Guide to the Papers of Delprat and Teppema Families
MS 7029, MS Acc02.247, MS Acc09.178
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Delprat and Teppema Families
- Title
- Papers of Delprat and Teppema Families
- Date Range
- 1816-1998
- Collection Number
- MS 7029, MS Acc02.247, MS Acc09.178
- Extent
- 8.72 metres (30 boxes, 12 folio boxes, 2 map folios, 1 folder)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- National Library of Australia
Introduction
Scope and Contents
The collection is largely concerned with three generations of the Delprat/Teppema family, documenting their lives in the Netherlands, Australia, Argentina and Uruguay. It is distinguished by the remarkably complete and well-ordered nature of the family's correspondence, particularly between Tania Teppema/Hemblys-Scales and her parents. There are also letters of Daniel Delprat (1816-1840) and his son F.A.T. Delprat (1820-1933); letters and papers of Guillaume Delprat and his wife Henriette (1894-1937); material relating to the musical career and travels of Carmen Delprat (1904-1956); personal and diplomatic papers of Peter Teppema (1912-1960), photograph albums, diaries, invitations, press cuttings and several extraordinary items of realia, notably a nineteenth century tortoiseshell-bound Dutch bible; a ceremonial Japanese lacquered bowl presented by the Emperor of Japan and a lacquered box containing Japanese insignia and ribbon. The collection also contains material on Sir Douglas and Lady Mawson and photographs and other items relating to Broken Hill and the Newcastle Steelworks.
This is an intensely personal collection, documenting in detail aspects of mid-twentieth century diplomatic life, as well as intimate details of the lives of the members of this family.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2592155).
Conditions Governing Use
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Delprat and Teppema Families, National Library of Australia, [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.
Provenance
The collection was donated to the Library by Tania Teppema in 1984.
Related Materials
Papers of Guillaume Daniel Delprat are held at MS 1630.
Finding Aid Source(s)
Please note: This finding aid may comprise or contain descriptive information provided by donors, researchers and/or volunteers.
Collection Retrieval Advice
Please note: each consignment in this collection has a separate box number sequence (i.e. there may be multiple Box 1s). Please cite the relevant Class number as well as the Box number when requesting retrieval of material from the collection.
Biographical Note
Material in the collection covers several members of the family: Daniel Delprat, Theodore (F.A.T.) Delprat, Guillaume Daniel Delprat, Henriette Delprat, Daniel Apollonius Delprat, Elizabeth Francisca Carmen Delprat/Teppema, Petrus Ephrem Teppema, Tania Virginia Teppema/Hemblys-Scales
DANIEL DELPRAT:
Daniel Delprat was Chaplain to the Dutch court early in the nineteenth century, but no biographical details are revealed in this collection.
THEODORE (F.A.T.) DELPRAT:
Theodore was Daniel's son who had a military career and was briefly Dutch Minister of Defence in first half of the nineteenth century.
GUILLAUME DANIEL (G.D.) DELPRAT:
Born 1856 in the Netherlands, he was an engineer in charge of a Scottish copper mining project in Spain when he was offered the position of General Manger of B.H.P. in 1898. G.D. Delprat had an enormous influence on the development of B.H.P. and was instrumental in the establishment of the Newcastle Steelworks. He died in 1937.
HENRIETTE DELPRAT (nee Jas):
Wife of G.D. Delprat. G.D. and Henriette Delprat had five daughters and a son:
Mary married Bullinghe Wichers (Dutch diplomat)
Leintie married Fer McDonald
Carman married Peter Teppema (Dutch diplomat)
Paquita married Douglas Mawson (Antarctic explorer)
Lice married Milo Sprod (doctor)
Theo - marriage details unknown.
DANIEL APOLLONIUS DELPRAT:
G.D. Delprat's nephew, was born in the Netherlands in 1890. He was a director of the Suez Canal Company, a Senator and a director of the Dutch shipping company, Netherlandsche Handel-Maatschopjiy, N.V.
ELIZABETH FRANCISCA CARMEN DELPRAT:
(known usually as Elizabeth as a child and Carmen as an adult):
Born 1889 in Spain, daughter of G.D. Delprat, Carmen was a professional violinist and violin teacher before her marriage. The collection contains concert programs and mementoes relating to her performances both in Australia and in Europe between 1904 and 1918, and also prospectuses and reports of the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (1916-18) which refer to her teaching career. She married Petrus Ephrem (Peter) Teppema in 1918 and died in 1959.
PETRUS EPHREM TEPPEMA
(known usually as Peter or Teppie):
Born in Netherlands in 1890, Peter joined the Dutch Foreign Service and was appointed Dutch Vice-Consul to Melbourne in 1914. From 1920 till 1931 he was Dutch Consul-General to Sydney, New Zealand and British possessions in Polynesia. He was appointed Dutch Minister to Argentina in 1932 (and to Bolivia in 1941) and remained in South America until 1944, when he became Dutch representative to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (S.H.A.E.F.) in London. He was also briefly Dutch Ambassador to the Czech Government in exile in London in 1945. He was appointed Dutch Minister to Spain in 1946 but did not take up the appointment, as the Netherlands withdrew diplomatic representation in Spain because of United Nations' disagreement with the nature of Franco's government. He then became Dutch Minister to Australia in 1947. His last posting was to Tokyo in 1952-1955 as Netherlands Ambassador to Japan. He and his wife Carmen then moved to Montevideo to live. He died in Uruguay in 1960.
TANIA VIRGINIA TEPPEMA/HEMBLYS-SCALES:
Born in 1925, in Sydney, the only child of Peter and Carmen Teppema. Tania spent her early childhood in Sydney and moved to Buenos Aires with her parents in 1932. She remained there until 1944, when she enrolled at South College, Massachusetts, but apparently did not graduate. She moved to Canberra with her parents in 1947 and married Robert Hemblys-Scales, an Englishman working for the British War Office in Canberra in 1949. Robert Hemblys-Scales was in MI5 (the British Security service) and later in MI6 (the British overseas intelligence service). The Hemblys-Scales were posted to Ismailia in the Suez Canal Zone in 1949, to Singapore in 1951 and to Bangkok in 1952. They lived in London for a year in 1955 before moving to Munich and finally Peru in 1961. Robert then left the British Foreign Service and went into business. They then moved to Buenos Aires, where Robert suffered severe business difficulties involving heavy financial loss. After separating from her husband, Tania reverted to her maiden name, living in Punta del Este, a resort town on the Uruguayan coast. She has no children.
Item Descriptions
Class MS 7029. Original Consignment
Comprises family correspondence, personal papers, photograph albums, diaries, invitations and press cuttings of three generations of the Delprat and Teppema families, documenting their lives in the Netherlands, Australia, Argentina and Uruguay. The collection includes letters of Daniel Delprat (1816-1840) and his son F.A.T. Delprat (1820-1933); letters and papers of Guillaume Delprat and his wife Henriette Delprat (1894-1937); material relating to the musical career and travels of Carmen Delprat (1904-1956); personal and diplomatic papers of Peter Teppema (1912-1960); and correspondence of his daughter Tania Teppema (1930-1970). There is also material on Sir Douglas and Lady Mawson. Among the Australian papers are photographs and other items relating to Broken Hill and the Newcastle steelworks.
Contained in 29 boxes, 5 fol. boxes, 2 map folios.
Series 2. G.D. Delprat: personal letters and papers, 1879-1937
In this series there are two folders of letters, principally to his daughter Carmen (with a few to another daughter, Mary), in Dutch, French and English, written between 1894 and 1931. There are also a few letters to his sister-in-law in Amsterdam and the following miscellaneous items: notification of his engagement to Henriette (1879); a sketch of his horse (1881); a letter from Carmen (1894); notification of his death, 15 March 1937 and of Henriette's death, 6 December 1937.
Series 3. G.D. Delprat: press articles, 1915-81
This series contains six magazines and newspapers with articles relating to the life and career of G.D. Delprat, and also a pamphlet that he wrote (in Dutch) in 1924 on arbitration in industry.
Series 4. D.A. Delprat: letters, 1937
Daniel Apollonious Delprat (born 10.1.1890) was G.D. Delprat's nephew. He wrote a short series of letters (in Dutch) in 1937.
Series 5. G.D. Delprat and family: photographs
This series contains two photograph albums: the first contains photographs of the five Delprat sisters and their husbands (including Douglas Mawson) and also Mr and Mrs G.D. Delprat, 1914-37. The second album is unattributed origin showing German troops mainly in France during World War I. Also in this series is an oversize album entitled: 'Newcastle Steelworks', containing photos of Broken Hill from the 1890's and of Newcastle steelworks from 1914 (in folio run).
Series 7. Henriette Delprat: correspondence and personal papers
This series contains mainly letters between Henriette Delprat, the wife of G.D. Delprat, and other family members including letters describing life in Broken Hill circa. 1900. There is also a very long letter written in 1932 by the Australian nurse employed by Carmen to care for her daughter, Tania, describing in detail aspects of life in Argentina. Finally there is the beginning of an autobiography by Henriette, containing a reference, inter alia to the Tay Bridge disaster.
Series 8. E.F.C. (Carmen) Delprat/Teppema: personal letters and papers
This series contains the following formal documents: birth certificate, Dutch nationality certificate, British passport issued 1912 (held in elephant folio-drawer), will and an identity card issued in Japan. There are also a number of informal diaries, viz. a notebook listing the important events of her life between 1900 and 1940; a small diary nothing the birth of her daughter, Tania, on 13 Nov. 1925; Tania's 'baby book'; a diary regarding Tania from 1931 to 1944; diaries written in 1940-41 with information on the progress of the war in Europe from the vantage point of Argentina and also recounting journeys made in South America. There are also botany drawings made by Carmen, probably in the 1890s and a child's dress smock pattern (1931).
This series also contains miscellaneous family correspondence, including a letter from her brother-in-law, Douglas Mawson, written in Antarctica, 18 Oct. 1913. Finally there are letters to her husband between 1915 and 1937, some in Dutch but most in English, the later ones containing comments on fashion, traffic, schooling, diplomatic and social life in Buenos Aires.
Series 9. E.F.C. (Carmen) Delprat/Teppema: musical career
This series contains Carmen's concert programmes between 1904 and 1918, press clippings concerning her performances, concert mementoes, prospectuses and reports to the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music 1916-18, when she was teaching violin there. There is also the protective pad she always used when playing the violin and her lace bobbins. In the elephant folio drawer are the oversize posters relating to her performances in Europe, together with her music certificates.
Series 10. E.F.C. (Carmen) Delprat/Teppema: photographs
There are a total of nine photograph albums, the oversize-ones in the folio run. Their contents, briefly, are as follows:
Dutch legation in Buenos Aires, 1932; country properties in Argentina; La Paz, Machu Pichu and Cuzco, 1934 (File [unnumbered]) - Box 5-6
Family photos in Uruguay and Argentina; interior of the Dutch submarine, Graf Zeppelin; British Legation in Asuncion, Paraguay (File [unnumbered]) - Box 5-6
Family photographs in Uruguay, 1934; The Graf Zeppelin in Buenos Aires; Iguazu waterfalls (File [unnumbered]) - Box 5-6
Series 11. E.F.C. (Carmen) Delprat/Teppema: scrap albums
There are five very large scrap albums, all in the folio run; their contents briefly are as follows: Photographs and press clippings about Sir Douglas and Lady Mawson, other Delprat family members, Carmen's musical career, Peter's diplomatic career, clipping, invitations, maps, programs of ceremonies and some of Tania's school certificates from Buenos Aires.
Series 12. P.E. Teppema: personal papers
The first folder in this series contains material concerning the death of his wife, Carmen, (1959), information on the place where she was cremated, a file of correspondence regarding her last wishes and a Christmas catalogue of the auction of her violin. There is also Peter's birth certificate and military certificate (1912), material on the 'Jalink case', an attempted fraud on the family and, in the elephant folio-drawers, his academic diplomas.
Then follows a large quantity of business correspondence: papers relating to his pension; letters regarding securities, licences, share transactions in the 1940s and 1950s, and correspondence affirming that he was not considered an enemy subject in Australia (where he had business interests) on account of the German occupation of the Netherlands; also a large number of bank statements, dated 1956-60 relating to banks in Montevideo, Buenos Aires and Basel; insurances and legal matters - wills, marriage articles, codicils and correspondence with Dutch lawyers about income tax in the Netherlands.
There are as well, two rolled certificates; the first, dated 11 Mar.1953 is an acceptance by the Tokyo National Museum of a Ravestyn painting, a personal gift while he was Ambassador to Japan; the second, dated 10 Apr. 1953 is the decoration of the Rising Sun. Finally, there is some correspondence with his family in the Netherlands about financial matters in connection with the estates of Carmen and his mother, who also died in 1959. There is also his last diary (1960).
Series 13. P.E. Teppema: diplomatic career
This series contains a good deal of correspondence and other material in Dutch concerning diplomatic appointments. There are also certificates and appointments to diplomatic positions (most are in elephant-folio drawer), together with a copy of a Spanish magazine of 1946 with a picture of Peter Teppema presenting his credentials to General Franco. There is also correspondence regarding the Ravestyn picture (see series 12) and Carmen's gift of lace to the Empress of Japan, and a letter on the granting of the Japanese Rising Sun decoration. Finally there are three items of realia: Peter Teppema's decorations; a ceremonial Japanese lacquered bowl, in a wooden box, presented by the emperor of Japan in 1953 at the investiture of the Crown Prince; and a black lacquered box with Japanese characters containing insignia and ribbon.
Correspondence about Ravestyn picture and Carmen's gift of lace; letter re granting of Japanese decoration (File 39)
Peter Teppema's decorations; ceremonial Japanese lacquered bowl in wooden box; black lacquered box containing insignia and ribbon. (Realia) (File [unnumbered]) - Box 10
Series 14. P.E. Teppema: photographs
There are three photographs apparently relating to the arrival of a Dutch plane in Australia, circa. 1930.
Series 15. Tania Teppema/Hemblys-Scales: correspondence and personal papers
This correspondence consists of letters between Tania and her parents, letters between Carmen and Peter Teppema and later between her husband, Robert, and her parents. It is very extensive and complete, occupying a total of 71 folders.
1930-38: as well as letters between Tania and her parents, there is good deal of childhood memorabilia and an account of her journey to the Iguazu waterfalls in 1936.
1939-41: Tania and her mother spent summer months at Atlantide, a seaside resort in Uruguay, while her father commuted to Buenos Aires.
1942-43: general correspondence with parents.
1944: seven folders of letters covering Tania's education at Smith College, Massachusetts; the termination of Peter Teppema's mission to Buenos Aires and his appointment to the Czechoslovakian Government in exile, headed by Dr Benes in London; life in New York, where Carmen was residing in the last winter of the war.
1945: eleven folders covering life at Smith College, life in London where Peter Teppema was working for S.H.A.E.F. and life in New York.
1946: two folders dealing with arrival in Madrid where Peter Teppema was to be Dutch Minister, but was withdrawn at the end of the year. Description of summer in San Sebastian and Tania's journey to Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro on the inaugural flight of the Dutch airline K.L.M. to South America.
1947: two folders describing Peter Teppema's departure from Madrid and the holiday reunion of the family in Lisbon. Preliminary arrangements made for his appointment to Australia.
There is no correspondence for 1948 and part of 1949 as Tania and her parents were together in Australia. Letters continue after Tania's departure overseas with her husband Robert.
1949: four folders of correspondence between Ismailia, Suez Canal Zone, where the Hemblys-Scales were posted and Canberra where Peter Teppema was the Dutch Minister. There are many comments on the political situation in Australia, with references to A. Calwell, H.V. Evatt, John Burton, R.G. Menzies and the Indonesian question. Also interesting descriptions of life in Egypt.
1950: three folders of similar correspondence. Robert Hemblys-Scales transferred from M15 to M16.
1951: three folders. The Teppemas were in Tokyo and the Hemblys-Scales in Singapore. References to Generals Douglas Macarthur and M. Ridgway, the Korean War, the Peace Treaty, the Emperor of Japan, as well as accounts on both sides of diplomatic social life.
1952: four folders. Description of the sea journey from Singapore to Bangkok, following Robert Hemblys-Scales' appointment there.
Reference to a trip to Nagaski and meetings with the Emperor of Japan.
1953: six folders. Peter Teppema retired from the diplomatic service and they moved to Montevideo - letters describe the sea journey from Tokyo to Montevideo and their subsequent installation. Letters about a train journey to the Thai-Malay frontier at the time of the terrorist emergency.
1954: four folders. The Teppemas describe life in Uruguay in retirement and comment on Peron's election and Argentinian inflation. Tania writes about Thai royalty, official entertaining, visits to Indo-China and Malaya and the International Peace Commission in Phnom Penh for the Indo-China war.
1955: two folders. Reference to Robert Hemblys-Scales' official visit to Malaya and preparations for the SEATO conference in Bangkok. Comments from the Teppemas on travel restrictions in Argentina during the mandate of President Peron and the overthrow of Peron.
1956: Robert was appointed to Munich as British Vice-Consul. Comments on the Suez crisis and the Hungarian revolution.
1957: three folders. Carmen's heart condition was diagnosed; both parties travel extensively for holiday; reference to the chaotic economic and political situation Uruguay and Argentina.
1958: four folders. Reference to Sir Douglas Mawson being entertained by Russians who went to the South Pole for a Geographical South Pole international meeting; reference to a visit to Dachau concentration camp; comments on Paquita Mawson's book Vision of steel.
1959: three folders. Descriptions of the political upheavals in Buenos Aires and floods in Uruguay; Carmen died in New York; the Hemblys-Scales left Munich for London.
1960: three folders. Descriptions of holidays in Europe, prior to posting to Lima, Peru. Peter Teppema died.
Then follows three folders of correspondence, between 1961 and 1964, with a family friend and stockbroker, Bill Melvin, who did his utmost to safeguard Tania's financial interests. There is reference to Robert's health and work problem.
Finally there is some miscellaneous correspondence with diplomats in Bangkok in 1952; with Dame Enid Lyons in 1950; an acknowledgement of a congratulatory letter of Menzies upon his election in 1949; Tania's letters to Robert while in the U.S. in 1968; with Tania's aunt and uncle, the McDonalds re her inheritance of a painting; material about Sir Herbert Schlink, a long-time friend of the Teppemas; and letters to Tania from Paquita Mawson, 1964-72.
There follows some of Tania's writings, apparently intended for publication, circa. 1947-8. They are mainly about Spain and Argentina, some written in Spanish; also a Spanish newspaper article she wrote about Australia's wool industry.
Series 16. Tania Teppema/Hemblys-Scales: diaries
These are very personal diaries for every year from 1938 to 1970.
Series 17. Tania Teppema/Hemblys-Scales: entertainment cards, menu, invitations
This series consists of a folder of invitations souvenir programmes (1952-55) from the British Embassy, Bangkok; a card index of all the entertaining they did in Bangkok; a card index of menus, who they entertained and were entertained by in Lima, 1961-62.
Series 18. Tania Teppema/Hemblys-Scales : letters of condolence
There are a total of nine folders of letters of condolence received by Tania following the details of her mother and her father.
Series 19. Tania Teppema/Hemblys-Scales : photographs
The glass slides were contained in twelve metal cases, which have now been discarded. The annotations and colour coding on the boxes have been transferred to the packages.
Class MS Acc02.247. Consignment Added 2002
Comprises photograph albums numbered 1-20, a cuttings album, correspondence, documents and certificates, driving licences and identity cards, typescript articles, brochures and publications. The papers relate to Tania V. Teppema, F.A.T. Delprat and D.A. Delprat.
Contained in 1 box, 7 fol. boxes.