Personal correspondence, 1956-84

Component identifier:

Series 1

Content Summary:

Osborne maintained a fairly extensive series of files of personal correspondence. This series documents the personal and social contact he had with other parliamentarians, business associates, family and friends. Most of Osborne's own letters were typed, and this series contains often multiple copies of his letters, interfiled with those he received.

The correspondents include Lord Casey, Sir Eric Harrison, Sir Allen Fairhall, Sir Percy Spender, Sir Alexander Downer, Sir Philip McBride, Sir Robert Southey, StaniforthRicketson, Harold Holt, Frederick Deer, Morgan Giles, Dr Donald Cameron, Duncan McCallum, James Wolfensohn, A. Stewart Richardson, John McKay Sim, Roger Dean, Mark Johnson, John McMinn, John Bowen, Arthur Lowndes, Alan Ritchie, George Le Couteur, Dr John Osborne, and Nancy Osborne.

The correspondence documents Osborne's interests and contemporary events, including foreign affairs, national and international politics and events, armed forces, defence, South-East Asian affairs, SEATO, the economy, industrial legislation, Britain-Australian relationships and politics, and the Liberal Party organisation. There is also correspondence relating to numerous associations with which Osborne was affiliated, including the London House Committee, the Round Table Group, the Swiss-Australia Society, the Australia-Britain Association, the Australia American Association, the Australian Institute of Management, the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, and the Union Club.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Frederick Osborne presented the first instalment of his papers to the Library in 1973, and a second instalment was received from him in 1995.

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