Social Science Research Council of Australia, 1953-1960

Component identifier:

Series 70

Content Summary:

In 1952 the Social Science Research Council of Australia (S.S.R.C.A.) replaced the Australian National Research Council's Committee for Research in the Social Sciences. Like its predecessor however, the S.S.R.C.A. continued to encourage the advancement of the social sciences in Australia and to promote research and subsidise publications. Copland was connected with the Council in three ways. While still Vice Chancellor of the Australian National University, he helped the new Council raise funds in an approach to the Prime Minister R.G. Menzies in 1953. Secondly, during the mid-1950s he was a member of its Executive Committee and remained a member until his resignation in 1961. Thirdly, Copland and his editor R.H. Barback received a small grant from the Council to help publish their work The conflict of expansion and stability: documents relating to Australian economic policy 1945-52 (Cheshire; 1957).

Most of the records in Series 70, which is devoted to Copland's relations with the S.S.R.C.A. were received while Copland was Australian High Commissioner to Canada. They include his correspondence with Professors P.H. Partridge and W.D. Borrie, and Dr Roland Wilson. Apart from correspondence, there are some items received when Copland returned to Australia, such as annual reports, circulars, financial statements, minutes of Executive Committee meetings, and a few copies of Australian Social Science Abstracts. Other printed material in the series consists of reports and publications of the American Social Science Research Council.

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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