MS 9372
Papers of Robin Gollan (1917 - 2007)



Scope and Content Note

Papers

1920-94

2.66m (19 boxes)

Available for reference

The papers were donated to the Library by Robin (Bob) Gollan in 1994.

They include correspondence, lecture notes, drafts, manuscripts, typescripts, research notes, journal articles, photocopies, and notebooks relating to Gollan’s long career as a history lecturer and labour historian and his interests in forest issues, the peace movement and uranium mining.

The collection was arranged in files with titles when received by the Library. The arrangement of papers within these files and the file titles have been preserved by the Library.

Papers of Anne Gollan, Robin Gollan's wife, are held at MS 9371.


Biographical Note

1917

Born 8 December, Woodburn, New South Wales

1940-42

Teacher, NSW Department of Education

1942-45

Served in the Royal Australian Air Force

1946-52

Lecturer at Sydney Teachers’ College

1953-76

Research Fellow, Fellow, Senior Fellow, Professorial Fellow, History Department, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University

1976-82

Manning Clark Professor of Australian History, Australian National University

1982

Emeritus Professor of History, Australian National University

2007 Died 15 October, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Publications

Radical and working class politics: a study of Eastern Australia 1850-1910, Melbourne, Melbourne University Press, 1960

The Coalminers of New South Wales: a history of the union 1860-1960, Melbourne, Melbourne University Press, 1963

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia: origins and early history, Canberra, Australian National University, 1968

Revolutionaries and reformists: Communism and the Australian Labour Movement, Melbourne, Melbourne University Press, 1975

The myth of the level playing field, Sydney, Left Book Club (Catalyst Press), 1993

References

Who’s Who in Australia 1991, Melbourne, Information Australia, 1990


Series List

1

Correspondence, 1948-94

2

Lecture material, 1958-81

3

Writings, 1955-86

4

Book reviews, 1953-1985

5

Australian Dictionary of Biography, 1976-90

6

References written by Gollan, 1969-87

7

Papers relating to the Australian National University, 1959-83

8

Conferences, 1957-90

9

Other papers, 1920-1991

10

Printed material, 1952-83


Series Description

Series 1 Correspondence, 1948-94

This series consists mainly of professional correspondence relating to academic appointments, lectures and talks, requests to act as examiner for PhD candidates, references for students and requests for book reviews and journal articles. The main correspondents are universities, publishers, academic colleagues and students. The material in folders 3 –7 was originally housed in two ring binders. The material has been removed from the binders for preservation reasons and placed in folders. The correspondence in folders 3 – 5 was arranged alphabetically by surname in one of the folders.

Folder

 
1

Correspondence, 1948-50

2

Correspondence, 1965-66

3-5

Correspondence, 1976-81

6-7

Out-letters, 1976-81

8

Correspondence, 1982-83

9-10

Correspondence, 1984-87

11

Correspondence, 1989-91. The file includes a paper ‘Frank Anstey and the Russian revolution’ by Peter Love

12

Correspondence, 1992-94. The file includes the following papers: ‘Guns for Nauru in the Cold War’ by L. J. Lewis, ‘Discovering our republican heritage’ by Gollan, ‘Dealing with Moscow: the Comintern and the early history of the Communist Party in Australia’ by Stuart Macintyre and the draft of the first chapter for a book on the Communist Party in Australia by Stuart Macintyre


Series 2 Lecture material, 1958-81

This series consists of prepared lectures, notes and research material for courses in Australian history.

Folder

 
1-2

Handwritten lecture notes for a course in Australian history at Melbourne University, 1958

3-4

Handwritten lecture notes for a course in Australian history at the Australian National University, 1970

5-7

Handwritten lecture notes for a course in Australian history at the Australian National University, 1976

8-9

Handwritten lecture notes for courses in Australian history at the Australian National University, 1976-80

10

1890s Depression: lecture notes

11

1926 General Strike: lecture notes

12

1949 Coal Strike: lecture notes

13

1956: lecture notes

14

Equality and socialism: lecture notes

15

Ideology: lecture notes

16

Marxism: lecture notes

17

The left and labour history: lecture notes

18

Trade unions and the war, 1939-45: lecture notes

19

Working class history: lecture notes

20

Miscellaneous lecture notes including notes on radical Australia, White Australia policy and the formation of the Australian Labor Party

21

Listing of lectures for a course in Australian history at the Australian National University, 1981, lecture notes on liberalism and a select bibliography of the Great War


Series 3

Writings, 1955-86

This series comprises drafts, typescripts, papers, talks, and copies of journal articles written by Gollan.

Folder

 
1

Journal articles: ‘The trade unions and labour parties, 1890-94’, Reprinted from Historical Studies, vol 7, No 25, November 1955, ‘Newcastle miners and colliery proprietors, 1860-80’, Royal Australian Historical Society Journal and Proceedings, vol 45, 1959 and ‘Arbitration and the sliding scale in the NSW coal industry in the eighteen-seventies’ (n.d.)

2

Typescript of ‘Radical and working class politics in Australia, 1850-1910’ which was published as Radical and working class politics: a study of Eastern Australia, 1850-1910 in 1960

3

Typescript of Revolutionaries and reformists (1975)

4-5

Handwritten draft and typescripts with corrections of the John Curtin Memorial Lecture entitled ‘The Labour Movement and equality 1890-1980’, presented on the 17 November 1976. There is also correspondence with the Research School of Pacific Sciences, 1976-77, relating to the lecture

6

‘Labour, socialism and equality, an Australian case’: a revised version of the John Curtin Memorial Lecture, 1976, (n.d.)

7

Galley proofs and ammendments of entries for the Australian Encyclopaedia on ‘trade unionism’ and ‘strikes and lockouts’. There is also a letter from the Australian Encyclopaedia, 4 August 1982, relating to the entries

8

Drafts and final of a foreword for a book written by Bill Gollan, Robin Gollan’s brother, August 1986. There is also correspondence between the two brothers in 1985 passing on biographical information for the foreword and a letter from Pluto Press (January 1986) declining to publish the book

9

Typescript paper ‘Australian populism and nationalism – historical perspective’ (n.d.) and handwritten draft ‘The Australian identity’ (n.d.)

10

‘Australian labour history’ (n.d.), ‘David Campbell at war’ (n.d.), ‘The myth of the level playing field (n.d.) and ‘Privatising the Commonwealth Bank’ (n.d.)

11

Drafts and final typescript of a paper ‘Meanjin’s Australianism’ (n.d.)

12

Obituaries for Emeritus Professor W. K. (Sir Keith) Hancock (1990) and Laurie Fitzhardinge (n.d.).


Series 4

Book reviews, 1953-85

This series consists of book reviews of works by Gollan and book reviews written by him on works by others.

Folder

 
1

Photocopies of book reviews of works by Gollan: Radical and working class politics: a study of Eastern Australia, 1850-1910 (1960), The coalminers of New South Wales: a history of the union 1860-1960 (1963), The Commonwealth Bank of Australia: origins and early history (1968), and Revolutionaries and reformists: Communism and the Australian Labour Movement, 1920-55 (1975).
The file also contains a copy of an agreement between Gollan and Allen and Unwin for the publication of Revolutionaries and reformists, 1984

2-3

Reviews of works by others


Series 5

Australian Dictionary of Biography, 1976-90

This series consists of correspondence, manuscript drafts, corrected drafts, typescripts, and biographical notes for entries for the Australian Dictionary of Biography. Gollan compiled entries for Guido Baracchi (1887-1975), James Curley (1846-1913), and Sir Denison Miller (1860-1923). An entry for Phyllis Anderson (1901-1957) was prepared by Moira Scollay, who was a research assistant for Gollan at the Australian National University.

Folder

 
1

Correspondence with the Australian Dictionary of Biography, 1976-77, biographical notes, drafts and final typescript of an entry for the ADB on Phyllis Anderson (1901-57). The entry was written by Moira Scollay, research assistant to Gollan.

2

Correspondence with the Australian Dictionary of Biography, 1984-85, biographical notes, drafts and final typescript of an entry for the ADB on Sir Denison Miller (1860-1923)

3

Correspondence with the Australian Dictionary of Biography, 1990, and Betty Roland, 1991, biographical notes, drafts and final typescript of an entry for the ADB on Guido Baracchi (1887-1975). The file also contains an obituary notice for Bill Gollan (brother), written by Gollan and two letters of condolence

4

Biographical notes, draft and final typescript of an entry for the ADB on James Curley (1846-1913)


Series 6

References written by Gollan, 1969-87

This series consists of references written by Gollan for his students and professional colleagues. They mainly relate to academic postings, teaching positions or for scholarships.

Folder

 
1

References, 1969-71

2

References, 1976-81

3

References, 1986-87


Series 7

Papers relating to the Australian National University, 1959-83

This series consists of notes, reports and discussion papers relating to the Australian National University. They cover early aspects of the university’s administration and its role as a research institution. Gollan had also undertaken research and interviews for a history of the ANU.

Folder

 
1

Comments by Sir Alexander Carr-Saunders (formerly Director of the London School of Economics) on the Australian National University as a research university, 1959, and responses to these comments by Gollan and others within the Research School of Social Sciences

2

Proposal for the preparation of a guide to manuscript sources held in Great Britain and Ireland on Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, 1963-64. Gollan was Publications Officer at this time. The guide Manuscripts in the British Isles relating to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific was edited by Phyllis Mander Jones and published in 1972

3

Correspondence, 1964-65, relating to staffing and administrative matters within the Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University

4

‘The Australian National University: history of the site plan, 1912-71’, ANU, 1973

5

Presentation of an Honary LL.D to C. Hartley Grattan, University of Texas, by the Australian National University, September 1977 for his public services in promoting interest in Australia in the United States of America. The file contains biographical information about Gratton and a copy of the citation for the award written by Gollan.

6

Notes on discussions with Sir John Crawford, 1983, relating to the history of the Australian National University

7

Chronology of events at the Australian National University taken from Council minutes and a paper ‘Report to the Vice-Chancellor on a project for a history of the Australian National University’ written by Gollan in October, 1983

8

Papers: ‘Some recollections of early history of ANU’ (1983) and ‘Hancock and history at the ANU’ (n.d.)

9

Notes relating to the history of the Australian National University, including a manuscript draft paper ‘Towards a history of the Faculty of Arts’

10

Miscellaneous notes relating to a history of the Australian National University and a special issue of Australian National University News, August 1974, on H.C. Coombs

11

Draft reports prepared within the Faculty of Social Sciences, Australian National University relating to scholarships and fellowships (n.d.)


Series 8

Conferences and seminars, 1957-90

This series consists of copies of papers and synopsis of papers given at conferences and seminars attended by Gollan or papers written by colleagues. He was also a member of the committee responsible for the organisation of the Post-War Reconstruction Seminar, held at the Australian National University in August, 1981.

Folder

 
1

Conference of historians, Australian National University, 24-27 August 1957: roneoed notes, typescript summaries of discussions and a review of the conference

2

First Arena conference held in Melbourne, 3-5 July, 1964 to discuss the Australian professional intelligentsia. The file includes an opening speech by Gollan, the text of a session chaired by him and a review of the conference to be published in Arena

3

ANZAAS Congress, Hobart, August 1965: ‘T.A. Coghlan as an historian’, paper by E.C. Fry

4

Socialist Scholars Conference, Sydney University, 21-24 May, 1970: papers by Terry Irving and Baiba Berzins, Colin Mackerras, Coonie Sandford, Dennis Altman and John Playford

5-6

Post-War Reconstruction Seminar, Australian National University, 31 August 1981: minutes, notes and progress reports relating to the organisation of the seminar and a list of papers to be presented

7

Old Left and Australian Historiography Seminar, School of History, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, 3 December 1983: program and synopsis of papers by Frank Bongiorno, Frank Cain, Mark Hearn and Beverley Kingston. The file also contains promotional flyers for Gollan’s book The myth of the level playing field (1993)

8

V. Gordon Childe Centenary Conference, University of Queensland, 23-26 September 1990: program and abstracts of papers, drafts, corrections and final of an opening address by Gollan and correspondence, 1989-90, relating to the conference

9

Maritime Strike Centenary Conference, University of Wollongong, 14 December 1990: program and synopsis of papers and the text of an after dinner address by Gollan on Eric Fry and his contribution to the Society for the Study of Labour History. There is also a listing of the papers of the Society held at the Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University


Series 9 Other papers, 1920-91

This series consists of research notes, photocopies, journal articles and papers covering a wide range of Gollan’s interests, including the peace movement, government and politics, Spanish Civil War, nuclear disarmament, forests, woodchipping, trade unions and communism. Many of the folders contain summaries of events from the daily newspapers and various journals. The series has been arranged in chronological order.

Folder

 
1

Notes and journal articles on the Sacco and Vanzetti case, 1920-70. Sacco and Vanzetti were executed for murder in the United States of America on 23 August, 1927

2

Notes on Red Europe by Frank Anstey (1919) and notes from newspapers on the Pan Pacific Conference and Trade Unionism, 1928

3

Notes on the Spanish Civil War including notes from newspapers, 1936-38, and from published works and photocopies from The Militant, 1936-37

4

Miscellaneous photocopies from the Catholic Worker, 1938-45, on peace, trade unionism and communism

5

Notes from the Catholic Worker, 1938-45 including notes on trade unionism, communism, the war and social justice

6

Notes and photocopies from Civil Liberty, 1938-45, on civil liberties in Australia

7

Notes and photocopies from Communist Review, 1939-41, miscellaneous photocopies from the Australian Communist and the Proletarian, and a paper ‘Communists in the Peace Movement, 1945-73’ (n.d.)

8

Notes and cartoons from the Bulletin, 1939-42, on communism, facism, trade unionism and the Australian political and economic situation

9

Royal Australian Air Force Officer’s Certificate of Service and Observer’s Air Gunner’s and W/T Operator’s flying log book

10

Notes and newscuttings from the Tribune, 1943-49, on communism, facism, and the Australian political and economic situation

11

Notes from Hansard and various newspapers on doctors and medical health schemes, 1947-49

12

Notes and newscuttings from the Argus, 1949-50, on trade unions, Australian political and economic situation and foreign affairs

13

Australian Peace Movement: subject file, 1949-55, consisting of notes and photocopies of leaflets and journal articles

14

Minutes of various meetings of the Queensland Trades and Labour Council, 1950-52

15

Typed extracts and photocopies from reports of the New South Wales Trades and Labour Council, 1950-57

16

Peace: subject file, 1950-58, consisting of journal articles on peace initiatives and the Australian Communist Party and transcripts of interviews with Jack and Audrey Blake, Bob and Ann Gollan, Bill and Marie Gollan, and Geoff Anderson relating to the peace movement and peace initiatives within Australia between the late 40s and mid 60s

17

Notes from daily newspapers , 1950-61, on strikes in Australia

18

Peace: subject file, 1950-65, consisting of notes and photocopies of issues of The Methodist and a photocopy of a pamphlet Exchange of letters between the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Menzies, K.T., C.H., Q.C., MP and the Rt. Rev. J. S. Moyes, C.M.G., and certain archbishops and bishops

19

Peace: subject file, 1953-64, consisting of notes and photocopies from The Anglican and the Catholic Worker

20

Peace: subject file, 1960-63, consisting of notes and photocopies of journal articles and reports relating to peace initiatives within Australia including the setting up of peace committees

21

Proposal by John Saville, University of Hull, England, for a Dictionary of Labour Biography, 1961

22

Peace: subject file, 1964, consisting of notes, photocopies of reports and papers from the Australian Congress for International Cooperation and Disarmament

23

Peace: subject file, 1965-66, consisting of notes and photocopies, minutes from the inaugural meeting of the Association for International Cooperation and Disarmament (NSW), March 1965 and statements relating to the Vietnam War

24

Notes and correspondence, 1966-68 relating to the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History. The main correspondent is Eric Fry who was President of the Society

25

Miscellaneous notes on the peace movement and the Vietnam War, 1966-72

26

Notes and information brochures on the situation in South Africa, 1966

27

Notes on federal and state legislation, 1970-77

28

Two Australian passports (5 September 1973 and 10 April 1979) belonging to Gollan

29

Research notes and photocopies relating to a visit to the La Trobe Library, Melbourne by Moira Scollay, research assistant to Gollan, December, 1974

30-31

Australian Academy of the Humanities: agenda and minutes of meetings, 1976-81 and proceedings of a symposium ‘Peasants in history and literature’, held in Canberra, May 1981

32

Papers relating to the Australian Association for Socialist Studies including minutes of the inaugural meeting, May 1977, financial statement , May 1977 June 1978, suggested constitution for the association and Certificate of Incorporation of the Association

33

Papers by Peter Worsley: ‘One world or three?’ (1979) and ‘The practice of politics and the study of kinship’ (n.d.) and journal articles and lecture notes on the Cold War, 1950-65

34

‘The movement against war and facism: 1930s forerunner of the current peace movement’ : paper by Scott Poynting, Macquarie University, July 1987

35

‘The bases and the bomb’ (1987), newsletters relating to uranium mining, the environment and the nuclear debate and a copy of Uranium, the joint facilities, disarmament and peace, AGPS, 1984

36

Notes, references and journal articles on forests and woodchipping in New South Wales, 1987-89

37

Peace: subject file, 1988-90, consisting of issues of the Australian Association for Armed Neutrality (February, April, 1988), Armed Neutrality Review (November 1988, July 1990) and Peace Dossier 10

38-39

Papers relating to the Left Book Club, 1988-91. Included are agenda for meetings, financial statements, information brochures and a draft of a booklet by Abe David and Ted Wheelright ‘ Asian capitalism and the Australian working class’ to be published by the Club

40

Paper by Stuart Macintyre ‘Class against class’ (n.d.) and miscellaneous issues of the National Times (9-14 December 1974 and 19-25 April 1981)

41

Papers by Jack and Audrey Blake: ‘1949-56 – Stalinism or independence’, ‘Past experiences of the Communist Party and some perspectives for the left’ and ‘Old places revisited’ (Audrey Blake)

42

Various papers: ‘The whig view of Australian history’ by A. W. Martin, ‘The Communist Party of Australia meets the Depression in New South Wales 1930-34’ by Phyllis Peter and ‘Men and childcare in the feminist utopia’ by Ann Curthoys

43

Typescript of ‘Gough and Johny were lovers’ by R.F. Brissenden (n.d.)

44

Photocopy of notes containing recollections of the Spanish Civil War (author unknown) (n.d.)

45-46

Miscellaneous notes and journal articles on subjects including inflation, Australian political parties, Chinese-American relations and a paper by Dan Coward ‘From public health to environmental amenity, 1870-1970’

47

Photocopies of bibliographies and entries from the Australian National Bibliography. The subjects covered are Australian politics and government, economics, communism, trade unions and labour history

48-49

Four note books containing notes, references and summaries of books on various subjects including labour and trade unionism.


Series 10 Printed material, 1952-83

This series contains printed material in the form of pamphlets, journals and booklets on various subjects including Australian literature, Australian Labor Party (1973), uranium mining and the Vietnam War.

One box

 

Box List

Box

Series

Folder/Piece

1

1

1-6

2

1

7-12

3

2

1-6

4

2

7-16

5

2

17-21

6

3

1-4

7

3

5-12

8

4

1-3

8

5

1-4

9

6

1-4

9

7

1-3

10

7

4-10

11

7

11

11

8

1-6

12

8

7-9

12

9

1-4

13

9

5-13

14

9

14-20

15

9

21-29

16

9

30-36

17

9

37-44

18

9

45-49

19

10

Various publications

November 2007