Special collections relating to James Scullin 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: February 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 several small collections of James Scullin papers which were received from various sources. In addition there are a number of other manuscript collections which contain letters or other materials relating to Scullin. The Scullin collections are listed first in this guide, followed by the other sources, listed in alphabetical order.




Scullin, J.H. Papers, 1921-1947.
Collection Number: MS 5194
Extent: 64 cm. (30 folders)

The Scullin Papers consist of correspondence, minutes, other memoranda, telegrams, cables, reports, roneoed items, statistics, cuttings, printed items and a petition. Apart from several letters and telegrams sent/received as Prime Minister, the collection relates almost entirely to Scullin's parliamentary work during and after the end of World War II. Legislation on taxation, banking, patents, social services and post-war reconstruction are the dominant subjects. The correspondence includes copies of the letters to the prime minister by others, letters from people seeking representations, and letters from people such as C.E.W. Bean, Professor D.B. Copland, Sir George Knowles, P.S. McGovern, B.A. Santamaria and L.F. Giblin.


Scullin, J.H. Papers, 1929-1939.
Collection Number: MS 356
Extent: 1 cm

Contains mainly correspondence on the appointment of Sir Isaac Isaacs as Governor General, and an extract of a report of the Imperial Conference (1930).


Scullin, J.H. Will, 1953-1954.
Collection Number: MS 5882
Extent: 4 leaves

Certificate of probate of Scullin's will (Xerox copy).


Anstey, Frank. Papers, 1930-1939.
Collection Number: MS 4636
Extent: 0.01 metres

Frank Anstey was MHR for Bourke (ALP) from 1910 to 1934 and Scullin's Minister for Health and Repatriation, 1929-1931. The papers include a cablegram from J.R. Collins to the Prime Minister about banking (1930), annotated by Anstey, and two items from Anstey's memoirs of the Scullin Government, 1931.


Anstey, Frank. Articles, n.d.
Collection Number: MS 6245
Extent: 2 cm

Typescript copies and two original manuscripts of articles by Frank Anstey. They include "The Viceroy" (a profile of Lord Bruce), "Red Ned" (on E.G. Theodore) and "The Cheery Optimists" (an inside account of Federal Labor Party and Cabinet discussions concerning the 1930 monetary crisis).


Australian Industries Protection League. Records, 1923-1956.
Collection Number: MS 756
Extent: 83 cm (6 boxes)

The records for the League include a testimonial to J.H. Scullin, 1951. A descriptive list is available.


Bagot, Edward Daniel Alexander. Papers, 1787-1967 (bulk 1862-1967).
Collection Number: MS 2603
Extent: 1 metre (7 boxes)

Alec Bagot was a South Australian politician and one of the founders of the Citizens' League of South Australia (1930). The collection includes letters from politicians including J. Scullin, J. A. Lyons and N. Makin concerning the Citizens' League of SA. There are also pamphlets, letters, newsclippings and articles on Bagot's years in politics.


Bale, William Henry. Papers, 1915-1974.
Collection Number: MS 4842
Extent: 2.5 cm

Private Secretary to Scullin, 1929-1932. The collection includes photographs, newspaper cuttings and an autograph album containing signatures of Scullin, Curtin and others.


Barnes, Walter Henry. Papers, 1920-1934.
Collection Number: MS 7954
Extent: 1 cm

Liberal Party MLA in the Queensland Parliament, 1901-1915, 1918-1933. The papers includes a cartoon signed by Scullin and other political figures, c1930.


Beaverbrook, Max Aitkin, Baron. Papers, 1912-1964.
Collection Number: Mfm M1126-1129
Extent: 4 microfilm reels

Canadian-born newspaper owner and British Minister for Aircraft Production (1940-1941) and Supply (1941-1942). Selections from the general correspondence, 1910-1964 refer to press and politics in Australia and New Zealand and imperial trade. Correspondents include J.H. Scullin and Lord Bruce. Microfilm copy of originals held in the House of Lords Record Office, London. A descriptive list is available.


Boote, Henry Ernest. Papers, 1894-1949.
Collection Number: MS 2070
Extent: Two volumes, 83 letters

Henry Boote was a journalist who helped found the Gympie Truth and later edited the Australian Worker. He was a trustee of the Australian Workers' Union and was active in the anti-conscription campaign in 1917. Boote's papers include three letters to or by Scullin. A descriptive list is available.


Brookes, Herbert and Ivy. Papers, 1869-1970.
Collection Number: MS 1924
Extent: 25.6 metres

Businessman and political activist. The papers include correspondence, notes, diaries, minute books, photographs and cuttings covering every phase of the careers of Herbert and Ivy Brookes. The series relating to Brookes' period as Commission-General to the USA include copies of official communications from Brookes to Scullin (Oct. 1929-1930). A descriptive list is available.


Buchanan, Alfred. 'The Prime Ministers of Australia', 1940.
Collection Number: MS 3034
Extent: 0.06 metres

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.


Calwell, Arthur Augustus. Papers, 1905-1973.
Collection Number: MS 4738
Extent: 48 metres

Federal parliamentarian and leader of the Australian Labor Party, 1960-1966. The papers cover Calwell's entire career, including his early involvement in the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party, the Australian Public Service Association and the Melbourne City Council. The collection includes correspondence with J.H. Scullin (1932) and a biographical file. A descriptive list is available. Access is restricted.


Crisp, Leslie Finlay. Papers, 1878-1984.
Collection Number: MS 5243
Extent: 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. The Scullin file is dated 1928-1976. There are also Cabinet minutes of the Scullin Government, Nov. 1929-June 1931. A descriptive list is available.


Daly, Fred. Papers, 1938-1995.
Collection Number: MS 9300
Extent: 20 metres (142 boxes)

Federal politician (1943-1975). Series five of this collection includes a file on J.H. Scullin. A descriptive list is available.


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

The material in this collection of Alfred Deakin's papers, most of which dates from 1880 to 1919, includes diaries, notebooks, cuttings, programs, manuscripts, photographs and correspondence, including one letter by Scullin. A descriptive list is available.


Denning, Warren. Papers, 1953-1965.
Collection Number: MS 5129
Extent: 0.16 metres (6 folders)

Warren Denning was a journalist and author. The collection includes drafts of some of his writing on the ALP and biographical subjects, including Sir Earle Page, J.H. Scullin, J.A. Lyons, S.M. Bruce and Sir Robert Menzies.


Dumas, Sir Lloyd. Papers, 1929-1957.
Collection Number: MS 4849
Extent: 1.25 metres

Lloyd Dumas was a journalist, managing editor (1929-1938) and managing director (1938-1961) of the Adelaide Advertiser. His papers include correspondence and news cuttings dealing with political subjects (1929-1948), including correspondence with S. M. Bruce (1932), J. A. Lyons (1931-1944), J. B. Chifley (1942-1948) and J. H. Scullin (1931). A descriptive list is available.


Fisher, Andrew. Papers, 1855-1983.
Collection Number: MS 2919
Extent: 2.36 metres (15 boxes)

Prime Minister of Australia ( 1908-1909, 1910-1913, 1914-1915). The papers include departmental minutes and administrative papers, press cuttings, photographs, personal documents, books and pamphlets, and reminiscences by Fisher's daughter Margaret. Much of this material documents Fisher's political career, especially his terms as Prime Minister and his work as High Commissioner in London. There is one letter by J.H. Scullin. A descriptive list is available.


Fitzpatrick, Brian. Papers, 1925-1965.
Collection Number: MS 4965
Extent: 9.86 metres (56 boxes)

Author, historian, journalist and founding member of the Australian Council for Civil Liberties. Papers comprising records of the Australian Council for Civil Liberties and other papers documenting Fitzpatrick's work as a publicist and historian. The correspondence includes one letter by J.H. Scullin. A card index to correspondence and descriptive list is available.


Fricke, Graham L. Papers relating to Profiles of power : the prime ministers of Australia, [198-]-1990.
Collection Number: MS 8248
Extent: 42 cm. (19 folders, 3 boxes)

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.


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

Groom was a Member of the House of Representatives, 1901-1929 and 1931-1936 and a Minister in several Governments. These papers include one letter by J.H. Scullin. A card index of correspondence and a descriptive list is available. Additional material is held at MS 1135.


Gullett, Sir Henry. Papers, 1887-1961.
Collection Number: MS 3078
Extent: 1.35 m. (10 boxes)

Henry Gullett was a journalist, Director of the Australian Immigration Bureau (1920-1922) and federal Member of Parliament (1925-1940). The papers include correspondence with Scullin. Additional material relating to this collection is at MS 5347. A descriptive list is available.


Hawker, Charles Allen Seymour. Papers, 1904-1938.
Collection Number: MS 4848
Extent: 1.25 metres

Charles Hawker was a South Australian pastoralist, MHR for Wakefield, United Australia Party parliamentarian and a member of the Lyons Cabinet. The papers consist of correspondence, speeches, parliamentary papers, cuttings, and photographs. The correspondence with parliamentary collleagues includes correspondence with J.H. Scullin. A descriptive list is available.


Hughes, William Morris. Papers, 1875-c1979.
Collection Number: MS 1538
Extent: 35 metres (224 boxes) + folio items

William ('Billy') Morris Hughes' papers include correspondence, diaries and notebooks, newspaper cuttings, photographs, and family and political papers. The political papers comprise extensive official and personal records dating from his time as Prime Minister from 1915 to 1923 and include 1 letter to and 4 letters from Scullin. A descriptive list is available.


Isaacs, Sir Isaac. Papers, 1875-1966.
Collection Number: MS 2755
Extent: 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) during Scullin's prime ministership. This collection includes 4 letters by or to Scullin and notes written by Isaacs after a discussion with Scullin in July 1931 concerning Isaacs' appointment as Governor-General. A descriptive list is available.


Kelly, Kevin. Papers, 1910-1953.
Collection Number: MS 2891
Extent: 14p.

Five letters from Scullin to Kevin Kelly, 1927-1937; two references for Kevin Kelly written by Scullin (1927 and 1936); a postcard from Sara Scullin 1910; a letter to Kevin Kelly from Sara Scullin, 1953; and a typescript entitled "Canberra: the Australian Capital" by Scullin.


Latham, Sir John. Papers, 1868-1964.
Collection Number: MS 1009
Extent: 18.4 metres

During most of the Priministership of J. H. Scullin, Latham was Leader of the Opposition, after which he founded (with Lyons) the United Australia Party. The collection includes 8 letters by Scullin and 6 from Latham to Scullin. A descriptive list is available.


Lyons, Joseph Aloysius. Papers, 1924-1939.
Collection Number: MS 4851
Extent: 1.5 metres (6 boxes + 2 folios)

Post-Master General and Minister for Works and Railways in the Scullin Government (1929-1931) and Prime Minister (1932-1939). The collection includes correspondence with W.M. Hughes, S.M. Bruce, J.H. Scullin, R.G. Menzies, and E.C.G. Page. There is also an address by Lyons referring to Scullin and a typescript entitled 'The sequence of events which led to the fall of the Scullin Government'. A descriptive list is available.


Mackaness, George. Correspondence and manuscripts, 1918-1962.
Collection Number: MS 534
Extent: 2 metres

George Mackaness was an author and historian. The collection comprises correspondence with Australian writers and many hundreds of manuscripts by writers, including articles for the Bulletin. Writers and correspondents include J. A. Lyons and J. H. Scullin. A descriptive list is available.


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

Jean Maughan was the daughter of Sir Edmund Barton. The papers include a letter to Lady Barton from Scullin, 27 June 1930, relating to the donation of the Barton Papers to the Commonwealth National Library.


O'Malley, King. Papers, 1888-1955.
Collection Number: MS 460
Extent: 3.69 metres (23 boxes)

Member of House of Representatives (1901-1917) and Minister for Home Affairs in the second Fisher (Labor) Ministry (1910-1913) and under W.M. Hughes (1915-1916). The O'Malley Papers include correspondence with numerous prime ministers including one letter by and two letters to Scullin. A card index to correspondence and a descriptive list is available.


Page, Sir Earle. Papers, 1908-1961.
Collection Number: MS 1633
Extent: 42.67 metres

Dr (later Sir) Earle Page founded and led the Country Party, and became Prime Minister (briefly) upon Lyons' death. His papers include subject files of correspondence, cables, cuttings, personal documents, reports, and speeches. They cover such topics as primary industry, taxation and banking, foreign affairs, national insurance, industrial relations, social services, immigration, trade, new state movements, the formation of the Bruce-Page government, and the Country Party. The correspondence includes one letter by J.H. Scullin. A card index to correspondence and a chronological and subject list of files is available.


Palmer, Vance. Vance and Nettie Palmer Papers, 1889-1964.
Collection Number: MS 1174
Extent: 7.36 m. (46 boxes) + 1 fol. item.

Vance and Nettie Palmer were writers and literary critics. The papers include one letter by J. H. Scullin. A descriptive list is available.


Pearce, Sir George Foster. Papers, 1909-1952.
Collection Number: MS 213, MS 1827, MS 1927
Extent: 1.5 metres (10 boxes)

George (later Sir George) Pearce was a WA Senator (1901-1937) and a minister in the Hughes, Lyons and Bruce-Page Governments. MS 213 includes one letter from Pearce to Scullin. A descriptive list is available.


Rischbieth, Bessie. Papers, 1900-1967.
Collection Number: MS 2004
Extent: 7.5 metres

Rischbieth was co-founder of the Women's Service Guild of Western Australia, 1909 and co-founder and President of the Australian Federation of Women Voters, 1921-1942. The collection includes 9 letters by Scullin and 27 letters from Rischbieth to Scullin. The letters relate to marriage laws, the status of women and other subjects. A descriptive list is available.


Ryan, Kevin. Papers, 1976-1978.
Collection Number: MS 6291
Extent: 48 cm (3 boxes)

Papers assembled by Ryan during research work for his Masters' thesis on Frank Brennan, Attorney-General in the Scullin Government, 1929-1931. The papers include references to Scullin.


Souter, Gavin. Papers, 1959-1991.
Collection Number: MS 8604
Extent: 9.94 metres (71 boxes) + 1 folio

Journalist, historian and author. The collection includes a file on J.H. Scullin collected by Souter when writing his book Acts of Parliament (1988). A descriptive list is available.


Stonehaven, John Lawrence Baird, Viscount. Papers, 1893-1941.
Collection Number: MS 2127
Extent: 0.32 metres

Lord Stonehaven was Governor-General for most of Bruce's term as Prime Minister. There are 11 letters written by or to Bruce, 1925-1930, some of which contain references to Scullin. A descriptive list is available.


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

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 three letters by or to J.H. Scullin. A descriptive list is available.


Theodore, Edward Granville. Papers, 1906-1972.
Collection Number: MS 7222
Extent: 0.28 metres plus 19 folio items and 1 elephant folio item

Edward Granville Theodore was Treasurer in the Scullin Government. His papers include 19 volumes of news cuttings with references to Theodore, and letters, mainly on the Mungana affair and his defeat at the 1931 elections. There are letters from J.H. Scullin and J. Curtin, 1931. A descriptive list is available.


'The Prime Ministers' (Episode 2, 1914-1939), 1983.
Collection Number: A19066872
Extent: One video cassette

Recorded by: Boland and Assistants (production for Regional Television). Episode two of The Prime Ministers traces the careers of William Morris Hughes, Stanley Bruce, James Scullin, Joseph Lyons, Earle Page and Robert Menzies; Australia's prime ministers from World War I to the outbreak of World War II. This film is held by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne.


Watson, James Frederick. Papers, 1814-1979.
Collection Number: MS 7887
Extent: 9.52 metres

Surgeon and radiologist who in later life wrote on historical, economic and constitutional subjects. His papers concerning constitutional reform and public finance and banking include correspondence with J. H. Scullin. A descriptive list is available.


White, Sir Thomas Walter. Papers, 1912-1992.
Collection Number: MS 9148
Extent: 5.32 metres (37 boxes) + 2 folio boxes

Sir Thomas Walter White was a member of Lyons Cabinet (Minister for Trade and Customs, 1933-1938). Between 1929 and 1938 White acted as Australian correspondent for the Morning Post (London), for which he was engaged to provide general news stories from all parts of Australia and any political items of interest to British readers. His journalistic output is documented in a series of files containing letters and cables, together with a number of despatches tracing the history of the Scullin Ministry and financial troubles of 1931. A descriptive list is available.