Guide to the Papers of Arthur B. Deacon (as filmed by the AJCP), 1907-1935

Summary

Collection number:

M2520 - M2521

Creator:

Deacon, Arthur Bernard

Extent:

39 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 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for reference.

Background

Content Summary:

Correspondence, biographical notes, cuttings, notes on Malekula and linguistics, and other papers relating to Deacon's fieldwork in the New Hebrides and posthumous publication of Malekula. Correspondents include Camilla Wedgwood, A.C. Haddon and A.R. Radcliffe-Brown.

Biographical / Historical:

Arthur Bernard Deacon (1903-27) was born in South Russia where his father was a partner in a shipping firm. He studied Natural Science at Cambridge, and came under the influence of Haddon, who persuaded him to study for a diploma in Anthropology. Haddon suggested he make an ethnographical study of Malekula, Northern New Hebrides. He left for Australia in October 1925 and arrived at South West Bay, Malekula, on 21 January 1926. He travelled extensively, visiting Bushman's Bay, Atchin, Big Nambas Territory, and Ambrym. Before he could leave the island to take up an appointment under Radcliffe Brown at University of Sydney, he caught blackwater fever and died.

His work on Malekula was edited by Camilla Wedgwood and published by Routledge in 1934.

The Deacon papers form part of the Haddon papers at Cambridge University Library. The Haddon papers have been listed separately and should be consulted for further material relating to Deacon. In particular see Box 8: 25/2 File 2 for further correspondence with Ewan Corlette (New Hebrides) and AR Radcliffe-Brown (Sydney).

Related

Existence and Location of Copies:

The original AJCP microfilm of the records filmed from this collection is available at the National Library of Australia [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2304300] as well as other institutions holding AJCP microfilm.

Existence and Location of Originals:

Cambridge University Library, Cambridge, England. For more information see Arthur B. Deacon at Cambridge University Library (https://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0012%2FMS%20Add.9715).

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 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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