the Visiting Professor of Australian Studies at Harvard. He returned to Australia in February 1979.

The papers in this series consist of correspondence and also student essays, student lists and other memorabilia which Clark accumulated during his time at Harvard in 1978-79. Correspondents include Senator R.G. Withers, Derek Bok, Henry Rosovsky, William Olney, Robin Winks, Sir Nicholas Mansergh, Geoffrey Blainey, D. A Low, G. PShaw, Peter Ryan, John Gross, Bruce Grant, Jill Conway, Don Baker, Geoffrey Fairbairn, Margaret Atwood, Barbara Penny, Terry Smith, Verna Johnson, Kay Ronai and Sir Keith Hancock.

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 In his will Clark bequeathed his papers and unpublished works to the Library on condition that they be closed until the year 2000.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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