Correspondence, 1951-1991

Component identifier:

Series 2

Content Summary:

An interesting sequence of letters written by and to Sawer over the course of his professional career. High Court and other high-ranking judges predominate as correspondents, such as Sir John Norris, Sir John Latham, Sir Garfield Barwick, Sir Anthony Mason, Sir Owen Dixon, Sir John Barry, Rae Else-Mitchell, Percy Joske, Martin Kriewaldt and Trevor Rapke. There are also two letters exchanged with Lord Denning, Royal Master of the Rolls in England which refer to cases in British law. Many of the letters contain detailed discussions of points of law and reasonings for judicial decisions.

In addition to the judicial correspondence, Folder 4 contains two letters concerning the dismissal of the Whitlam Government, whilst Folder 5 contains a letter and member list of the International Academy of Comparative Law, of which Sawer was an Emeritus Member, and papers relating to Sawer's Honorary Membership of the Australian Institute of Administrative Law.

A small amount of additional correspondence is interfiled in Sawer's diaries in Series 1, and amongst press cuttings and printed papers foldered in Series 7 and Series 16.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers were donated to the Library by Sawer and his wife Nancy in four instalments in 1971, 1995, 1996 and 1998.

Names:

Sawer, Geoffrey, 1910-1996

Contents

Access and use