United States of America tour, 1945

Containers:

Box 3 (MS 9890)

Component identifier:

Series 6

Content Summary:

In January 1945, Edwards was one of six Australian delegates to attend the 9th International Conference of the Institute of Pacific Relations held in Hot Springs, Virginia. The other delegates were Richard Boyer, Kenneth Bailey, James Brigden, Sir Frederic Eggleston and Alan Watt. Following the conference, Edwards undertook a six-week lecture tour of Nebraska, Minnesota and Texas, speaking at various venues on the topic of 'Australia, New Zealand and the Islands of the South Pacific'. He also spent time in New York where on 4 February he preached a sermon at the Cathedral of St John the Divine.

Contained in this series are papers relating to the trip. There is a list of conference delegates, photographs of the Australian delegation and cuttings. For the remainder of the trip there is correspondence relating to his lectures, travel ephemera and the text of his sermon in New York. Included in the correspondence is a note to Edwards signed by Robert Garran from the Council Members of the Canberra Grammar School, enclosing a cheque in token of their esteem as a contribution towards his expenses.

On his return to Australia Edwards gave a national radio broadcast about his trip. The text of his address - entitled America as I saw it - is included in the papers.

4 files

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers of William John Edwards were donated to the Library by his son-in-law, Arthur Pulford, in 2003. The papers had been in the possession of Edwards' daughter, Jill Pulford, since 1967 and came to the Library following her death.

Names:

Arthur Pulford

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