The Round Table, 1920-1970

Component identifier:

Series 51

Content Summary:

The Round Table was formed in 1910 to study and promote the ideals and benefits of the British Empire. Its growth and establishment in Britain, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia is traced in John Kendle's The Round Table Movement and imperial preference (University of Toronto Press, 1975). Copland joined the Melbourne Group in 1920 and remained a member and occasional contributor to its journal and discussions until 1970.

The Round Table papers in the Copland collection form Series 51. Included are notices, reports and circulars of meetings of the Melbourne Group, discussion papers, drafts of articles, and correspondence. The series has a short incomplete run of the journal The Round Table (No. 115, 1939; No. 213 1963- No, 239, 1970) and letters from Round Table officials such as Professor W. Prest, R.L. Stack, Professor T.H. Laby, E.L. Piesse, Tristan Buesst, W.J.V. Windeyer, and Sir Ivison Macadam. Round Table discussions ranged widely over Empire and later Commonwealth affairs and there are papers and draft articles in Series 51 on the birthrate, migration, defence, foreign and economic policy, and Australian federal politics.

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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