Guide to the Papers of John Christian Watson, 1900-1941

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Summary

Collection number:
MS 451
Creator:
Watson, John Christian, 1867-1941
Extent:
0.3 metres and (2 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of John Christian Watson, National Library of Australia, MS 451, [series and/or item number]'.
Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Available for reference. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:
Correspondence, speeches, articles, notes, press cuttings, receipts, income tax returns, electoral returns, an account book, leaflets, a 1900 pocket diary and photographs. The correspondence includes material on political and trade union matters, most of which falls within the period of Watson's term in Federal Parliament from 1901 to 1910. Subjects include the choice of a site for a federal capital, progressive land tax, conscription, and Watson's retirement from the position of leader of the Labour Party in 1907. Correspondents include Sir Edmund Barton, Sir John Langdon Bonython, Alfred Deakin, Henry Bournes Higgins, Sir Isaac Isaacs, Sir George Houston Reid, Thomas Price, William Morris Hughes, George Beeby, J.S. Collings, Sir Joseph Carruthers, William Dyson, Lord Novar, B.R. Wise, J. Ramsay MacDonald, S.M. Mowle, R. Jebb, J.W. Gregory, and J.M. Toomey. Also included are various speeches, articles and notes relating mainly to Watson's political career, press cuttings (mainly relating to Watson's retirement), receipts, income tax returns, electoral returns, an account book, leaflets, a pocket diary for 1900, and photographs.
Biographical Note:

John Christian Watson was born in Valparaiso, Chile on 9 April, 1867. He was educated in New Zealand and made his way to Australia in the 1880s where he worked as a compositor.

In 1893 he was elected President of the Trades and Labour Federation and President of the Australian Labour Federation. In July 1894 he entered the Legislative Assembly as the member for Young. In 1901 he was elect to the Commonwealth House of Representatives for Bland, and was chosen as Labor Leader in the House. In April 1904 he became the first Labour Prime Minister of Australia. He resigned as Prime Minister in August 1904.

In 1907, owing to ill health, he resigned the leadership of the Labour Party and in 1910 he retired from politics. In 1916 his advocacy of conscription led to his being expelled from the political Labor League.

He was married twice, firstly (1889) to Ada Jane Low, and secondly (1925) to Antonia Lane. He died in Sydney on 18 November, 1941.

Immediate Source of Acquisition:

The papers were donated to the Library by Watson's daughter.

Arrangement:

The collection has been divided into series by type of material. The correspondence has been further divided into subject groups. Where the title of the subject group does not adequately convey the character and scope of the papers involved, a list of items has been included.

Indexed terms

Names:
Watson, John Christian, 1867-1941

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
The collection is available for reference.
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 John Christian Watson, National Library of Australia, MS 451, [series and/or item number]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact:
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