University of Melbourne

Component identifier:

Series 18

Content Summary:

The benefaction of a Melbourne businessman, Sidney Myer, and financial provision in the University Act, 1923, led to the creation in 1924 of the Sidney Myer Chair of Commerce and the University of Melbourne School of Commerce. Between 1924 and 1944 Copland was its first Dean and Professor. From 1934 to 1937 he was also Chairman of the Professorial Board, in 1936 acted as Vice Chancellor during Dr R.E. Priestly's absence on leave, and in 1939 was Chairman of the Union Board. During the 1920s and 1930s he was also associated with the work of the Extension Board, the Appointments Board, and other University Committees. Copland was also active in student societies and, for instance, was a President of the Commerce Society and the Melbourne University Dramatic Club. When a second Chair of Economics was created after the War, he was briefly Truby Williams Professor of Economics and in 1946 was granted the title 'Professor Emeritus'. In December 1963 the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on him. A month earlier, he had been guest of honour at the opening of a new Economics and Commerce building. A fuller sketch of this period of his career is given by H. Burton in his 'Sir Douglas Copland and the Melbourne Commerce School'( Economic Record, vol. 36, no. 73, March 1960: 139-142).

Considering the length of time Copland was at the University of Melbourne and the extent of his involvement in its administration, the quantity and coverage of the relevant papers in his collection is somewhat disappointing. What documentation remains has been combined to form Series 18 and arranged into four subseries.

Correspondence in the general alphabetical/chronological files dealing specifically with some aspect of Copland's work at University forms part of the first subseries. It covers 1924-1939. Subjects mentioned here include appointments of staff to the Faculty of Commerce, the acquisition of books and journals for the Faculty library, the revision of courses, scholarships and prizes, correction of exams, and exemptions for certain categories of students. The Faculty of Commerce vote and matters raised at Committee meetings on which Copland sat are also covered. The correspondents include E.V. Nixon, E.C. Dyason, G.L. Wood, George Anderson, the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, Professor L.G. Melville, E.C.W. Kelly, Professor H. Alcock, S.S. Addison, J.P. Bainbridge, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia, Professor K.H. Bailey, Sir John MacFarland, Professor L.F. Giblin, Sir James Barrett, and the Commercial Travellers' Association of Victoria.

The remainder of the first subseries consists of an incomplete set of files Copland kept for correspondence with his students. They cover A-L, 1926; 'External Students', 1928, A-Z, 1930; and miscellaneous correspondence with specific groups of students, 1929-1930.

Subseries 2 also documents Copland's participation in the administration and in the activities of students' and ex students' societies. There are separate files of reports, agenda, photographs, and other papers for the Professorial Board (1929-1931), the Extension Board (1924-31), the Council (1929-1931, 1934), the Board of Studies in Public Administration (1938), the Appointments Board (1927, 1931-1933) and the Library Committee (1927, 1930-1931). Also covered in this way are the Faculty of Commerce (1927-1935), the Faculty of Arts (1929-1938), the Melbourne University Press (1927, 1930-1932), the Habison-Higinbotham Scholarship Committee (1927-1931), the Melbourne University Commerce Society (1929-1931), the Melbourne University Old Commerce Students' Association (1929-1934, 1938), and the Public Questions Society (1929-1931).

Subseries 3 comprises the raw material - mainly sheets of statistics - for an inquiry into the consumption of fruit and vegetables in Melbourne. The inquiry appears to have been conducted by Faculty of Commerce students during 1937 and 1938.

The final subseries has roneoed lecture notes and reading lists, some exam papers and reports of examiners, newspapers cuttings, other miscellaneous material, and several items on the opening of a new Economics and Commerce building and the award of an honorary Doctor of Laws late in 1963.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Lady Copland presented the personal papers of Sir Douglas Copland to the National Library in September 1973. Additions to the collection were received from the Copland Family between 1977 and 1981.

Names:

Copland, D.B. (Douglas Berry), 1894-1971

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