Guide to the Papers of Sir Timothy Augustine Coghlan (as filmed by the AJCP), 1855-1969

 

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Collection context

Summary

Collection number:
M807-M814, M828
Creator:
Coghlan, Timothy Augustine, Sir
Extent:
106 items
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February-23 September 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-987654321)

Availability:
Not for loan
Access conditions:
Available for research.

Background

Content Summary:

1. Correspondence 1878-1929, including 18 letters 1905-08 from Alfred Deakin discussing Federal politics and legislation, letters 1887-1920 from Andrew Fisher, B.R. Wise, Sir Henry Parkes, Sir George Dibbs, R.E. O'Connor, and J. Le Gay Brereton; letters, telegrams and cards of congratulations on his knighthood in 1914, and miscellaneous correspondence in chronological order on private and official matters.

2. Letter-books 1906-15 containing copies of letters to 325 friends, business contacts, politicians and officials. They relate to official matters and to his activities as Agent-General for New South Wales, as well as to routine and domestic affairs. Principal correspondents include Sir Joseph Carruthers, Alfred Deakin, Sir Charles Dilke, Sir George Reid, J.W. Holliman, W.M. Hughes, N.C. Lockyer, William Macleod and D.C. McLachlan.

3. Invitations, programs and club membership documents 1888-1925.

4. Legal documents and printed material including notification of honours and letters of condolence on his death.

5. Family correspondence 1885-1926, containing mainly correspondence with his wife and children.

6. Newspaper cuttings 1885-1926 including references to his career in Sydney and London and his contributions to the Bulletin.

7. Photographs of family and of railway construction in Sydney 1922.

Biographical / Historical:

Sir Timothy Augustine Coghlan (1855-1926) was born in Sydney, the son of Irish immigrants. He attended the Cleveland Street Public School and Sydney Grammar School. In 1870 he became a pupil-teacher at Fort Street Public School and in 1873 he joined the Department of Public Works. Enjoying the statistical and mathematical aspects of the work, he rose rapidly and by 1884 he was an assistant engineer. He did not, however, aspire to be an engineer and in 1886 he successfully sought the new position of government statistician.

Coghlan held the post for nearly twenty years and was widely recognised as the leading statistician in Australia. He became a fellow of the Royal Statistical Society in 1893. He published the annual New South Wales Statistical Register and the Wealth and Progress of New South Wales. An ambitious man, he expanded the functions of his office and eagerly accepted commissions from the Government. He advised it on financial, electoral reform and local government matters, he was a member of the Public Service Board from 1896 onwards and was the Registrar of Friendly Societies from 1892 to 1905. He served on a number of royal commissions. He was the obvious choice for the position of Commonwealth Statistician, but he turned down the offer in 1906.

Coghlan visited England in 1897 and investigated the Agent-General's office on behalf of the Public Service Board. In 1905 he accepted the position of acting Agent-General and he lived in England for the rest of his life. He took a strong interest in loan transactions and other financial matters and in the early years was regarded as the general Australian representative in London. This role was taken over by the Australian High Commissioner in 1910 and Coghlan's position later became uncertain. Nevertheless, his appointment as Agent-General was renewed at various times up to 1925. He pursued private business interests and completed his magnum opus, the four volume history, Labour and industry in Australia (1918).

Coghlan was knighted in 1914 and created a KCMG in 1918. He married Helena Donnelly in 1897 and they had three children.

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
Available for access.
Conditions Governing Use:
Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.
Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February-23 September 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-987654321)

Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact: