MS 9231
Papers of C. A. Gibb (1913-94)
Scope and Content Note
- Papers
- 1933-77
- 3.5 m. (25 boxes)
- Available for reference
The papers comprise working notes, computer punch cards, matrices and
other data, correspondence, reports and publications relating to Gibbs
work in Australia and the United States as a research psychologist, and
his subsequent career in Australian educational administration and
research. A quantity of material relating to Gibbs work on tertiary
admission procedures is included. Notes and reports arising from Gibbs
chairing of the 1971 committee, which reported to the Gorton Government on
the condition of Aborigines on pastoral properties in the Northern
Territory, are also held.
Overall, the papers are arranged in chronological order, covering facets
of Gibb's research, teaching and administrative careers. However, in some
cases material that has been reused for later purposes is held with the
later material, reflecting the order of papers as they were received.
Gibbs wife Margaret donated the papers to the Library in 1994.
Biographical Note
Cecil Gibb was foundation professor of Psychology at the Australian
National University and eminent internationally for his research into
personality factors and leadership. Gibb was born in Marrickville in 1913,
and educated at Fort Street Boys High School and Sydney University, where
he graduated with honours in both arts and economics. After a brief period
as lecturer in Psychology at Sydney University, he joined the Australian
Army Psychology Service in 1942 and by 1946 was assistant to the Director
of Psychological Services with the rank of major.
Gibbs work for the Army and its personnel services provided a
basis for later exploration of personality factors, leadership and
education selection procedures. The United States was the world leader in
Gibbs initial field, factor analysis, and in 1947 Gibb completed his
doctorate at the University of Illinois. In Chicago he worked with the
leading international figure Raymond Cattell, who pioneered the
application of factor analysis in personality measurement. At Dartmouth
College, New Hampshire, between 1951 and 1955 Gibb co-ordinated an
interdisciplinary course in human relations, and contributed research
papers in areas of industrial and social psychology. Gibb edited the
Penguin series publication, Leadership, in 1969.
On his return to Australia in 1955 Gibb took up the new chair of
Psychology at the then Canberra University College. As a foundation member
of the College Council, he was involved in the negotiations preceding
amalgamation of the College with the Australian National University in
1960. Gibb filled the position of deputy chairman of the School of General
Studies at the Australian National University between 1966 and 1971, a
period of considerable change. Student quotas were widespread and the
cause of debate as to their effectiveness and fairness.
Gibb was awarded an O.B.E. in 1970 for his services to education. In
1971 he chaired the committee that reported to the Gorton Government on
the conditions of Aborigines on pastoral properties in the Northern
Territory.
Guided by his earlier leadership and personality research, and
experience as a university teacher and administrator, Gibb was at the
forefront of new policy developments in tertiary admissions. His work for
the Tertiary Education Commission during the 1970s established a blueprint
for tertiary admission procedures in Australia, and led to an improved
understanding of selection methods and quotas.
Having retired from the Australian National University, in 1981-1983
Gibb conducted a study of entry scores, admission procedures and selection
in Universities for the Tertiary Education Commission. He died in
Canberra, 1 May 1994, aged 80.
- References:
- Canberra Times, 14 May 1994.
- The Australian, 12 May 1994.
|
Series |
Title |
|
|
|
1 |
Education and early career |
|
|
|
2 |
Sydney University and University of Illinois, 1947-51 |
|
|
|
3 |
Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, 1951-55 |
|
|
|
4 |
Canberra University College/Australian National University: research
and teaching, 1955-78 |
|
|
|
5 |
Canberra University College/Australian National University:
administration, 1955-78 |
|
|
|
6 |
Aborigines on Pastoral Properties, 1971-72 |
|
|
|
7 |
Tertiary admissions: research, data and reports 1967-83 |
|
|
|
8 |
Miscellaneous papers, 1913-84 |
Series 1 Education and early career
There is little to be found in the collection regarding Gibbs
early years or education. The series contains undated drafts and a copy of
his 1940 Sydney University MA thesis, Personality traits. Their
empirical measurement and statistical isolation.
Also included in this brief series are remnants of Gibbs work for
the Australian Army Psychology Service, 1942-46. These include
notes for guidance of Personnel Selection Officers, data, and tests
created and compiled for the Psychology Service.
Series 2 Sydney University and University of Illinois, 1947-51
During the late 1940s Gibb was a senior lecturer in psychology at Sydney
University. On sabbatical at the University of Illinois he attained a PhD,
focusing on the emergence of leadership. Both at Sydney and Illinois Gibb
refined techniques of testing personality traits, particularly with
respect to small group behaviour.
The series comprises: Gibbs 1949 PhD psychology thesis, The
emergence of leadership in small, temporary groups of men, and
related material; a number of drafts and reprints of articles, including
correspondence with publishers and colleagues relating to the subject of
leadership; articles and related matter on the subject of Rorschach Group
testing (leadership). This period marked the beginning of a long and
productive relationship with Professor Raymond Cattell, a leading
authority in Gibbs chosen field. Unfortunately, little remains of
Gibbs research or work with Cattell, with the exception of
correspondence and draft chapters for a proposed collaboration, Advanced
Social Psychology (unpublished). A miscellaneous cutting on
leadership completes the series.
Series 3 Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, 1951-55
As visiting lecturer, Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, Gibb further
developed methods of leadership assessment, based in part on his work with
Cattell. He further refined the view of leadership that emphasised syntality
and context, by application and evaluation of p-technique and
other analytical methods. This view proposed leadership as a function of
personality and the social system in interaction.
The series contains extensive research notes and correspondence,
publications, questionnaire and associated material, correlation data and
punch-cards relating to research projects: Australian Cultural
Pattern by p-technique, Teacher Behaviour Description,
further leadership and group behaviour research. Minutes of the Social
Science Research Council to which Gibb reported his work on leadership in
July 1952, and related correspondence for an American Psychology
Association symposium on Theories of Leadership in 1954 are
also included.
Research matter from this period is followed by details of Gibbs
innovative Human Relations course, spanning psychology and sociology
disciplines. The course information held here includes background notes,
syllabi, lectures, examination and laboratory material. This is followed
by correspondence, notes and test material connecting industrial
psychology and personnel development, culminating in a Ford
Foundation-sponsored summer school conducted by Gibb for Du Pont in 1955.
Miscellaneous draft papers and reprints complete the series.
Series 4 Canberra University College/Australian National University:
research and teaching , 1955-78
Material reflecting Gibbs research at the Department of
Psychology, Canberra University College, in the late 1950s commences with
an additional teacher behaviour project work, utilising some
of the earlier Dartmouth data and findings, and comparing the responses of
Dartmouth and Canberra University College student populations. Project
material comprises questionnaire data and scales, some correspondence
relating to data processing, notes, drafts and copies of Gibbs
summary paper, Teacher Behaviour Here and There,
published in the December 1957 number of the Australian Journal of
Psychology.
Gibbs large (200 families were used) Family Description Project
focused on the family as a small group for analysis. Data, analyses,
reports and research notes are extant.
The series also includes correspondence and related notes contributed by
Gibb in relation to articles written for a number of journals and
organisations on group dynamics, human relations in public
administration, industrial social psychology. Included here is a technical
report Game Interactions with Humans and Machines
and Their Relations to Tactical Behaviour and Success Gibb priuced
for the U.S. government in 1963. This is followed by a number of items
relating to the International Conference on Social-Psychological
Research in Developing Countries, held in Imbada, Nigeria, December
1966 to January 1967, which Gibb attended.
Following the research sequence, the series includes lecture notes,
readings, collected publications, handbooks and projects associated with
Gibbs Psychology and extension courses, c. 1956-77. Miscellaneous
notes on I.Q. measurement and other topics, a number of article drafts and
reprints and correspondence associated with Gibbs appointment and
conditions complete this series
Series 5 Canberra University College/Australian National University:
administration, 1955-78
This organisational series is lacking in any significant quantity of
minutes or other matter related to the early years of the Canberra
University College and Australian National University. It commences with
some minutes, annual and other reports of the Psychology Department from
1955-75, followed by notes dating from 1959 on teaching methodology
and copies of Canberra University College minutes from 1960 pertaining to
academic salaries.
The series largely comprises Gibbs later work for the University,
from the mid-1970s until 1984. It includes questionnaires and various
reports centring on University goals, the structure of the
University, reports on administrative management positions and
miscellaneous notes relating to the organisation and role of the
university, and student attitudes to psychology. Some correspondence is
held, including a series between Gibb and Fred E. Fiedler, Professor of
Psychology and of Management and Organisation at University of Washington,
Seattle.
Series 6 Aborigines on Pastoral Properties.
This series covers the work of the Department of Interior review of the
working conditions, health, welfare and social conditions of Aborigines on
pastoral properties in the Northern Territory. The committee consisted of
Gibb as Chairman, H. C. Coombs, Chairman, Council for Aboriginal Affairs,
W. E. L. de Vos, Secretary Northern Territory Cattle Producers Council, J.
Taylor, anthropologist, Queensland Institute Medical Research, C. Roberts,
Aboriginal with experience as an employee in the pastoral industry,
and E. Milliken, Director of Research, Welfare Division, Northern
Territory Administration. The review in part stemmed from the 1968
Commonwealth Arbitration Commission decision that the time has come
when Aborigines are entitled to award protection. Geographically,
the work of Gibbs Committee covered four districts, Alice Springs,
Barkly Tablelands, Victoria River and Darwin/Gulf districts.
The series includes legislation and reports relevant to Aboriginal
education, employment, health and housing; copies of the Department of the
Interior Northern Territory Newsletter and other publications,
reports issued by Abschol (National Union of Australian Students
Aboriginal Scholarship Scheme during 1969 and 1970 concerning the
conflict between the Government-Vestey side and the Gurindji tribe over
Wattie Creek land rights), and a copy of an address delivered by
Coombs to the Anthropological Society of Western Australia, April 1971);
census material, submissions and transcripts of interviews with
pastoralists, cattle industry and other representatives. There are
reports, research and correspondence concerning employment, training,
health and welfare options, together with copies of the Committees
findings. Copies of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs subsequent
report, Community Development in Pastoral Areas forwarded to
Gibb by Coombs in 1975, and a 1973 article in the anthropological journal
Mankind regarding the work of the Committee are also held.
Papers relating to Abschol, 1965-70, are held by the National Library at
MS 2592.
Series 7 Tertiary Admissions: research, data and reports 1967-83.
Gibbs research into selection methodology and practice in
education spanned the 1960s to the 1980s, and includes his work in
establishing courses in psychology at Canberra University College and the
Australian National University, and work for the Tertiary Education
Commission.
The series comprises correspondence and research matter related to the
University of Illinois High School Personality Questionnaire,
and other notes and studies in academic success collected by
Gibb; correspondence, travel arrangements and collected reports emanating
from Gibbs 1969 research tour and review of admissions procedures
for the Australian National University; notes, research and report of the
Universitys Tertiary Education Entrance Project, 1969; Australian
National University, General Studies Board meetings, 1970-71, and notes
concerning 1st year and early admission processes, 1971. There follows
Gibbs 1978-79 report into entry scores to universities and colleges
of advanced education, and related matter; a progress report for an
evaluation project at the University of Melbourne conducted by Gibb,
1981-83, and miscellaneous tertiary education reports.
Series 8 Miscellaneous.
Contained in this series are general and personal correspondence,
including a number of letters congratulating Gibb on receipt of his O.B.E.
(1970) for services to education. Of particular interest are
notes and correspondence supporting the nomination of Raymond Cattell for
the Psychological Science Gold Medal Award, 1985. Also included are
photographs, certificates, curriculum vitae and a small number of
newspaper cuttings. Several miscellaneous publications are also held.
Box List
|
Box |
Series |
Folder/piece |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
1-3 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
1 |
4-5 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
2 |
1-8 |
|
|
|
|
4 |
2 |
9-13 |
|
|
|
|
5 |
3 |
1-6 |
|
|
|
|
6 |
3 |
7-14 |
|
|
|
|
7 |
3 |
15-21 |
|
|
|
|
8 |
3 |
22-26 |
|
|
|
|
9 |
4 |
1-7 |
|
|
|
|
10 |
4 |
8-13 |
|
|
|
|
11 |
4 |
14-21 |
|
|
|
|
12 |
4 |
22-28 |
|
|
|
|
13 |
4 |
29-36 |
|
|
|
|
14 |
4 |
36-41 |
|
|
|
|
15 |
5 |
1-7 |
|
|
|
|
16 |
5 |
8-13 |
|
|
|
|
17 |
6 |
1-7 |
|
|
|
|
18 |
6 |
8-13 |
|
|
|
|
19 |
6 |
14-20 |
|
|
|
|
20 |
7 |
1-7 |
|
|
|
|
21 |
7 |
8-14 |
|
|
|
|
22 |
7 |
15-21 |
|
|
|
|
23 |
7 |
22-25 |
|
|
|
|
24 |
8 |
1-9 |
|
|
|
|
25 |
8 |
10 |
Guide prepared August 1998
|