Diaries, 1945-87

Component identifier:

Series 3

Content Summary:

Although the long sequence of diaries starts in 1947, there are two notebooks at the end of the series containing diary notes for 1945-46. Over a period of 42 years the format of the diaries hardly changed. They record Plimsoll's daily activities, official, social and personal, usually down to the hour and sometimes to the minute. They do not, however, record the content of conversations or discussions, nor do they record his thoughts, impressions and feelings on any subject.

Some of the diaries contain lists of letters sent or books read. Similar lists can be found in Series 4.

Apart from some correspondence in Series 1, the diaries are the only papers affected by the fire in the Australian Embassy in Moscow in 1977. Nearly all the pre-1977 diaries are fire-damaged, but fortunately very little text has been lost. The worst eight diaries have been photocopied and the originals may not be used.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Sir James Plimsoll, who died on 8 May 1987, bequeathed his papers and books to the National Library. Following intervention by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the executors were informed that some of the papers were Commonwealth records and others were records of the Tasmanian Government. Consequently, the papers were transferred to the Australian Archives for detailed examination. It was finally determined that 149 boxes would come to the National Library, four boxes would be sent to the Tasmanian State Archives, and the remaining boxes would be retained by the Australian Archives. The papers were received by the National Library in March 1990.

Names:

Sir James Plimsoll

Contents

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