De Vesci Collection

Of Norman descent, the De Vescis were a leading Anglo-Irish family. John Vesey (1638–1716), who was born in Coleraine, County Londonderry, was a prominent figure in the Church of Ireland, becoming Bishop of Limerick in 1673 and Archbishop of Tuam in 1679. His son Thomas Vesey (1672–1730) was made a baronet in 1698. Ordained a priest in 1700, he immediately became Archdeacon of Tuam and later Bishop of Killaloe (1711) and Bishop of Ossory (1712). His grandson, Thomas Vessey (1735–1804) was created Viscount De Vesci of Abbey Leix in the Irish peerage.

Dryer Collection

Albert Thomas Dryer (1888–1963) was born in Sydney and educated at various schools in Sydney and Singleton. In 1908 he was appointed a clerk in the Customs Department in Melbourne and in the following year was transferred to Sydney. His political activities led to his dismissal in 1919. He then opened a short-lived Irish book depot and worked for various periods as a book-keeper and shopkeeper. He studied science at Sydney Technical College and later medicine at Sydney University, graduating in 1938.

Duncan-Hughes Collection

John Grant Duncan-Hughes (1882-1962) was the son of Sir John Duncan, a wealthy pastoralist. He was born at ‘Hughes Park’ near Watervale, South Australia. When he was young, his name was changed to Duncan-Hughes, in memory of his great-uncle, Sir Walter Hughes. He was educated at St Peter’s College in Adelaide, Cheltenham College in England and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1907 and the South Australian Bar in 1908. He served in the Royal Field Artillery in France and Belgium in 1915-18 and was awarded the Military Cross.

Durand Collection

René Durand (1864–1962) was born at Perrusse, Haute-Marne, France, and was educated at the lycée de Chaumont, the lycée Louis-Le Grand in Paris and l’École normale supérieure. He taught Latin at the University of Dijon (1886–87), the University of Lyon (1887–98), l’École normale supérieure (1898–1904) and the Sorbonne (1904–32).

Durand was esteemed as an outstanding teacher and Latinist, as well as a master of ancient Greek and Old French. However, he published almost nothing apart from an occasional review. As one of his colleagues wrote:

Hall Collection

Hessel Duncan Hall (1891–1976) was born at Glen Innes, New South Wales, and educated at Sydney Boys High School and the University of Sydney. He was a school teacher before proceeding to Balliol College, Oxford, where he gained a B.Litt. in 1920. He tutored under Oxford University’s extension program. He returned to Australia in 1920, worked for the University of Sydney’s Department of Tutorial Classes, and was the Sydney correspondent for the Manchester Guardian.