Special Collections relating to Sir Edmund Barton and Lady Jean Barton in the National Library of Australia


National Library of Australia

Manuscript Section
National Library of Australia
Parkes, ACT 2600
Phone: +61 2 6262 1250
Fax: +61 2 6262 1516
Email: manuscripts@nla.gov.au
URL: http://www.nla.gov.au/ms/

Date completed: 15 October 2002

This guide was created in association with the National Archives of Australia for the Australia's Prime Ministers website.


Scope and Content

The Library holds the personal papers of Sir Edmund Barton (MS 51),which have been digitised and are available online. In addition, the Library holds a few other Barton collections which were received from various sources as well as other manuscript collections (including microfilm copies) which contain letters or other materials relating to Barton. In this listing, the main collection is listed first, followed by the other sources relating to Sir Edmund Barton (in alphabetical order) and papers relating to Lady Jean Barton.




Papers relating to Sir Edmund Barton


Barton, Sir Edmund. Papers, 1827-1940.
Collection Number: MS 51
Quantity: 1.12 metres (5 boxes and 16 security binders and 11 folio items); also on microfilm (Mfm G 27550-27555).

The collection consists of correspondence, personal papers, press cuttings, photographs and papers relating to the Federation campaign and the first Parliament of the Commonwealth. The correspondence from 1827 to 1896 relates mainly to the business and family affairs of William Barton, and to Edmund's early legal and political work. Correspondence 1898-1905 concerns the Federation campaign, the London conference 1900 and Barton's Prime Ministership, 1901-1903. Correspondence 1906-1920 relates mainly to Barton's family and to his work in the High Court. Correspondents include Alfred Deakin, Lord Forrest, Lord Hopetoun, Joseph Chamberlain, Sir Samuel Griffith, Sir William Lyne, Sir Henry Parkes, Lord Tennyson, Lord Jersey, George W.E. Russell, and Sir George Reid. There are also press cuttings relating to the Hastings-Macleay election, 1898, and to the activities of the Federation delegates in London, 1900; Commonwealth Constitution material, 1885-1901, some of it annotated in Barton's hand; family documents; commissions and honours. This collection is digitised.

Australasian Federation League of New South Wales. Records, 1871-1909.
Collection Number: MS 47
Quantity: 1.52 metres

These papers were assembled by Edward Dowling, the secretary of the Australasian Federation League of New South Wales. The League was formed by Barton in 1893, and items in this collection include correspondence with Alfred Deakin and Sir George Reid (1893-1909); and material relating to the People's Federal Convention, Bathurst in 1896, which Barton attended. A descriptive list is available.

Barton, Sir Edmund. Address by citizens of Ottawa, 1902.
Collection Number: MS 1612
Quantity: One page

Address presented by the citizens of Ottawa, Canada, given on 10 September 1902 to welcome Sir Edmund Barton, the first Prime Minister of the Federated Commonwealth of Australia.

Barton, Sir Edmund. Letters, papers, bill, 1887-1947.
Collection Number: MS 292
Quantity: 97 pages (0.01 metres with one folder)

This collection consists of 28 pages of typescript copies of correspondence between Barton and Parkes (1887-1893); 69 pages of papers collected by John Reynolds (1900-1947) for his biography, 'Edmund Barton' (typescript and manuscript); and a typescript Bill for the Federation of the Australian Colonies.

Barton, Sir Edmund. Letters, 1901.
Collection Number: MS 1530
Quantity: 0.01 metres

This small collection includes a 'National Ode' dedicated to Barton by H. A. Stuart and a letter to the Prime Minister asking for approval of an enclosed 'National Song of Federated Australia' (May-June 1901).

Barton, Sir Edmund. Letter to Sir Isaac Isaacs, 1903.
Collection Number: MS 5917
Quantity: Two pages

This collection consists of a letter to Sir Isaac Isaacs, dated 24 September 1903, thanking him for his congratulations on Barton becoming Senior Puisne Judge of the High Court of Australia.

Barton, Sir Edmund. Speech at opening of Federal Parliament, 10 May 1901.
Collection Number: MS 2133
Quantity: Five pages

Typescript draft with manuscript amendments by Barton.

Bavin, Sir Thomas. Papers, 1898-1942.
Collection Number: MS 560
Quantity: 0.42 metres (three boxes)

Sir Thomas Bavin was the private secretary to Barton and Deakin and later became the NSW Premier. His papers from 1898 to 1942 include a long series of letters by both men and notes for speeches by Barton (1901-1903). A descriptive list is available. Bavin's papers are an important source of information about Australian politics and law between 1900 and 1920, as well as documenting his close association with the first two Prime Ministers of Australia.

Buchanan, Alfred. 'The Prime Ministers of Australia', 1940.
Collection Number: MS 3034
Quantity: 1 volume (folio)

Alfred Buchanan's 'The Prime Ministers of Australia' is an unpublished manuscript comprising biographies of all Prime Ministers from Edmund Barton to Robert Menzies.

Campbell-Jones, Herbert. 'The Cabinet of Captains: the romance of Australia's first Federal Parliament', c1935.
Collection Number: MS 8905
Quantity: One typescript

Campbell-Jones was the parliamentary correspondent of the Melbourne Argus. 'The Cabinet of Captains: The romance of Australia's first Federal Parliament' contains his recollections of the Barton Ministry, the establishment of Commonwealth Parliament in 1901 and the first parliamentarians, including detailed accounts of Barton, Deakin, Reid, Cook, Watson, Fisher and Hughes.

Chamberlain, Joseph. Papers, 1894-1914.
Collection Number: Mfm M 867-868
Quantity: Two microfilm reels

Joseph Chamberlain was the British Secretary of State for the Colonies (1895-1903). His correspondence from 1894 to 1914 includes reference to Federation in Australia, imperial conferences, colonial trade and defence. Correspondents include Edmund Barton and Alfred Deakin. Filmed by the Australian Joint Copying Project from originals held in the University of Birmingham Library, England. A descriptive list is available.

Crisp, Leslie Finlay, Papers, 1878-1984. Papers, 1878-1984.
Collection Number: MS 5243
Quantity: 20.8 metres (140 boxes + 2 folios)

Crisp was an academic, biographer of Ben Chifley and author of numerous publications on federation and Australian politics. The bulk of the collection consists of subject files on a wide range of topics compiled mainly from newspaper cuttings and journal articles. There are files on all Australian prime ministers from Sir Edmund Barton to Malcolm Fraser. A descriptive list is available.

Deakin, Alfred. Papers, 1804-1973.
Collection Number: MS 1540
Quantity: 12.64 metres (83 boxes, 31 security binders ) + 8 folio boxes; also available on microfilm (Mfm G 28063-28111)

Alfred Deakin, a leading Federation figure with Barton, was Australia's first Attorney-General 1901, and Prime Minister three times during the early part of the twentieth century (1903-1904,1905-1908 and 1909-1910). His papers, dating from 1804-1973 (bulk dates 1880-1919), include diaries, notebooks, cuttings, programs, manuscripts, photographs and correspondence, including extensive correspondence with Barton (1894-1916). A descriptive list is available.

Document of congratulation from British fair traders and advocates of Imperial preferential trade, 1902.
Collection Number: MS 1608
Quantity: One page

Illuminated manuscript presented to Sir Edmund Barton, London, June 1902.

Drake, James G.. Papers, 1875-1913.
Collection Number: MS 6305
Quantity: 0.04 metres (2 folders)

J. G. Drake was a journalist,federal politician and Minister. His papers include letters received from Barton, Alfred Deakin and George Reid (1875-1913), and a copy of a memorandum, dated 3 July 1905, exchanged between the Prime Minister, George Reid, and the Governor-General, Lord Northcote.

Fisher, Andrew. Papers, 1885-1940.
Collection Number: MS 2919
Quantity: 2.36 metres (15 boxes)

Much of this collection document Fisher's political career, especially his three terms as Australia's Prime Minister and his work as High Commissioner in London (1915-1921). Includes two letters of Barton, 1913-1915.

Groom, Sir Littleton Ernest. Newspaper cuttings, 1888-1936.
Collection Number: MS 1452
Quantity: 0.48 metres

Groom was a Federal politician (1901-1929, 1931-1936), Speaker of the House of Representatives (1926-1929) and a Minister in several Governments. This collection contains newspaper clippings, the bulk of which date from 1898 to 1901, about Federation and federal politics. It contains many articles about Barton, including his obituaries.

Groom, Sir Littleton Ernest. Papers, c1880-1936.
Collection Number: MS 236
Quantity: 29 boxes

These papers include correspondence with Barton, Alfred Deakin, Sir John Forrest, King O'Malley and Joseph Cook from c1880 to 1936. A detailed descriptive list is available. Additional material related to this collection is contained in MS 1135.

Higgins, Henry Bournes. Papers, 1841-1929.
Collection Number: MS 1057
Quantity: 1.21 metres

A delegate to the Federation Convention, Federal politician and judge, Justice Higgins' correspondents include Barton (1913-1919), Andrew Fisher and William Morris Hughes (1854-1929). A descriptive list is available.

Hopetoun, John, 7th Earl . Papers, 1881-1904.
Collection Number: Mfm M936-937
Quantity: Two microfilm reels

The 7th Earl of Hopetoun (John Adrian Louis Hope) was Australia's first Governor-General (1901-1903). Principal correspondents (1881-1904) include Barton and Deakin. Letters from Barton to Hopetoun deal with the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, the Pacific Islanders' Bill and the Anglo-Japanese Treaty. Microfilmed by the Australian Joint Copying Project from original held at Hopetoun House, Scotland. A descriptive list is available. Other Hopetoun papers are microfilmed at M1154-1156 and M1584.

Hunt, Arthur Atlee. Papers, 1900-1930.
Collection Number: MS 52
Quantity: 0.90 metres; also available on microfilm (Mfm G 28209-23214)

Atlee Hunt was one of the first senior federal public servants. He was Edmund Barton's private secretary (1901) and became the Secretary of the Department of External Affairs (1901-1917) and Secretary to the Department of Home and Territories (1917-1921). The papers in this collection consist chiefly of correspondence about Australia's administrative activities and interests in Britain, the Pacific Islands, Papua and the Northern Territory. Main correspondents include both Barton and Deakin. Series 38 and 39 include letters from Barton 1901-1904. A letter from Barton (25 September 1903) thanks Hunt and his staff for their hard work and loyalty, along with some remarks on the role of civil servants. A descriptive list is available.

Imperial Federation League (Victoria). Letter book, 1889-1910.
Collection Number: MS 49
Quantity: 0.05 metres; also available on microfilm (Mfm G 25080)

The League's letter book from 1889 to 1910 includes letters to Barton, Joseph Cook, Alfred Deakin (a member and was President from 1904) and Sir George Reid.

Isaacs, Sir Isaac. Papers, 1875-1966.
Collection Number: MS 2755
Quantity: 1.30 metres

Sir Isaac Isaacs was a Federation Convention delegate, the Federal Attorney-General (1905-1906), a High Court judge and then Chief Justice (1930), and the Governor-General (1931-1936). The papers from 1875 to 1966 include copies of correspondence between Barton and Sir Samuel Griffith, who was appointed first Chief Justice in 1903. A descriptive list is available.

James, Sir Walter Hartwell. Papers, 1897-1913.
Collection Number: MS 296
Quantity: 109 pages (photocopies)

Politician, member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia, Premier and Attorney General (1902-1904). This is a collection of letters, including two from Barton (1898-1899), relating broadly to Federation.

Letter and handbills relating to Australian Federation, 1897-1898.
Collection Number: MS 50
Quantity: 11-page letter (manuscript)

These papers include a letter (dated 20 July 1897) to Barton from John Douglas, Government Resident on Thursday Island and Acting Special Commissioner for the Protectorate of Southern New Guinea commenting on the Federation Convention and its implications.

Lyne, Sir William John. Correspondence, 1900.
Collection Number: MS 129
Quantity: 0.01 metres (one folder)

Lyne was Premier of New South Wales (1899-1901) and a Federal parliamentarian and Minister. Letters and telegrams relating to the attempt of Lyne, the NSW Premier, to form a Federal administration, December 1900. The material includes references to Barton, Deakin and Reid.

Maughan Family. Papers, 1920-1990.
Collection Number: MS 8988
Quantity: 0.14 metres (one box)

Jean Maughan was Barton's daughter. These papers provide relatively little information about Barton's personal life or his family. They include a letter on Barton's aspirations for the Federation, newspaper cuttings on his death, copies of lists of Barton papers held by individuals and repositories, and granddaughter Ann Macintosh' papers (1975-1990) on Barton.

Munro-Ferguson, Sir Ronald Craufurd . Papers, 1912-1935.
Collection Number: MS 696
Quantity: 1.92 metres (13 boxes); also available on microfilm (Mfm G1228-1239)

Sir Ronald Munro-Ferguson (later Lord Novar) was Governor-General of Australia (1914-1920). His papers from 1912-1935 include official dispatches to the King, personal letters to the King's private secretary and private correspondence with Prime Ministers Barton (1914-1919), Fisher, Cook, Reid and Hughes. A descriptive list is available.

Reid, Sir George Houstoun. Papers, 1889-1918.
Collection Number: MS 7842
Quantity: 1.76 metres (6 boxes)

Reid was the NSW Premier between 1894 and 1899. He was an important figure in Australian Federation, becoming a member of the House of Representatives, 1901-1908; Prime Minister, 1904-1905; and Australian High Commissioner in London, 1909-1916. Reid's papers include correspondence with Barton and references to Deakin and other political figures. Descriptive list available.

Symon, Sir Josiah Henry. Papers, 1863-1934 .
Collection Number: MS 1736
Quantity: 10.56 metres

Sir Josiah Symon was a Federal Convention delegate, Senator and Federal Attorney-General (1904-1905). The papers in this collection cover every phase of Symon's life, including his involvement in Federation, federal conventions and the Senate, and include correspondence with Edmund Barton (1894-1904), Joseph Cook, Alfred Deakin and George Reid. A descriptive list is available.

Tennyson, Hallam, 2nd Baron. Papers, 1887-1924.
Collection Number: MS 479
Quantity: 1.44m. (9 boxes) + folio items

Lord Tennyson was Governor of South Australia and Australia's second Governor-General (1903-1904). This collection contains 12 letters from Barton. Descriptive list available.

Tennyson, Hallam, 2nd Baron . Papers, 1893-1913.
Collection Number: MS 1963
Quantity: 0.15 metres

This collection consists mainly of about 180 letters, principally from Tennyson's time as Governor-General. Chief correspondents include Barton (1902-1903) and Deakin. A descriptive list is available.

'The Prime Ministers'- (Episode 1, 1880s-1914), 1983.
Collection Number: A19066856
Quantity: One videocassette

Recorded by: Boland and Assistants (production for Regional Television). Episode one of 'The Prime Ministers' deals with the Federation movement and the first seven prime ministers of Australia (ie Barton, Deakin, Watson, Fisher, Cook, Reid and Hughes). It covers the period from the 1880s to 1914.

This film is held by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne.

Watson, John Christian. Papers, 1900-1941.
Collection Number: MS 451
Quantity: 0.3 metres

Chris Watson was the first leader of the Federal Labor Party and Prime Minister in 1904. His papers include correspondence with Barton, Deakin and Reid. A descriptive list is available.



Papers relating to Lady Jean Barton


In addition to the Barton Papers (MS 51), the Library holds the papers of the Maughan Family.

Maughan Family. Papers, 1920-1990.
Collection Number: MS 8988
Quantity: 0.14 metres (one box)

Jean Maughan, the eldest daughter of Sir Edmund and Lady Barton, married David Maughan, a Sydney barrister, in 1909. The collection includes Lady Barton's will, a letter to Lady Barton from later Prime Minister J. Scullin, and a catalogue of auctioned Barton family items.