Special collections relating to William Morris Hughes 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: | January 2003 |
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 papers of William Morris Hughes, as well as a few other Hughes manuscript collections which were received from various sources. In addition there are other manuscript collections which contain letters or other materials relating to Hughes. This guide lists the Hughes resources first, followed by the other sources in alphabetical order.
Catalogue Record: MS 1538
William ('Billy') Morris Hughes' papers include correspondence, diaries and notebooks, newspaper cuttings, photographs, and family and political papers. Also included is a corrected typescript of the second volume of L. F. Fitzhardinge's biography of Hughes, which contains references to Barton, Deakin, Watson, Reid and Fisher. The political papers include extensive official and personal records dating from his time as Prime Minister from 1915 to 1923.
Catalogue Record: MS 1130
Letter written in reply to a request for advice from Arthur J. Gibson, then aged 21, on how he could better prepare himself for public life.
Catalogue Record: MS 1885
Letter and Christmas greetings from Hughes to C. E. Roach of the Transport Office, Canberra.
Catalogue Record: MS 2532
Letter to Gordon Jones, 7 November 1946.
Catalogue Record: MS 2159
Addresses presented to Hughes by: The Gallipoli Legion of Anzacs (1944); The Victoria Working Men's Club 1918; Sons of England Patriotic and Benevolent Society (1916); Returned Sailors, Soldiers and Nurses' Association of W. A. (1919); Tubercular Sailors and Soldiers' Association of Victoria (1937); New Guinea Mining Association (1939); and the Returned Men of A.I.E.F. and B.E.F. Other illuminated addresses presented to W. M. Hughes are held in National Library of Australia Pictures Branch.
Catalogue Record: MS 1001
Items include: I. Copy of letter from Ezra Norton, Managing Director of "Truth" and "Sportsman" Ltd., to R.G. Menzies (3rd June 1940). II. "Budget 1951-1952" (4p.). Possibly a budget speech presented to the Australian Parliament. III. Two page proposal from H.S. Foll (Minister for the Interior) entitled "Proposal for the transfer of young children from the United Kingdom to Australia during the war", 10 June 1940. IV. One page copy of a cablegram to the High Commissioner (29th May 1940) seeking to ascertain Britain's response to an Australian request for looking after 5,000 British children for the duration of the war. V. Four secret reports to the War Cabinet for its consideration (12-15 June 1940). Includes reports by the Chiefs of Staff and a summary of decisions of the War Cabinet for the information of the Full Cabinet. VI. Folio items include two hand coloured etchings (one by De Becourt) and "The four freedoms" ([11 p.]), originally published by "The Saturday Evening Post" during February and March of 1943 and presented to W.M. Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 51
This collection of papers of the Federation leader and first Prime Minister is digitised. The correspondence deals with the Federation campaign, the London conference of 1900 and Barton's prime ministership (1901-1903). The collection includes one letter by W.M. Hughes dated 1917 (item 1/1556a).
Catalogue Record: MS 560
Sir Thomas Bavin was the private secretary to Barton and Deakin and later became the New South Wales Premier. Bavin's papers are an important source of information about Australian politics and law between 1900 and 1920. The papers include one letter by W.M. Hughes to Bavin (3 January 1905) and references to Hughes in the letters to Bavin by Alfred Deakin.
Catalogue Record: MS 7695
Methodist clergyman and journalist. The papers comprise letters to Sir Irving Benson, notebooks, and photographs. W.M. Hughes correspondence is held in box 2 of the collection.
Catalogue Record: MS 4843
Includes letters from Hughes to Eric Birks regarding personal and political matters.
Catalogue Record: MS 1924
Herbert Brookes worked closely with Hughes during the campaign for the referenda on conscription in 1916 and 1917. The papers in this collection date from 1869 to 1970 and cover every phase of the careers of Herbert and Ivy Brookes. There are papers on the 1917 referendum, notes made by Brookes of an interview with W.M. Hughes in 1920, papers regarding Hughes and a 1920 conference on woollen manufacturing and 44 letters by or to Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 3034
Alfred Buchanan's 'The Prime Ministers of Australia' is an unpublished manuscript comprising biographies of all Prime Ministers from Edmund Barton to Robert Gordon Menzies.
Catalogue Record: MS 8905
Campbell-Jones was the parliamentary correspondent of the Melbourne Argus. 'The Cabinet of Captains: The romance of Australia's first Federal Parliament' contains his unpublished 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.
Catalogue Record: MS 658
Catts was the Federal Member for Cook (NSW) in 1906-1922. The papers include correspondence with Hughes, 1903-1922.
Catalogue Record: MS 6335
This collection contains material collected by Sir Timothy Coghlan, the New South Wales Statistician and later Agent-General in London. It includes correspondence, letterbooks, personal documents, invitations, programs, publications, newspaper cuttings, photographs and a typescript autobiography. The general correspondence (1878-1926) includes letters to or from Sir Henry Parkes, Alfred Deakin, Sir George Reid, Andrew Fisher and William Morris Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 2304
A collection of letters written to or about the artist Sir John Longstaff and including letters by William Morris Hughes.
Cook, Sir Joseph. Papers, 1880-1986.
Catalogue Record: MS 762
Cook was Minister for the Navy in Hughes' Nationalist ministry (1917-1920) and along with Hughes, represented Australia at
the Imperial War Conference and in the Imperial War Cabinet (1918). The collection includes correspondence with Hughes relating
to the Paris Peace Conference (1919).
Catalogue Record: MS 5243
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.
Catalogue Record: MS 9300
Federal politician (1943-1975). Series five of this collection includes a file on W.M. Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 1540
The collection includes correspondence, diaries, notebooks, legal briefs, press cuttings, pamphlets, books, official documents and publications, menus, programs, literary manuscripts, bills, receipts, photographs and tourist publications. There are 15 letters to or by W.M. Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 6923
Documents, photographs and printed speeches relating to an unofficial visit to Australia by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1943 during which she was presented with a copy of the journal of James Cook's voyage on the Endeavour. The papers include copies of speeches by John Curtin and W.M. Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 2919
W.M. Hughes was Attorney-General in the Fisher Government in 1908-1909, 1910-1913 and 1914-1915. The papers include 27 letters by Hughes and 3 letters from Fisher to Hughes. Much of this material documents Fisher's political career, especially his terms as Prime Minister and his work as High Commissioner in London.
Catalogue Record: MS 5400
Biographer of W.M. Hughes. The papers include various manuscript drafts of vols. 1 and 2 of the biography; extensive notes, newscuttings and photocopies drawn from major manuscript collections and published matter relating to Hughes, his career, and political conditions of his time. Includes photocopies of Hughes' letters, memoranda, cablegrams, and educational and medical records. There are also letters to Fitzhardinge about Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 8248
Judge, Queen's Counsel, lecturer in law and author. The collection comprises notes, manuscript, typescript drafts and the final version (with editorial alterations and directions to the printer) of Profiles of power : the prime ministers of Australia. Ferntree Gully, Vic.: Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
Catalogue Record: MS 2001
Robert Randolph Garran (1867-1957), was Secretary to the Attorney-General's Department and Parliamentary Draftsman, 1901-1932, and Solicitor-General, 1917-1932. He accompanied Hughes to the Peace Conference of 1919. The papers include material on the Peace Conference including one letter by Hughes. The 1919 diaries may also contain references to Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 4653, Mfm G 2542
Minister for Home and Territories in the Hughes ministry of 1917-1920. Among the material in this series are letters, notebooks, newspaper cuttings, photographs, essays, lectures, speeches and a series of detailed diaries (1880-1927) that relate particularly to Glynn's career in South Australian and federal politics. There is one letter by Hughes and nine letters from Glynn to Hughes. Mfm G 2542 includes diaries for 1918-1926.
Catalogue Record: MS 2852
Lord Gowrie (Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven) had extensive experience as a vice-regal representative, as Governor of SA (1928-1934), Governor of NSW (1935), and succeeding Sir Isaac Isaacs as Governor-General from January 1936 to September 1944. His papers include photographs, notebooks, memoirs and correspondence. Correspondents include W.M. Hughes (c. 1938-1944).
Groom, Sir Littleton Ernest. Papers, c1880-1936 .
Catalogue Record: MS 236
Groom held ministerial portfolios in the Hughes Government including Assistant Minister for Defence (1917); Minister for Works
and Railways (1918-1921) and Attorney-General (1921-1923). The papers include 67 letters by or to W.M. Hughes. A card index
to correspondence and descriptive list is available. Additional material related to this collection is held at MS 1135 and
MS 1452.
Catalogue Record: MS 3078
Henry Gullett was a journalist, Director of the Australian Immigration Bureau (1920-1922) and a federal Member of Parliament (1925-1940). The papers include correspondence from W.M. Hughes with Sir Henry and Lady Gullett, c.1920-1947. Additional material relating to this collection is at MS 5347.
Catalogue Record: MS 8686
Director of the NSW Chamber of Manufacturers (1936-1960). Series 2/3 includes a biographical file on W.M. Hughes for Hall's book The manufacturers.
Catalogue Record: MS 2809
Composer and conductor. Series 1 of this collection includes a letter from W.M. Hughes to Dame Nellie Melba (1922).
Catalogue Record: MS 8161
Haynes was a chartered accountant and company director who visited Nauru and Ocean Island with the British Phosphate Commission. The cutting book contains newspaper cuttings, typescripts and correspondence relating to Haynes' activities and his book "Our daily bread : or a story of phosphate islands". Correspondents include W.M. Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 3155
Sir Peter Heydon worked briefly as Private Secretary to Sir George Pearce and between 1936 and 1960 held a number of senior administrative and diplomatic positions with the Departments of External Affairs and Immigration. The collection comprises research material compiled by Heydon whilst writing a biographical study of Sir George Pearce entitled Quiet Decision (1965). Includes a draft chapter on W.M. Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 1057
A delegate to the Federation Convention, Federal politician and High Court and Arbitration Court judge, Justice Higgins' correspondents include 13 letter by and 10 letters to William Morris Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 5963
These are research papers compiled by Professor Colin Hughes as adviser and coordinator of the Australian Broadcasting Commission television series 'Mr Prime Minister' (1966). Papers relate to Sir Robert Menzies, W. M. Hughes, J. Curtin, J. A. Lyons and H. Holt.
Catalogue Record: MS 601
Cook was a federal politician and ardent Protectionist whose correspondence with political leaders includes W.M. Hughes (1916-1942), some relating to the National Federation (1917-1919, 1929).
Catalogue Record: MS 52
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 (1901-1916) and Secretary to the Department of Home and Territories (1916-1921). The collection includes three letters and a newspaper article by Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 813
Writer, journalist and author of Studies in colonial nationalism (1905). Jebb's correspondence between 1905 and 1916 includes discussions of political and defence issues relating to Australia, and including correspondence with W.M. Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 5918
Letter dated 20 October 1928 from W.M. Hughes to the aviator Charles Kingsford-Smith congratulating him on his achievements.
Catalogue Record: MS 277
Kirwan was a Western Australian politician. His papers relate to the Federation movement, especially on the Western Australian goldfields, and early federal politics, including letters from William Morris Hughes, Andrew Fisher, Sir Joseph Cook, Alfred Deakin and Sir George Reid.
Catalogue Record: MS 5248
Biographer of Deakin. The collection includes copies of letters by W.M. Hughes used for La Nauze's publication Alfred Deakin: a biography (1965).
Catalogue Record: MS 1009
Latham was Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for External Affairs, Minister for Industry and Chief Justice of the High Court. The collection contains papers relating the Imperial War Conference and the Paris Peace Conference in 1918-1919. In Latham's extensive correspondence, there are 19 letters by W.M. Hughes and 13 letters from Latham to Hughes.
Law, Andrew Bonar. Papers, 1905-1923.
Catalogue Record: Mfm M1123
Papers of Andrew Bonar Law, British politician and Prime Minister in 1922-1923, including letters of W.M. Hughes (1916-1922).
The papers were microfilmed by the Australian Joint Copying Project from originals held by the House of Lords Record Office.
Catalogue Record: MS 2887
Director, Commonwealth Investigation Service 1944-1952; Director, Security Service 1941-1945; Australian Government Commissioner in Japan 1935-1940. The correspondence relates mainly to various appointments and honours conferred on Lloyd and includes letters by W.M Hughes.
Catalogue Record: Mfm M1124-1125
Prime Minister of Britain, 1916-1922. The papers mainly comprise correspondence concerning LLoyd George's period as prime minister and include extensive correspondence with W.M. Hughes, c1917-1921. Copied by the Australian Joint Copying Project from originals held at the House of Lords Record Office, London.
Catalogue Record: Mfm M 1114-1119
Walter Hume Long, 1st Viscount Long was Secretary of State for the Colonies Dec. 1916-Jan. 1919, and First Lord of the Admiralty 1919-21. Subjects of correspondence include command of the A.I.F., 1918; the Labor Party; conscription referendums; trade; the Irish in New Zealand and Australia; the Pacific Islands; Transcontinental railway; land settlement in New Zealand; and Hobart's defences. The 1917 Imperial War Conference is the subject of many papers. There are many letters to and from W.M. Hughes. A descriptive list is available. Filmed as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project from originals held by Wiltshire County Record Office, England.
Catalogue Record: MS 4851
W.M. Hughes held several ministerial portfolios in the Lyons Government including Health and Repatriation (1934-1937) and External Affairs (1937-1939). The Lyons Papers contain correspondence, notes, commissions, invitations, photograph albums, and scrap books covering the years of Lyon's prime-ministership. Main correspondents include W.M Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 937
Mahon was a federal politician and a member of the Watson, Fisher and Hughes ministries. His large correspondence includes seven letters by W.M. Hughes and two from Mahon to Hughes. The correspondence generally resulted from Mahon's interest in Catholic and Irish matters; the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco (1915-1916); and Northern Territory, Papua and Norfolk Island affairs.
Catalogue Record: Mfm M1954
Papers of L.J. Maxse, owner and editor of the London monthly journal, National Review, including 5 letters of W.M. Hughes (1917-1919). The papers were microfilmed by the Australian Joint Copying Project from originals held by the West Sussex Record Office.
Catalogue Record: MS 4936
W.M. Hughes was Attorney-General and Minister for Industry in the Menzies Government in 1939-1940. The Menzies Papers include correspondence with Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 1557
The collection includes three cables from England sent to W.M. Hughes. They are from Ivie Price, Sir Thomas White and the Burdett Coutts School, Westminister.
Catalogue Record: MS 8130
Poet, author, journalist and academic. The general correspondence (series 3/3) includes letters from W.M. Hughes dating from the Second World War.
Catalogue Record: MS 696, Mfm G1228-1239
Sir Ronald Munro-Ferguson (later Lord Novar) was Governor-General (1914-1920). His papers include extensive correspondence with W.M. Hughes. The subject matter of both personal and official files includes World War I (including recruiting and conscription), Australian political events, the Australian economy and Australian, Japanese and British interests in the Pacific region.
Catalogue Record: MS 2823
Murdoch was a journalist and newspaper proprietor. His papers include reports to Hughes during World War I and correspondence with W.M. Hughes relating to conscription, the publication of Hughes' speeches and command of the AIF.
Catalogue Record: MS 2629
Public servant and diplomat. Officer worked in the External Affairs Branch of Prime Minister's Department, 1925-1935 and with the Department of External Affairs, 1935-1955. The papers contain one letter by W.M. Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 460
Member of House of Representatives 1901-1917 and Minister for Home Affairs in the second Fisher (Labour) Ministry (1910-1913) and under W.M. Hughes (1915-1916). He was closely concerned with the founding of the Commonwealth Bank and the establishment and design of Canberra. The O'Malley Papers include correspondence with Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 1633
Page was elected to the federal seat of Cowper in 1919; helped found the Country Party and was leader from 1920 to 1939. He served as Treasurer (1923-1929); Prime Minister, briefly, in 1939; and was Minister for Health in the Menzies governments of the early 1950s. The collection comprises subject files of correspondence (including 10 letters by or to Hughes), cuttings, personal documents, reports, memoranda and semi-official papers, speeches, press statements, parliamentary bills, papers and reports, statistics and notes.
Catalogue Record: MS 4742
Parkhill was secretary of the Liberal and Reform Association of NSW and later a federal politician and minister. His papers include a note by W.M. Hughes commenting on the first meeting he attended of the British War Cabinet.
Catalogue Record: MS 213, MS 1827, MS 1927
George (later Sir George) Pearce was a WA Senator and Minister for Defence (1914-1921) and Minister for Home and Territories (1921-1923) in the Hughes Government. He also served in the Bruce-Page and Lyons Governments. In 1916 he supported Hughes in the conscription crisis, and with him, left the Labor Party. MS 213 includes 5 letters by W.M. Hughes and five letters from Pearce to Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 936
John Perkins was a federal politician and member of Lyons' Cabinet in 1932-1934 and 1937-1939. The collection includes diaries (1892-1950) and other references to his political career. There is also a copy of a letter to W.M. Hughes dated 22 August 1929, signed by Perkins as Government Whip, notifying him of his expulsion from the UAP (item 2/65).
Catalogue Record: MS 1095
Sydney barrister. In the 1922 federal election, Piddington stood against W. M. Hughes in North Sydney as an independent. The papers include correspondence and press cuttings relating to the 1922 election. Main correspondents include W.M. Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 1158
The collection contains three letters by Hughes to Piddington: a letter dated 1913 February 17 offering Piddington the position of Justice on the High Court; a letter dated March 1913; and a letter dated 20 March 1920 concerning the Inter-state Commission. Also includes a letter dated 1913 January 16 to Dowell O'Reilly, (Piddington' s brother-in-law).
Catalogue Record: MS 882
Piesse was a lawyer and public servant. His papers include correspondence, memoranda and notes (1918-1923), mainly relating to Piesse's work in the Defence Department and the Prime Minister's Department, including material on the White Australia policy, New Guinea, the Pacific Islands and Australia's relations with Japan. Correspondents include Alfred Deakin, Joseph Cook and William Morris Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 7842
This collection contains Reid's personal, political and family papers. Includes a cipher telegram from Hughes to William Watt dated 3 June 1920.
Catalogue Record: MS 2916
Alex Rentoul went to Papua in 1913 as an employee of Burns, Philp and Co., and later worked with the Australian administration in the Public Works Department, as a Patrol Officer and Resident Magistrate. The collection comprises recollections by Rentoul of his years in Papua, together with two letters to Rentoul, one of which is by W.M. Hughes (1942).
Catalogue Record: MS 2004
Feminist, President of the Australian Federation of Women Voters (1921-1942). The papers include extensive correspondence, written on behalf of various women's organizations, with Hughes, as well as letters relating to the status of women.
Catalogue Record: MS 3338
Bookseller, publisher and co-founder of the firm Angus and Robertson. Correspondents in this collection of letters to Robertson include W.M. Hughes (one letter).
Catalogue Record: Mfm M 1977-1978
English author and man of letters. Sladen resided in Victoria, 1879-1884, retaining afterwards a strong interest in Australia and Australian literature. The papers include a small amount of correspondence with W.M. Hughes. Filmed by the Australian Joint Copying Project from originals held by Central Library, Richmond, Surrey, England.
Catalogue Record: MS 8604
Journalist and author. The collection includes research material relating to Souter's book Acts of Parliament: a narrative history, including a file on W.M. Hughes (box 55).
Catalogue Record: MS 1976
Painter. Includes a personal letter by W.M Hughes dated 15 June 1937, largely discussing his health.
Catalogue Record: MS 1736
Sir Josiah Symon was a 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 ten letters by or to W.M. Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 479
Lord Tennyson was Governor of South Australia and Australia's second Governor-General (1903-1904). This collection contains one letter by W.M. Hughes to Tennyson, 18 May 1916.
Catalogue Record: MS 2396
Ward was the Australian Labor Party member for East Sydney (1931-1963), and Minister for Labour and National Service (1941-1943) and Transport and External Territories (1943-1949). The collection includes one letter to W.M Hughes by Ward.
Catalogue Record: MS 451
Chris Watson was the first leader of the Federal Labor Party and Prime Minister in 1904. W.M. Hughes was Minister for External Affairs (1904) in the Watson Government. His papers include one letter by Hughes.
Catalogue Record: MS 970
Journalist and biographer of Hughes. The papers include two letters from W.M. Hughes to Whyte dated 3 March 1944 and 4 January 1946. Whyte's biography of Hughes was published by Angus and Robertson in 1957.