MS 762 and MS 2212
Papers of Sir Joseph Cook (1860-1947)
MS 762
- Papers
- 1919-1927
- 13 cm (9 folders)
- Available for reference
Material relating to the Paris Peace Conference (1919) and the Naval
Armaments Conference (1927). Also included is a file labelled 'Status of
the High Commissioners', 1926. Many of the papers relating to the Paris
Peace Conference were written or assembled by J.G. Latham, who accompanied
Cook to the Conference.
This collection was donated to the Library in 1953 by Mr R. Cecil
Cook, son of Sir Joseph Cook.
MS 2212
- Papers
- 1880-1986
- 56 cm (4 boxes)
- Available for reference
This collection is a mixture of material created by Joseph Cook, and
material gathered by Mrs Mary Wood, his granddaughter. It consists of a
small number of notebooks, a commission as NSW Secretary for Mines and
Agriculture, an illuminated address, the text of the Treaty of Versailles,
a passport, photographs, newspaper cuttings, and miscellaneous printed and
photocopied material relating to Cook.
The first consignment of this collection was donated to the Library in
1968 by Mrs Wood. A further consignment, also originating from Mrs Wood,
was purchased from a book dealer in 1995.
Related Material
In addition to the Cook Papers the Library holds other manuscript collections (including microfilm copies) which contain letters or other materials relating to Cook. These are described in Special collections relating to Sir Joseph Cook in the National Library of Australia
1860: Born 7th December, at Silverdale, Staffordshire.
1873: Became family breadwinner after his father's death.
1885: Married Mary Turner on August 8, emigrated to Australia
shortly after.
1887: Employed at the Vale of Clwydd colliery, Lithgow NSW.
1891: Elected to NSW Parliament as Labor Member for Hartley.
1893: Elected leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party.
1894: Left the Labour Party, appointed Postmaster-General.
1898-99: Secretary for Mines and Agriculture.
1901-21: Represented Parramatta in the Federal Parliament.
1905: Deputy-leader of the Free Trade Party.
1908: Leader of the Free Trade Party
1909-10: Minister for Defence, and deputy leader of the newly formed
Liberal Party.
1913: 13th January, replaced Alfred Deakin as leader of the Liberal
Party.
1913-14: Prime Minister, Minister for Home Affairs.
1917-20: Minister for the Navy in W.M. Hughes' Nationalist ministry.
1918: Represented Australia at the Imperial War Conference and in
the Imperial War Cabinet, along with Hughes.
1918: Knighted.
1919: Represented Australia at the Versailles Peace Conference
1920-21: Treasurer.
1921-27: High Commissioner for Australia in London.
1928-29: Chair of the Royal Commission into the Finances of South
Australia as Affected by Federation.
1929: Retired to Bellevue Hill, Sydney.
1947: Died 30th July.
References:
Australian Encyclopaedia
Australian Dictionary of Biography
Commonwealth Parliamentary Handbook
Original file names have been used for each folder.
Peace Conference, Paris, 1919
Folder
1, 1a. 'Ex-German colonies I, correspondence, memoranda': reports,
cables, memoranda and newspaper cuttings about the former German colonies
in the Pacific; includes a letter from Andew Fisher, and a report
'Australia's claim to the German islands'; July 1918 - May 1919.
2. 'Ex-German colonies II, peace clauses': minutes and draft treaty
clauses relating to the German colonies and the treatment of Germans in
former German colonies; also a few letters to/from Commander J.G. Latham;
Jan - May 1919.
3. 'Ex-German colonies III: Nauru': memoranda, copies of correspondence,
agreement between United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand for
administration of the mandate over the island of Nauru, Nov 1918 - Aug
1919. Correspondents include Sir Joseph Cook, W.M. Hughes, and W.F. Massey
(NZ).
4. 'Ex-German colonies IV: official documents': printed and roneoed
memoranda and minutes on the future of the German colonies, Jul 1918 - May
1919.
4a. Ex-German colonies IV: official documents (Xerox copies of Folder
4).
5. 'Status of the High Commissioners' (file numbered 441/3/98):
memoranda and letters on the status of the High Commissioners of the
Dominions in London, 1926. The letters are from Sir James Allen, New
Zealand High Commissioner.
Naval Disarmament Conference, Geneva, 1927
6. 'Telegrams, London': roneoed telegrams, mainly between the British
Delegation at Geneva and the Foreign Office, 1927.
7. 'Telegrams, Manchester (Massachusetts)': roneoed telegrams from Sir
Esme Howard (1863-1939), British Ambassador to the United States, 1927.
This collection has been divided into material relating directly to
Sir Joseph and Dame Mary Cook, and material gathered by his granddaughter,
Mrs Mary Wood.
Material relating directly to Sir Joseph Cook
Folder
1.1897 Federal Convention wallet with a few notes and cuttings; 1909
diary containing political notes; 1918 diary containing political notes.
2. 1922 appointments diary; 1924 diary containing political notes.
3. Small commonplace book, including political notes; Loose notes for
speeches, n.d.
4. Commission appointing Cook Secretary for Mines and Agriculture for
New South Wales, and a covering letter, 1898.
5. Illuminated address presented to Cook by residents of
Wallerawang on his transfer from New South Wales Parliament to Federal
parliament, May 1901.
6. Versailles Conference, 1919: Conditions of Peace [text of the
Treaty of Versailles].
7. Journal of the International Economic Conference, Geneva:5
May 1927., 7 May 1927.
8Miscellaneous Documents: Envelope addressed to Miss C.M. Cook,
c/o Bradford, England, from Sydney, 1936, containing photograph of London
and message describing lodgings in London; Cabin-class passage ticket,
Liverpool-Sydney, for Dame Mary Cook, 1938.
9. Passport of Dame Mary Cook, 23 Feb 1938.
10. Photographs: 19th century family (unidentified); Wedding photograph
of Mary Cook, 1885.; Joseph and Mary Cook and three children: Mary Cook
and a young boy: Cook selling the first war bonds certificate; Cook and
Lady Cook (two copies: mounted and unmounted); Portrait of Cook (National
Galleries of Scotland); Some statesmen of the Great War: painting by Sir
James Guthrie (postcard); Cook and Lady Cook at the Opening of Parliament,
London, ca 1924; Cook and another in uniform, London, ca 1920s; Launching
of Australia's first Supermarine Napier aircraft by Dame Mary Cook,
Southampton, 1926; Sir Joseph and Lady Cook (portraits from a magazine),
1920s
11. Our part: three great speeches on the war (delivered by C.G.
Wade, Joseph Cook and E.D. Millen, 6 July 1915); Speech by Cook on the
Treaty of Peace (bound Hansard extract), 17 Sept 1919.; Federal
referendums: the case for and against (referenda on aviation and
marketing), 1936.; Commonwealth Gazette notice of Cook's
death, 1947, and photocopy with 7¢ stamp of Cook (issued in 1972)
affixed; Order of service, State Funeral, Wesley Chapel, Sydney, 1 Aug
1947.
12.Newspaper cuttings, 1918, 1927, 1947.
13. Embroidery: Chesterton Bd. School, 1880: alphabets (by Mary Cook née
Turner, aged 16).
Material collected by Mrs Mary Wood
14.Photocopy of Australian High Commissioner file (original held at
Australian Archives (Series CP 268/3, Bundle 4), comprising newspaper
cuttings and memoranda, 1921-27.
15.'Joseph Cook': script of a play broadcast from radio station 2UE, 31
July 1947.
16Photographs, including: opy photographs of those in Folder 1; Canberra
suburb of Cook; Sir Joseph's Cook's regalia; Mrs Mary Wood with Cook's
regalia, Parramatta, ca 1985; photocopies of 19th-century photographs of
Lithgow; photograph of 7¢ stamp of Cook.
17.Photocopies of land titles involving Joseph Cook or his property,
1898-1976.
18.The Bulletin, 10 Nov 1962, 2 Jul 1977.
19.Newspaper cuttings and photocopies: 1904, 1910, 1927, 1955, 1978,
1985-86, principally about the rediscovery of Cook's regalia at Parramatta
in 1985.
20.Block of five 7¢ stamps issued in honour of Joseph Cook, with a
sixth non-denominated stamp 'Joseph Cook Prime Minister 1913-1914', 1972.
21.Farewell to the Honourable Mr Justice Richard Cecil Cook, Industrial
Commission of New South Wales, 1 Mar 1972; with a photograph of a large
house.
22.Photocopies of biographical material, and of 1901 ballot paper for
Parramatta.
23.J.R.M. Murdoch, Joseph Cook: a political biography, Ph.D.
thesis, University of New South Wales, 1968; with 'Joseph Cook in
Lithgow', notes of a talk by John Murdoch, Lithgow, 1966.
24. G. Bebbington, Pit Boy to Prime Minister, University of
Keele, 1986 (2 copies).
25.Peter Cook, Pitboy to Prime Minister, 16 p., n.d.; John
Murdoch, Sir Joe: A biographical sketch of Sir Joseph Cook,
Stoke-on-Trent, 1979; James Jarvis, The beginnings of the settlement
in the parish of Castle Hill, 36p., n.d.
Folders Box
1-6 1
7-13 2
14-21 3
22-25 4
Appendix: papers of Sir Joseph Cook held at Australian Archives
Inventory of series: cp 611
Person: Cook, Joseph, 1860-1947 CP 611
Series
Date Range Series Title Series No
1875-1949 Published material pertaining to Dame Mary M3606
(1875-1949) Cook
.54m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series contains a collection of
photographs, magazine and newspaper
articleson Dame Mary Cook.
by1900-by1947 Unidentified and undated photographs and M3800
newspaper clippings contained in Sir
Joseph Cook's personal collection
.18m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series is a collection of assorted
photographic prints, postcards, and
pictures cut from newspapers. None of the
items are identified. Most of the
photographs depict groups which include Sir
Joseph Cook.
1901-1940 Diaries, appointment and note books of Sir M3580
(1901-1940) Joseph Cook, chronological order with gaps
.18m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This is a collection of Sir Joseph Cook's
diaries and appointment books from 1907 to
1940 with some gaps. The appointment books
cover 1923 to 1928 inclusive and 1932. Sir
Joseph's note books contain newspaper
clippings and jottings. The notes from
1927 were taken at the League of Nations
Assembly.
by1901-1940 Newspaper articles and cartoons relating to M3612
(by1901-1940) Sir Joseph Cook
3.6m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series contains newspaper articles and
cartoons from various international and
Australian newspapers.
1909-1922 Documents relating to Sir Joseph Cook's M3608
(1909-1922) tenure in parliament
.09m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series contains copies of the reports
and bills Sir Joseph Cook presented to
parliament. The series also contains a
folder of correspondence to Sir Joseph from
the Governor General about the proposed
double dissolution of parliament in 1914.
1909-1929 Indexed book of newspaper cuttings M3635
(1909-1929)
.18m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series consists of a hard cover book
with pages divided first alphabetically and
then numerically. The section A-D contains
cuttings from various newspapers and
publications and letters from Sydney during
World War 1. Section E-H contains
correspondence from dignitaries and
friends. Sections I-M and N-Q contain
letters and invitations. 1-7 contains
cuttings from the Worker and Army Navy
Gazette. 8-9 contains the table plan for
the Times Luncheon to Overseas Press
Representatives. 10-11 contains constituent
letters. 12-15 contains cuttings. 16-21
contains correspondence relating to Sir
Joseph's appointment to the Privy Council.
22-23 contains general correspondence.
24-25 contains correspondence about the
South Australian Royal Commission. 26-27
contains draft speeches. 28-29 contains the
preliminaries of the Versailles Peace
Conference. 30-35 contains information and
correspondence about the League of Nations.
36-39 contains general correspondence.
1909-by1922 Framed black and white photographs of the M3798
first Liberal cabinet and the delegates to
the League of Nations
.36m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series consists of two framed black
and white photographs of events involving
Sir Joseph Cook. One is the first Liberal
Cabinet and the other is the delegates to
the League of Nations meeting in Geneva.
1910-1940 Miscellaneous correspondence (letters, M3603
(1920-1940) telegrams and cards) to Sir Joseph Cook
.09m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series contains miscellaneous
correspondence in various formats. There
are folders of letters, telegrams and cards
from a range of people. These people
include well known people and Sir Joseph's
constituents.
1911-1976 Certificates and booklets detailing the M3583
honours bestowed on Sir Joseph Cook
.09m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series contains the documents
conferring honours on Sir Joseph and Lady
Cook. The honours include the notice of Sir
Joseph's knighthood, a proposed statue to
his memory, the release of an Australian
stamp depicting Sir Joseph, and his
inclusion in the painting "Some Statesmen
Of The Great War".
1911-1957 Photographs of and correspondence from Sir M3604
(1911-1957) Joseph and Dame Mary's children
.09m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series contains family
memorabilia.There are photographs of Sir
Joseph's and Dame Mary's children, school
reports belonging to Cecil Cook, letters
from Cecil Cook and school magazines.
1912-1939 Miscellaneous memorabilia of Sir Joseph and M3633
Dame Mary Cook in various formats
.09m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series contains memorabilia in various
formats, including post cards, souvenir
programs, maps, correspondence and
clippings of newspaper articles about Sir
Joseph and Dame Mary's children.
1913-1938 Photographs of events involving Sir Joseph M3614
(1913-1938) and Dame Mary Cook
.18m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series contains miscellaneous
photographs depicting events involving Sir
Joseph and Dame Mary Cook. The series
includes photographs of a reception for
Australian boy scouts in London, portraits
of Sir Joseph, and Sir Joseph and Dame Mary
laying the commemoration stone at the 125th
anniversary of the erection of the first
government house at Parramatta.
1914-1947 Miscellaneous publications depicting world M3795
(1914-1952) events
.54m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series contains publications, a number
of which contain articles about Sir Joseph
Cook or report on his activities as
Australia's representative overseas. Other
publications contain stories about other
eminent figures of the times including Sir
Winston Churchill and King George VI.
1918-1927 Documents and photographs of events during M3609
(1918-1927) Sir Joseph Cook's time as Australia's
representative to the League of Nations
.09m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series contains reports, minutes,
engagement lists, speeches and photographs
from League of Nations meetings held
between 1918 and 1927.
1918-1940 Invitations to Sir Joseph and Dame Mary
Cook, programmes and seating arrangements, M3610
chronological order
.54m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series contains invitations, royal
commands, tickets and programmes of events.
1921-1943 Photographs, certificates and documents M3582
(1921-1943) recording events during Sir Joseph Cook's
tenure as High Commissioner
.09m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series contains the reports of the
High Commissioner for the period 1922 to
1926. The series also includes records
relating to ceremonial proceedings,
including the wedding ceremony of Princess
Mary, and the British Empire Exhibition.
1922-1922 Mounted studio photographs taken of Sir M3796
(1922-1922) Joseph Cook in 1922
.36m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series consists of two studio
photographic portraits taken of Sir Joseph
Cook in 1922.
1925-1925 Photographs of the unveiling of the M3632
(1925-1925) memorial to the Second Australian Division
at Mount- Saint-Quenton
.09m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series contains a photographic record
of the unveiling of the original memorial
to the Second Australian Division at
Mount-Saint-Quenton, France. The memorial
depicted a soldier bayoneting an eagle. Sir
Joseph Cook as the High Commissioner
represented Australia at the ceremony. The
memorial was unveiled by Marshal Foch.
1926-1926 Photographs of the christening and launch M3613
(1926-1926) of amphibian flying boats by Sir Joseph and
Dame Mary Cook
.09m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series contains a photographic record
of the christening, launch and inaugural
flight of the submarine-Napier amphibian
flying boats. Six aircraft were built at
the Southampton Submarine Aviation Works.
Sir Joseph Cook was the passenger when the
aircraft took its first flight.
1928-by1929 Reports of the Royal Commission into South M3634
(1928-by1929) Australian as affected by Federation
.18m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series contains reports and minutes
produced by the Royal Commission into South
Australia as affected by Federation. Sir
Joseph Cook was the Chair of the
Commission.
1947-1968 Printed biographical material about Sir M3581
Joseph Cook
.18m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
The series contains various publications
about Sir Joseph Cook's life. They are: an
article titled "Joseph Cook in Lithgow", by
J Murdoch; a book called Pit Boy to Prime
Minister by G Bebbington; a PhD thesis by
JRM Murdoch titled "Joseph Cook - a
political biography"; and the script of a
play broadcast from Radio Station 2UE
Sydney on 31 July 1947 simply titled
"Joseph Cook".
1947-1950 Records relating to the deaths of Sir M3605
(1947-1950) Joseph and Dame Mary Cook
.09m held by CA 1726, Australian Archives,
New South Wales Office
This series contains a folder of condolence
cards and letters to Sir Joseph's family,
and a list of people and organisations who
sent wreaths to Sir Joseph's funeral. The
series also contains a script of a radio
eulogy to Sir Joseph broadcast by 2UE, New
South Wales. There is also a copy of the
Gazette notice of Sir Joseph's death.
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