General writings, talks and broadcasts, 1936-1985

Component identifier:

Series 9

Content Summary:

Ball once described himself as a 'publicist'. This epithet encompassed lecturing, broadcasting and journalism, and included his role as Controller of Short Wave Broadcasts in 1940-44. His work as a writer and speaker began in the 1920s and continued throughout most of his life. One highlight of his broadcasting career was when he worked for the ABC and BBC in 1938-39, travelling through Sudetenland and Czechoslovakia as a broadcasting observer. During the 1950s, in particular, he was an influential commentator on international affairs. He worked closely with the ABC from the 1930s to the 1960s. Ball wrote articles and reviews for several magazines and newspapers, including the Age, Melbourne Herald, Mainichi (Japan) and Nation (New York).

Because of the difficulty of distinguishing drafts and notes which were intended for articles from those intended for talks and broadcasts, they have all been brought together in this series, with some clustering according to dates, topics and the Australian Broadcasting Commission. As well as drafts and notes for articles, talks and reviews, this series contains related correspondence. Correspondents include Fred Alexander, Arthur Calwell, Tom Crutchley, M.F. Dixon (ABC), Tom Fitzgerald, Jack Gill (Australian Natives' Association), W.M. Gray, Gordon Greenwood, W.R. Hodgson, Arthur Lowndes, Carey McWilliam (Nation editor), B.H. Molesworth, Charles Moses, Sir Keith Murdoch, Bill Oostermeyer, Nettie Palmer, Rohan Rivett, Peter Ryan, Sir Patrick Shaw and Robert Whitelaw.

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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