University of Melbourne, 1921-1979

Component identifier:

Series 2

Content Summary:

Ball began his teaching career at the University of Melbourne in 1924. He lectured in Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology. Another period of lecturing, this time in Political Science, followed his trip overseas on the Rockefeller Travelling Fellowship in 1929-1931. He was involved in the establishment of the Department of Political Science at the University of Melbourne and in March 1939 became its head. Ball's academic career was punctuated by various other posts, and even when he was not attached to the University of Melbourne he was giving lectures to organisations, the seminars given to Public Service Board Second Division staff being notable amongst these. Papers relating to the Second Division seminars, to the Australian Administrative Staff College and to Ball's involvement with political associations have been placed in separate series. There are numerous general lecture notes in this series, but of special interest are Ball's notes and essays as an undergraduate (File 53). Lecture notes on Japan have been placed in Series 13.

There are many carbons of Ball's own letters and applications. The letters are largely administrative and addressed to university and institute officials. Occasional correspondents include Sir Kenneth Bailey, L.F. Giblin, Gordon Greenwood (Institute of Commonwealth Studies, London), Geoffrey Hawker (Canberra College of Advanced Education), Karl Heinz Pfeffer (Institute of Commonwealth Studies, London), R. Priestley (Vice-Chancellor, University of Melbourne) and W.C. Wentworth. A file relating to Ball's farewell in 1968 (File 17) includes short letters and testimonials from Manning Clark, David Kemp, Stephen Murray Smith, Sir Patrick Shaw and Sol Encel.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The collection was purchased in 1987 from Ball's widow, Katrine.

Names:

Ball, William Macmahon, 1901-1986

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