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Special collections relating to Harold Holt 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: 13 November 2002

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 papers of Zara Holt as well as a number of other manuscript collections which contain letters or other materials relating to Harold Holt. The manuscript collections in this guide are listed in alphabetical order.





Allan, Scotty (George Urquhart). Papers, 1905-1993.
Collection Number: MS 4911

Aviator and Deputy General Manager of Qantas. Allan flew with Charles Ulm and P.G. Taylor in the record-breaking "Faith in Australia" flight from England to Australia in 1933. The collection includes letters by Harold Holt.

Armstrong, Robert Edward. Papers, 1947-1974.
Collection Number: MS 8953

Public servant, Department of Immigration. Letters, addresses, cuttings and photographs, providing a record of Armstrong's long career in the Department of Immigration 1947-1974. Correspondents include Harold Holt.

Australian Labor Party, Neutral Bay Branch. Records, 1964-1974.
Collection Number: MS 4528

Includes a copy of a letter to Prime Minister Holt, dated 1966 from the Mosman Branch condemning totalitarianism.

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

The Brookes were long standing friends of Harold and Zara Holt. The papers include correspondence, notes, diaries, minute books, photographs and cuttings covering every phase of the careers of Herbert and Ivy Brookes. There are 8 letters by or to Holt.

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

Federal parliamentarian and leader of the Australian Labor Party, 1960-1966. The collection includes correspondence, reports, personal documents, minutes, cuttings, family documents, photographs, subject files, biographical files, invitations, speeches and publications. 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.

Casey Family. Papers, 1820-1978.
Collection Number: MS 6150

Casey family papers including the papers of Lord Casey (1890-1976), his father Richard Gardiner Casey Sr (1846-1919) and grandfather Cornelius Gavin Casey (1810-1896). Lord Casey (1890-1976) had a varied political career that included Federal Treasurer, Minister of State in the British War Cabinet, Minister for External Affairs (1951-1960) and Australian Governor-General (1965-1969). The collection includes diaries (1939-1976) and press cutting books (1924-1978).

Clark, Joseph James. Papers, 1930-1998 (bulk 1930-1969).
Collection Number: MS 2708

Clark was a Federal politician (1934-1969) and Chairman of Committees and Deputy Speaker in 1946-1949. The majority of the papers comprise correspondence, circulars, speeches and clippings concerning elections and the Australian Labor Party. Series 2 contains letters by Harold Holt.

Daff, Alfred. Papers, 1921-1976.
Collection Number: MS 5401

Film producer and director. Correspondence, newscuttings, publicity material, photographs and other papers. Correspondents include Harold Holt.

Eggleston, Frederic William. Papers, 1911-1954.
Collection Number: MS 423

Victorian Attorney-General 1924-1927; First Minister Plenipotentiary to China, 1941-1944; Minister to U.S.A., 1944-1945; and Adviser to Department of External Affairs, 1946-1949. Collection of correspondence, memoranda, notes, diaries, manuscripts and cuttings, dating mostly from 1919 concerning his political and diplomatic career. The papers include three Holt letters.

Garnsey, David. Papers, 1936-1990.
Collection Number: MS 9030

Bishop Garnsey was Headmaster of the Canberra Grammar School (1948-1958) and Bishop of Gippsland (1959-1974). The series on Canberra Grammar School includes letters by Harold Holt.

Harrison, Sir Eric. Papers, 1931-1964.
Collection Number: MS 5548

Eric Harrison was a member of the 1st AIF (1916-19). From 1931 until 1956 he was Liberal MHR for Wentworth NSW and of Deputy Leader of the Opposition (1944-1945). Harrison held various portfolios in the Lyons and Menzies Governments of 1934-1941 and 1949-1956. He served as Australian High Commissioner to London 1960-1964. The bulk of the collection consists of programs, invitations, menus, photographs and a scrapbook.

Hasluck, Sir Paul. Papers, 1925-1989.
Collection Number: MS 5274

Historian, diplomat (1941-1947), Liberal Party MHR for the Western Australian seat of Curtin (1949-1969), Minister for Territories (1951-1963), Minister for External Affairs (1964-1969), and Governor-General of Australia (1969-1974). The papers include Curtin constituency correspondence files (1950-1969), pamphlets, reports, speeches, leaflets, statements and printed ephemera, historical source documents on Australian Aboriginal welfare and the Northern Territory (1945-1963) and bound volumes of articles, speeches and broadcasts by Hasluck.

Heymanson, Sir Randal. Papers, 1920-1984.
Collection Number: MS 7999

Journalist and Editor of Australian Newspapers Services, New York, 1940-1969. Founder and chairman of the American-Australian Association, New York, 1967-1984. Correspondence, diaries and notebooks, business papers, cables, general files and miscellaneous papers, including extensive correspondence with Harold Holt.

Hince, Kenneth. Papers, 1855-1969.
Collection Number: MS 2691

Music critic and book dealer. In 1960 Hince opened a second hand bookshop, specialising Australiana and rare English editions. From 1964 he was music critic for The Australian. Almost all of the correspondence relates to music and primarily Australian music. Correspondents include Harold Holt.

Holt, Dame Zara. Papers, 1934-1977 (mainly 1951-1968).
Collection Number: MS 8431

Includes correspondence (1956-1968), appointment diaries (1957, 1962), a typescript copy of Harold Holt's diary (1957-1962), a typescript copy of Zara Holt's diary of a trip to Cambodia and Laos and of trips to Australia by Marshall Ky and President Lyndon Johnson, itineraries of official visits (1966-1967), photographs (1951-1967) including two photographs of Harold Holt taken at the time he stood unsuccessfully for the federal seat of Yarra in 1934, printed material (1937, 1950-1968), Christmas card lists (1967) and a 35 mm reel of the film "Holt Memorial Broadcast", 1967.

Howson, Peter. Papers, 1956-1990.
Collection Number: MS 4697

MHR Fawkner (Vic.) 1959-1969, MHR Casey (Vic.) 1969-1972, Minister for Air, 1964-1968, Minister assisting Treasurer 1966-1968, Minister for the Environment, Aboriginals and the Arts, 1971-1972. The papers include pamphlets, diaries, publications, correspondence (including correspondence with Harold Holt), and references to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Hudson, Sir William. Papers, 1948-1980.
Collection Number: MS 9025

Sir William Hudson was Commissioner of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority (1949-1967). Harold Holt is a major correspondent in these papers.

Hughes, William Morris. Papers, 1875-c1979.
Collection Number: MS 1538

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 two letters to and six letters from Holt.

Kent Hughes, Sir Wilfrid. Papers, 1914-1986.
Collection Number: MS 4856

Kent Hughes was a State and Federal politician. He became Federal Member for Chisholm in 1949 and Minister for Interior and Works (1951-56). He was also Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee (1956-61) and Chairman of the Olympic Games Committee (1951-1956). The papers include foreign affairs correspondence with Harold Holt.

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

Latham was Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for External Affairs, Minister for Industry (1931-1934) and Chief Justice of the High Court (1935-1952). The collection contains correspondence with Eric Harrison, Charles Hawker, Charles Heymanson and Harold Holt.

Liberal Party of Australia. Federal Secretariat. Records, c1945-1990.
Collection Number: MS 5000

The collection includes correspondence, press statements, agenda minutes, polls, subject files, press cuttings, Hansard reports and printed material.

Lyons, Dame Enid Muriel. Papers, 1931-1974.
Collection Number: MS 4852

Member for Darwin (Tasmania) in Federal Parliament, 1943-1951; Vice President of the Executive Council, 1949-1951; member of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, 1951-1952; and wife of J.A. Lyons, Prime Minister between 1932 and 1939. The collection consists mainly of correspondence, but also photographs, news cuttings, speeches, broadcasts, manuscripts of her books, invitations and programs.

McEwen, Sir John. Papers, 1943-1980.
Collection Number: MS 4654

Member of the House of Representatives 1934-1971, Leader of the Australian Country Party and Deputy Prime Minister 1958-1971 and Prime Minister after the death of Holt, 1967-1968. Portfolios included Minister for Commerce and Agriculture 1949-1956, Minister for Trade 1956-1962, Minister for Trade and Industry 1963-1971. The collection includes correspondence, diaries, speeches, notes for speeches, invitations, press statements, cuttings, itineraries, election material, photographs and other papers. Many of the papers relate to his activities in the Menzies, Holt and Gorton governments.

McMahon, Sir William. Papers, 1949-1987.
Collection Number: MS 3926

Politician. Liberal Member of the House of Representatives 1949-1982. Portfolios included Minister for Labour and National Service (1958-1966), Treasurer (1966-1969), Minister for Foreign Affairs (1969-1971), and Prime Minister (1971-1972). The papers include correspondence, minutes, telegrams, reports, Cabinet papers, speeches, press statements, cuttings, transcripts of interviews, photographs and conference proceedings. Includes extensive material on the Liberal Party, Federal elections and the electorate of Lowe.

Macnamara, Beres. Verse, 1968.
Collection Number: MS 2075

Includes a manuscript copy of verse entitled 'Thoughts in memory of Mr Holt'.

Menzies, Sir Robert. Papers, 1905-1978.
Collection Number: MS 4936

Robert Gordon (later Sir Robert) Menzies was MHR for Kooyong, Victoria, 1934-1966; Leader of the Federal Opposition, 1943-1949 and Prime Minister of Australia, 1939-1941 and 1949-1966. This extensive collection of personal papers includes correspondence (including a number of letters by or to Holt), press cuttings, speeches, diaries and research material.

Opperman, Sir Hubert Frederick. Papers, 1914-1976.
Collection Number: MS 6429

Opperman was Australian road cycling champion from 1924-1929. From 1946 to 1967 he was MHR for Corio, serving as High Commissioner to Malta (1967-1972), Minister for Immigration (1963-1966) and Minister for Shipping and Transport (1960-1963). The papers include newscutting books, personal diaries and correspondence with Harold and Zara Holt and others in his capacity as sportsman, Minister for Immigration and High Commissioner to Malta.

Osborne, Frederick M.. Papers, 1945-1984.
Collection Number: MS 3662

Politician, solicitor, businessman and naval commander. Osborne was Liberal Member for Evans (NSW),1949-1961; Minister for Customs and Excise 1956; Minister for Air 1956-1960; Minister for Repatriation 1960-1961; and State President of the NSW branch of the Liberal Party, 1967-1970. The collection includes correspondence, speeches, representations, and photographs. Principal correspondents include Harold Holt.

O'Sullivan, Sir Neil. Papers, 1948-1965.
Collection Number: MS 8639

A Liberal Senator for Queensland, 1947-1968, Sir Neil O'Sullivan served as Minister for Trade and Customs, Government Leader in the Senate, Minister for the Navy, Attorney-General and Vice-President of the Executive Council. The papers include correspondence with Harold Holt and a statement by Holt on equal pay for women (May 1958).

Page, Sir Earle. Papers, 1908-1961.
Collection Number: 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 8 letters by or to Holt), cuttings, personal documents, reports, memoranda and semi-official papers, speeches, press statements, parliamentary bills, papers and reports, statistics and notes.

Perkins, Charles. Papers, 1956-1993.
Collection Number: MS 8047

Perkins was an activist for Aboriginal rights and Secretary of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, 1984-1988. His personal correspondence includes a letter by Holt written after the 1967 referendum. A descriptive list is available. The personal papers are held under restricted access.

Reid, Alan Douglas. Papers, 1942-1985.
Collection Number: MS 7796

Journalist and author, Canberra correspondent of the Sun, Daily Telegraph (Sydney) and Bulletin, 1937-1985. Author of The power struggle (1969), The Gorton experiment (1971) and The Whitlam venture (1976). The bulk of the collection comprises subject files, mainly containing newspaper cuttings, but also telexes, notes, letters and printed material.

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

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. Two letters by Harold Holt are included amongst the records relating to the Australian Federation of Women Voters.

Ritchie, Sir Thomas Malcolm. Papers, 1915-1971.
Collection Number: MS 2555

Businessman prominent in the electrical equipment industry, Chairman of the Federal Executive of the Liberal Party and its first President, 1945-1947 and 1949-1951. The papers comprise large scrapbooks containing press cuttings, correspondence, company reports and other papers. The material relates to companies such as Metropolitan-Vickers, Associated General Electric Industries and Noyes Brothers, and the Liberal Party. Correspondents include Harold Holt.

Scrapbook relating to Harold Holt, 1967-1968.
Collection Number: MS 8208

Covers Holt's disappearance and the publication by Dame Zara Holt, Harry and me.

Snedden, Sir Billy. Papers, 1941-1983.
Collection Number: MS 6216

Sir Billy Snedden was a Liberal Member of the House of Representatives in 1955-1983. During this time he served as Attorney-General (1963-1966), Minister for Immigration (1966-1969), Minister for Labour and National Service (1969-1971), Treasurer (1971-1972), Leader of the Liberal Party (1972-1975) and Speaker of the House of Representatives (1976-1983).

Souter, Gavin. Papers, 1959-1991.
Collection Number: MS 8604

Journalist, historian and author. The collection includes papers on Holt collected by Souter when writing his book Acts of Parliament (1988).

Street, Jessie. Papers, 1914-1968.
Collection Number: MS 2683

Jessie Street was a feminist and social activist. Her papers include petitions to the Holt Government calling for a referendum on Aboriginal rights as well as five letters to or from Holt.

Uren, Tom. Papers, 1941-1994.
Collection Number: MS 6055

During his career as the Australian Labor Party Member for Reid (1958-1990), Uren served as Minister for Urban and Regional Development (1973-1975); Deputy Leader of the Opposition (1976-1977); Minister for Territories and Local Government (1983-1984); and Minister for Local Government and Administrative Services (1984-1987). The papers include correspondence with Zara and Harold Holt.

Ward, Edward John. Papers, 1914-1963.
Collection Number: 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 12 Holt letters and 10 letters from Ward to Holt.

Wragg, Alan. Notes, 1968.
Collection Number: MS 4693

Manuscript account by Alan Wragg of the search for Harold Holt by the Diving Section of Flotilla One (published in Boatmaster, July 1868 as 'The auxiliary's part in the Holt search').






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