Guide to the Papers of Sir Littleton and Lady Jessie Groom
MS 10046
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: ©2008.
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Sir Littleton and Lady Jessie Groom
- Title
- Papers of Sir Littleton and Lady Jessie Groom
- Date Range
- c.1867-1962 (bulk 1867-1942)
- Collection Number
- MS 10046
- Extent
- 4.60 metres (26 boxes + 1 folio box)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- National Library of Australia
Introduction
Scope and Content
This collection consists of papers that were accumulated by Sir Littleton and Lady Jessie Groom. They include correspondence, manuscript drafts, addresses, speeches, articles, newspaper cuttings, legal documents, diaries, notebooks, photographs, invitations, other ephemera and publications.
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Access
Available for research. Not for loan.
Copying and Publishing
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Sir Littleton and Lady Jessie Groom, National Library of Australia, MS 10046, [series and/or folder number]'.
Provenance
The collection was passed to Cecil Pearce, husband of Jessie, one of Sir Littleton and Lady Groom's daughters. Mr Pearce subsequently bequeathed the papers to his daughter-in-law, who together with her three children, donated the material to the Library.
Related Material
The Manuscript Collection has previously acquired other papers relating to the Grooms including: a separate collection of the Papers of Sir Littleton Groom (MS 236), newspaper cuttings and letters (MS 1452) and Lady Groom's manuscript of Nation building in Australia : the life and work of Sir Littleton Groom MS 1135). The Pictures Collection also includes over 25 images of Groom.
Arrangement
The collection was donated to the Library by family members under the Cultural Gifts Program in 2006. As the papers had passed through successive generations of family hands, it was assumed that the original order of the collection, as maintained by Sir Littleton and Lady Jessie Groom, had not been retained. Many of the groupings, however, formed logical series. This is particularly true in the case of correspondence to Lady Jessie Groom (Series 12), legal documents and papers (Series 4), addresses, debates, articles and papers (Series 6), publications, pamphlets and other printed items (Series 11) and newspaper cuttings (Series 10). Folders in the remaining series have been organised by the Library. For the most part, original file titles have been retained.
Biographical Note
Littleton Ernest Groom was born in Toowoomba on 22 April 1867, to William Henry Groom and Grace (née Littleton). In 1891 he graduated as a Master of Arts from the University of Melbourne and in the following year as LLM. From 1891-1901 he practised as a Barrister in Brisbane. On the 4 July 1894, Groom married Jessie (née Bell), the daughter of a Presbyterian Minister from Wagga Wagga.
On 14 September, following his father's death, Groom was elected at by-election to the seat of Darling Downs in the House of Representatives. He held a number of ministerial positions. In the Deakin Ministry Groom was Minister for Home Affairs (1905-1906), Attorney General (1906-1908) and Minister for External Affairs (1909-1910). In 1913-1914 he served as Minister for Trade and Customs in the Cook Ministry. In the Hughes Ministry, he also held a number of different positions - he was Vice-President of the Executive Council (1917-1918), Minister for Works and Railways (1918-1921) and Attorney-General (1921-1923). Groom was also Attorney-General in the Bruce-Page Ministry (1923-1925).
In 1924 Groom was appointed KCMG. In the same year he led the Australian delegation to the the League of Nations General Assembly. From 1926-1929 he was made Speaker of the House of Representatives. On 12 October 1929 he was defeated at the general election, but was re-elected to the seat of Darling Downs at a general election on 15 December 1931. In 1933 he joined the United Australia Party. Sir Littleton Groom died on 6 November 1936 in Canberra.
Lady Jessie Groom was the daughter of a Presbyterian Minister, Charles Bell, from Wagga Wagga. In 1894, she married Sir Littleton Groom in South Melbourne. Throughout Littleton Groom's career, Lady Groom played an active role in community life. She established, and was President, of the Toowoomba Literary Society and played a pivotal role in the Queensland Electoral League. She gave addresses and speeches to a number of organisations on topics such as literature, children and the church. Following Sir Littleton's death, Lady Groom played a role in keeping the memory of her late husband, and his work, alive. She published a biography of her late husband and edited works by a number of contributing authors titled Nation building in Australia : the life and work of Sir Littleton Groom (Angus & Robertson, 1941).
Biographical Reference(s)
Australian Dictionary of Biography, http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/adbonline.htm
Toowomba's Literary History, http://www.publicmemory.org/ToowoombaLiteraryHistory/GroomMemorial.htm
Liberal Party of Australia, http://www.liberal.org.au/about/documents/FederalWomensCommitteeHistoryto2003.pdf
Item Descriptions
Series 1. Correspondence of Sir Littleton Groom, c.1886-1927
This series contains correspondence received by Sir Littleton, as well as some letters he wrote. Some of the letters are thank you letters, others are letters of congratulation. Most of the correspondents are friends or family members. There is a small amount of letters to both Sir Littleton and Lady Groom.
Please note that the original file titles, where they existed, have been retained. The file title 'Special letters 1928' actually contains correspondence from 1927. Related correspondence can be found in Series 5: Political papers, Series 6: Addresses, debates, articles and papers, and Series 12: Correspondence of Lady Jessie Groom.
Series 2. Diaries, c.1903-1908
This small series consists of two handwritten diaries (one of which is a pocket diary) kept by Sir Littleton Groom. The diaries record day-to-day entries of the people, places and activities Groom encountered during this time period.
1 folder
Series 3. University of Melbourne,1887-1892
This series consists of lecture notes and a diary from Sir Littleton's days at the University of Melbourne. Groom commenced studying at the University of Melbourne in 1886 and lived at Ormond College. He graduated with an MA in 1891 and LLB in 1892. Further papers relating to his time at university can be found in Series 6: Addresses, debates, articles and papers, which includes handwritten debates and papers produced by Groom during this period.
Series 4. Legal documents and papers, c.1930-1934
After Groom lost his seat of Darling Downs in 1929, he returned to the Bar in Brisbane. This series, which consists of two folders, probably relates to his legal work at this time. It includes legal opinons, memoranda of appearance and particulars of defence, all for the Supreme Court of Queensland. The series includes handwritten notes for cases and there are handwritten versions as well as typed court documents. The series also includes a document of a family nature - Grace Groom settlement, 1933-1934 - which appears to relate to legal business following the death of Groom's mother in 1932.
Series 5. Political papers, c.1903-1929
This series primarily consists of material relating to Sir Littleton's time in politics, including files that he would have used in his various ministerial positions.
The papers include correspondence, reports, speeches, media releases, notes, programs and publications. The folder titles have been retained, even though they are not always indicative of the actual file content. A further description of each file has been included. Series 1: Correspondence of Sir Littleton Groom, may contain related papers in that it includes notebooks recording correspondence received, arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Notebook, c.1903-1928 (File 1)
Contains handwritten notes, as well as printed extracts from Hansard, relating to various sections of legislation, debates and parliamentary proceedings.
'Sir Littleton: special letters 1927', c.1907-1927 (File 2-3)
The bulk of these folders contain material from 1927, and there is a bundle of 1927 correspondence. Also includes programs, correspondence and newspaper cuttings.
'Special speeches', c.1918-1929 (File 4)
As well as speeches, this folder also contains reports, correspondence, media releases.
Series 6. Addresses, debates, articles and papers, 1888-1938
This series consists of mostly manuscript - but also typescript - addresses, speeches, papers and articles written and presented by Sir Littleton Groom. The papers relate to a wide range of topics - from politics and religion to the roles of women and literature. There are also several examples of debating topics and papers from Sir Littleton's time at the University of Melbourne. The titles of the addresses, debates, articles and papers have been retained, except where titles cannot be deciphered. Most of the papers are undated; there are several examples where there is more than one piece per topic, and many include related papers such as research notes, correspondence and/or newspaper cuttings.
Most of this series was transferred with a numbering sequence, although it is unclear whether this was created by Sir Littleton himself, or someone else. The Library has retained this numbering system and, for the most part, has arranged the addresses in numerical order. Where the numbering system ceases, the papers have been artificially arranged alphabetically. Addresses, debates, articles and papers that are either untitled, or difficult to decipher, have been placed in a separate folder. Related series include Series 3: University of Melbourne and Series 5: Political Papers.
'Canberra' (2), 'Citizenship' (4), 'League of Nations' (7) (File 1)
'League of Nations' includes research handwritten notes.
'Pride and Prejudice' (8), 'Address on Explorers in Australia' (11), 'Paper on Guilds and Trade Unions' (12) (File 2)
'Short Address on Australia at St George's (?)' (10), 'Lecturettes' (File 3)
The envelope titled 'Lecturettes' consists of addresses for various topics.
'The Science of Politics' (27) (File 11)
Includes manuscript notes for two debates held during Groom's time at Ormond College - 'That the adoption of the medical profession by women is a mistake' and 'That the elector should be guided by the man rather than the policy in the choice of his representative'.
Debate paper - 'Is the existence of a titled aristocracy prejudicial for the full development of a people?' (28) (File 12)
'Notes on Church Constitution' (69) (File 45)
Both folders 44 and 45 appear to have been marked '69'.
'[Benjamin Glennie]', 'Bishop of Melbourne's Friend', 'The Coast of England', 'Goulburn [Christian Endeavour Movement]' (File 55)
The 'Goulburn [Christian Endeavour Movement]' is dated 24 November 1935.
'Canberra', c.1928-1933 (File 57)
Contains several speeches relating to Canberra, as well correspondence and research notes.
'The Elements of War Finance', 'Englishmen in Australia', 'Essex Evans Day' (File 58)
'Essex Evans Day' contains newspaper cuttings of addresses.
'League of Nations and Security', 17 May 1935 (File 63)
Address given to the Institute of International Affairs.
'The Legal Profession and Public Life', 'The Permanent Court of International Justice', 'Privilege of Parliament', 'Sketch of Captain Sydney Bond', 'Sommerville Soldiers Memorial Unveiling' (File 64)
'Speech for 1931 election campaign', 'War Finance: Whither Away!' (File 65)
This handwritten piece was written by Groom, but it states that the speech was given before the Rotary Club of Toowoomba in September 1940.
Series 7. Notebooks and writings,c.1929-1936
This series consists of notebooks and writings kept by Sir Littleton Groom. Some of the notebooks contain handwritten notes and drafts; some appear to record correspondence received by Groom, and have been arranged in alphabetical order; while others consist of writings by Groom or others. Most of the writings cover different topics - some comprise reminiscences of Groom's time in parliament - while others appear to be research notes and drafts for articles and addresses. Included in some of the notebooks are folded up handwritten notes and drafts, which appear to relate to the topic included in some of the notebooks. The series also includes two miscellaneous items written by others. Please note that the correspondence notebooks do not appear to relate to the letters received by Groom in Series 1: Correspondence of Sir Littleton Groom; related material, however, can be found in Series 6: Addresses, debates, articles and papers and Series 5: Political papers.
Series 8. Invitations and other ephemera, c.1907-1941
This series contains invitations, programs, tickets, menus and postcards of both Sir Littleton and Lady Groom. Included in the series are invitations to political functions, programs to events (such as the USA fleet visit to Australia in 1908 and the opening of the Australian War Memorial in 1941) and postcards of Sir Littleton campaigning for the seat of Darling Downs.
Folders 1-2.
Series 9. Photographs, c.1926
This series contains four photographs - three unidentified black and white photographs, and a panoramic black and white photograph of the 1926 Constitutional Convention of the Dioceses in Australia and Tasmania, 1926.
Folder 1
Series 10. Newspaper cuttings, c.1890-1962 (bulk 1920s-1930s)
This series contains newspaper cuttings that appear to have been collected by the Groom family. The cuttings include items on the Groom family, religious sermons and articles, poetry, political issues, addresses given by Sir Littleton, and articles on and by Sir Littleton and Lady Groom.
The Library has housed the loose newspaper cuttings in two archival folders, maintaining their original order. Where applicable, file titles have been retained. 'Daddy's speech cuttings' contains addresses given by Sir Littleton, which appear to have been titled by Jess Groom, the eldest Groom daughter.
Series 11. Publications, pamphlets and other printed items, c.1893-1941
This series contains booklets, reports, proofs, offprints and extracts accumulated by Sir Littleton Groom. Some of the material has been written by Groom, while others are about him. Many of the items reflect Groom's political interests - such as the League of Nations and parliamentary speeches - while others depict contemporary subjects, from cricket and the ANZACs, to World War I cartoons and the visit of the American fleet.
Folio Box 1.
Series 12. Correspondence of Lady Jessie Groom, 1891-1942
This series consists of correspondence of Lady Groom and has been divided into two subseries - letters from Sir Littleton Groom and other letters to Lady Groom.
Subseries 12-1. Letters from Sir Littleton to Lady Jessie Groom, 1891-1935
This series consists of handwritten letters written from Sir Littleton Groom to his wife, Jessie. Sir Littleton married Jessie (née Bell) on 3 July 1894 in South Melbourne, and the correspondence starts three years prior to their wedding.
The letters read like journal entries, and document the different people, places and activities that Sir Littleton Groom encountered. They cover areas from Sir Littleton's work as a barrister, to his ministerial positions (including the Minister for Home Affairs, Attorney General and Minister for External Affairs). As well as providing observations on people and issues of the day, the correspondence covers family matters and provides answers to questions that Lady Jessie apparently raised in her correspondence. The letters are written from a variety of places - from Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane - and many are written on parliamentary letterhead.
The majority of letters arrived in bundles by year, but generally were not in date order. The letters have have been placed in archival folders by year date, and the Library has arranged the correspondence in date order within each folder. A very small number of letters were filed in manila folders marked with the names of the places from where the letters had been written. Undated letters have generally been kept with their original bundles; loose letters with no dates have been placed in a separate folder. There are also a few letters from Sir Littleton to his daughters, kept by Lady Groom with her letters, which have been retained in this series.
Letters from Littleton to Jessie, 1915 (File 26-27)
Includes a letter to one of the Groom daughters from Lt Spencer Harper.
Letters from Littleton to Jessie, 1918 (File 31)
Includes a letter from Sir Littleton and Lady Jessie to their daughters.
Subseries 12-2. Other letters to Lady Jessie Groom, 1922-1942
This series consists of correspondence written from a variety of people to Lady Groom. The correspondence includes responses to letters, invitations to social engagements and news from friends and family. Some of the correspondence relates to her work in different organisations, such as the Toowoomba Ladies' Literary Society and the Queensland Electoral League. Most of the 1924 correspondence relates to the Grooms' 1924 overseas world trip, which took them to the United Kingdom, and comprises invitations to social engagements from acquaintances in London.
The letters were stored in two separate bundles which have been arranged by year date. Many of the correspondents are wives or relatives of former Governors-General, as well as politicians, including Lady Stonehaven, Lady Northcote, Lady Goodwin, Lady Novar, Lady Isaacs and Herbert and Ivy Brookes.
Series 13. Toowoomba Ladies' Literary Society, c.1925-1937
In 1913, Lady Groom established the Toowoomba Ladies' Literary Society. The aim of the society was to enrich the lives of local girls in Toowoomba, by exposing them to reading, writing and literature. For many years Lady Groom was President, and then later Patroness, of the organisation.
This series consists of syllabus cards of the Society. Each of the syllabuses provide details of sessions, subjects and speakers throughout the year. A related series is Series 14: Addresses, speeches and papers which includes some of the addresses written and given by Lady Groom.
Series 14. Addresses, speeches and papers, c.1931-c.1941
This series consists of addresses and speeches given by Lady Groom. Most of the addresses and speeches are handwritten, and relate to Lady Groom's interest and work in organisations such as the Church of England, the Toowoomba Ladies' Literary Society, and kindergartens. A related series is Series 13: Toowoomba Ladies Literary Society.
The series has been arranged into date order.
Addresses and speeches relating to the Toowoomba Ladies' Literary Society, c.1930s (File 2)
Contains five handwritten speeches which all appear to relate to Lady Groom's work for the Ladies' Literary Society. Only one of the speeches is dated (1931).
Newspaper cutting of address to the Church of Christ Women's Mission Band, 21 September 1933 (File 5)
Series 15. Miscellaneous writings, c.1892-?
This series contains writings, either by Lady Groom or by others. The folder contains what appears to be a handwritten sermon titled 'The parable of the prodigal son'. The sermon is signed off with the surname 'Bell' and may have been a sermon written by Lady Groom's father, Charles Bell, a Presbyterian minister. The other two handwritten items both appear to be written by Lady Groom - one consists of handwritten notes in diary entry form, and the other is titled 'Paper on Henry V'.
Folder 1
Container List
| Series | Subseries | File | Box |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-3 | 1 | |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| 3 | 1-2 | 1 | |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | |
| 5 | 1-4 | 2 | |
| 5 | 5-7 | 3 | |
| 6 | 1-2 | 3 | |
| 6 | 3-8 | 4 | |
| 6 | 9-15 | 5 | |
| 6 | 15a-21 | 6 | |
| 6 | 22-30 | 7 | |
| 6 | 31-39 | 8 | |
| 6 | 40-48 | 9 | |
| 6 | 49-56 | 10 | |
| 6 | 57-62a | 11 | |
| 6 | 63-67 | 12 | |
| 6 | 68-71 | 13 | |
| 7 | 1-8 | 14 | |
| 7 | 9-10 | 15 | |
| 8 | 1-2 | 15 | |
| 9 | 1 | 15 | |
| 10 | 1-4 | 16 | |
| 11 | Folio Box 1 | ||
| 12 | 12.1 | 1-7 | 17 |
| 12 | 12.1 | 8-14 | 18 |
| 12 | 12.1 | 15-20 | 19 |
| 12 | 12.1 | 21-27 | 20 |
| 12 | 12.1 | 28-34 | 21 |
| 12 | 12.1 | 35-42 | 22 |
| 12 | 12.1 | 43-50 | 23 |
| 12 | 12.2 | 51-58 | 24 |
| 13 | 1 | 24 | |
| 14 | 1-8 | 25 | |
| 15 | 1 | 26 | |
| 16 | 1-4 | 26 | |
| 17 | 1-2 | 26 |