Guide to the Papers of David Tothill, 1987-2009

Summary

Collection number:

MS 9261, MS Acc05.043, MS Acc12.003

Creator:

David Tothill

Extent:

1.53 metres and (10 boxes, 3 folders)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of David Tothill, National Library of Australia [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Part available for research; part requires permission for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The collection contains personal files created by him during his term as South African Ambassador to Australia, from 1988 to 1992. The files include general correspondence with the Australian public and various government departments, correspondence regarding Tothill's official visits and engagements, and an extensive collection of letters from the public commenting on his media interviews, speeches and column 'South African Opinion' in the Weekend Australian. There are also numerous requests for the three compilation volumes of his column, David Tothill's South African Opinion I (1990), South African Opinion II (1991) and South African Opinion III (1992).

The files contain correspondence with a number of Australian and New Zealand political and public figures, discussing such topics as media reports on South Africa, Australian - South African relations and political reforms. Among the correspondents are Sir Charles Court, Ian Sinclair, Kim E. Beazley, Michael Baume, Ross Meurant, Ric Smith, Michael Cobb, Richard Carleton and Gareth Evans.

Biographical Note:

Date	Event
1936	Francis David Tothill born 10 June, at Pretoria, South Africa
1959	Joined the South African Department of Foreign Affairs
1959-64	Head Office, Department of Foreign Affairs, Pretoria
1964-70	Member of South African Mission to the United Nations, New York
1970-75	Returned to United Nations and South West African Affairs Division, Department of Foreign Affairs
1975-80	Ambassador, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Geneva
1980-84	Ambassador to Argentina
1984-88	Returned to Head Office, Department of Foreign Affairs
1988-92	Ambassador to Australia
1992-96	Chief Director Americas, Asia and Oceania
1995	Completed Doctoral Thesis <em>South African-Australian Diplomatic Relations 1945-1964</em>
1996	Retired from Foreign Service
1998	Awarded Harold White Fellowship, National Library of Australia

Provenance:

Dr David Tothill donated the bulk of the collection to the Library in August 1998. Further additions were made by Tothill in December 1999, July 2000 and January 2002.

Indexed terms

Names:

David Tothill

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2043081).

Conditions Governing Use:

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of David Tothill, National Library of Australia [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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