MS 2708
Papers of Joseph Clark



Summary

Creator: Joseph J. Clark

Title: Papers

Date range: 1930-88 (bulk 1930-69)

Extent: 1.54 metres (11 boxes)

Reference number: MS 2708


Administrative Information

Access: Available for reference

Provenance

In 1969 Joseph J. Clark donated the main part of the collection to the Parliamentary Library. These papers were transferred to the National Library in 1969. Paul J. Clark, his son, made a further installment in 1993.


Scope and content note

The majority of the papers comprise correspondence, circulars, speeches and clippings concerning elections and the ALP. There are pocket diaries from 1930-88 that include appointments and traveling details. There are also a number of miscellaneous pamphlets and books. There is a box of J.A. Clark’s papers (father) comprising correspondence, papers from the 1916 conscription campaign and referendum and ledgers and financial papers from his tailoring business.

Organisation

The papers were received in a highly disordered state. Joseph J. Clark’s files were retained although some titles were changed to give a clearer indication of the content. Within the files, papers were arranged chronologically. The files were then arranged in chronological order.


Biographical note

Joseph James Clark was born on 29 July 1897, at Coonamble N.S.W. and died on 9 December 1992. He was married with four children. His father was Joseph A. Clark MLA, a tailor at Dubbo and a politician. J.J Clark was also a master tailor first at Coonamble and later at Dover Heights, Sydney. His education was completed at Holy Cross College at Ryde, Sydney. Alderman for 9 years on Coonamble Council, Mayor of Coonamble three times, president of the local ALP branch and president of the Castlereagh Electorate council before being elected Member for Darling gained him wide political experience. J.J. Clark was first elected to Federal Parliament for the seat of Darling in western New South Wales on 15 September 1934. He retired on 29 September 1969, serving 35 years and 1 month, the seventh longest serving member of the House of Representatives.

He was first associated with the N.S.W. State Labor Group under the leadership of J.A. Beasley. From 1942 to 1943 he was the Deputy Chairman of the Australian Meat Industry Commission and Member of the Federal Meat Advisory Committee from 1943 to 1946. In 1946 he was the Leader of a delegation to the Iron and Steel Committee. He was Chairman of Committees and Deputy Speaker from 1946 to 1949.

He was awarded CBE in 1970.


Series list

Series Title

1 Election material, 1930-68

2 Australian Labor Party, 1931-68

3 Pocket diaries, 1934-88

4 Pamphlets

5 Books

6 Papers of J.A. Clark


Series description

Series 1 Election material, 1930-68

The material relates to State and Federal elections from 1930 to 1966. There are newspaper clippings, pamphlets, speeches, election results, circulars and correspondence. The correspondence includes information on policy, results of elections and congratulations. Correspondents include Arthur Blakeley, J. Graves, H.J.D. Morton, F. Hinde, V. Turner, A.C. Crowhurst, W.M. Levy, P.J. Clarey, F.E. Chamberlain, J.A. Mulvihill, E.G. Wright, Jim Keeffe, W.H. Hartley, Jim Cairns, J.T. Kane, Frank Higgins, E. Wetherall, Gough Whitlam, F. Meere and A.A. Calwell. There are copies of campaign letters from Clark informing members of his electorate of coming elections and policy.

Folder

1
‘My selection ballot 1934’, Correspondence and clippings, 1930-36
ALP financial policy 1930-31, Selection ballot July 1934 and Federal election September 1934

2-3
Federal election 15th September 1934, 1934-36
Newspaper clippings and lists of vote numbers for Division of Darling

4-5
Election propaganda, 1934-68
Newspaper clippings, pamphlets, correspondence 1948-49, Federal election 1934, Darling selection ballot 1952, Federal election 1954, Senate selection ballot 1955 and speeches 1958-68

6
Australian cuttings, 1960-69 Pamphlets and newspaper clippings, March 1960-September 1969
Pre-selection and election material (1934-37 1952), 1937-39
Miscellaneous clippings 1937-39, Darling selection ballot 1946, List of newspaper references, Cobar selection ballot clippings 1952 and 1962 and Senate election 1967 broadcast typescript

7
Elections, 1942-65
Speeches, pamphlets, circulars and newspaper clippings for federal elections from 1942 to 1965

8-9
Policy statements, 1950-61
Newspaper clippings, policy speeches, ALP Federal conferences 1959-61, speeches 1961 and Bill to amend Civil Aviation Agreement Act 1961

10-11
Election speeches material, 1951-65

12
[Newspaper clippings], October and November 1958, Federal election

13
Speeches and broadcasts for 1958 Federal election (untitled)

14-15
Federal election, November 1963
Results of ALP Federal executive meeting, ALP Federal conference, ALP policy speech, Federal Election, newspaper clippings, pre-election speeches, ALP speakers notes, election pamphlets, Federal election results November 1963

16
Election 1965
Pamphlets, journals, newspaper clippings, broadcast

17
Election 1966
Speech and pamphlets 1955, pre-election speeches November 1966 and newspaper clippings

Series 2 Australian Labor Party, 1931-68

The papers relate to the ALP organisation and policies from 1938 to 1967. There are also papers concerning the Federal Meat Advisory Committee of whom J.J. Clark was a member from 1943 to 1946. The series contains speeches, speaker’s notes, newspaper clippings, press releases, pamphlets, reports, circulars and correspondence. Correspondents include P.A. McBride, H.S. Paterson, Telford Murray, R.W. Mitchell, John J. Dedman, J. Fitzgerald, H.V. Evatt, A.C. Fisken, J.A. Tonkin, J.L. Shute, Paul Hasluck, A.R. Downer, M.W. Donnell, R.B. Curtis, Kevin Ray, Harold Holt, Alan W. Campbell and A.A. Calwell.

Folder

1
ALP matters, 1931-68
Pamphlets, reports, circulars, correspondence

2
ALP matters 1938-68
Pamphlets, correspondence, speeches, newspaper clippings and press releases

3
Correspondence and pamphlets, 1942-59

4
John Curtin
Pamphlets and speeches June 1940-December 1943

5
Woollen Distribution Committee
National security (general) regulations, control of woven woollen materials order, includes correspondence, April-May 1942

6
Budget 1941-42 papers and speech June 1931

7
Speeches and statements, 1941-68
Map of the Brisbane Line, newspaper clippings on speeches and addresses

8
Price control (ALP office), 1946-48
Speeches, speakers notes, draft pamphlet

9-10
Early ALP material, 1954-69
ALP Constitution, circulars, correspondence, pamphlets

11-15
Speeches etc., 1961-65
Newspaper and Hansard clippings, correspondence, press releases, ALP Federal conference 1961, Ministerial statements on the economy, speeches, Tariff revision 1962, broadcast script, ALP Rural conference reports

16-17
Meat Board, 1943-46
Meat Industry Advisory Committee meeting minutes 1943-46, correspondence, pamphlets, minutes of the Dehydrator operator meetings June and December 1944 and ceiling prices variations

18-27
Speeches, 1938-67
Newspaper and Hansard clippings, lists of people to forward copies of speeches, typescripts and some correspondence on lead and zinc 1958

Series 3 Pocket diaries, 1934-88

J.J. Clark’s pocket diaries date from 1934 to 1988, with those for 1933-35, 1937-39, 1954-55, 1957-60, 1962 and 1969 missing. The diaries show Clark’s travels and meetings. There are also notes of conferences and meetings that he attended.

Series 4 Pamphlets

The pamphlets date from 1929 to 1967. There are two books of newspaper clippings, one from 1930 and the other from 1934. The pamphlets include the vote numbers for the Senate elections in 1934, 1937 and 1966, ALP constitution 1934, report of dairy marketing overseas, financial information and policy speeches by J. Curtin, A.W. Fadden, R.G. Menzies, A.A. Calwell and E.G. Whitlam.

Series 5 Books

House of Representatives, A short description of business and procedures, 1964

W.M. Marshall Freeman and J. Carson Abbott, The ABC of Parliamentary procedure, 1906, House of Representatives, Standing Orders, 1907

J.S. Weatherston, Commonwealth Hansard, its establishment and development, 1940

House of Representatives, Standing Orders, 1963

Sir Thomas Erskine May, A treatise on the law, priviledges, proceedings and usage of Parliament, 1917

Vincent Pantin, What is National credit? 1934

Frank Lock, The Nationalisation of credit, the only cure for industrial unrest, 1919

The “Express” Ready Reckoner

A.W. Stargardt, Things worth fighting for, speeches by Joseph Benedict Chifley, 1952

H.V. Evatt, Australian Labour Leader, the story of W.A. Holman and the Labour Movement, 1940

Edited by G.E. Hadow, Essays on Addison by Macaulay and Thackeray with twelve essays by Addison, 1916

Edited by Arthur D. Innes, The Warwick Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, 1918

Henry George, Progress and Poverty, 1932

W. Aldis Wright, Bacon’s Essays and colours of good and evil, 1875

Report of the Committee of Economic Enquiry, 1965

Gordon Brown, My descent from soapbox to Senate, 1953

H.V. Evatt, Foreign Policy of Australia, 1945

H.V. Evatt, Australia in World Affairs, 1946

Report of the Royal Commission on the Constitution, 1929

Vince Kelly, Achieving a vision, 3rd edition

Guide to Australian War Memorial, 1941

Commonwealth Bank of Australia in the Second World War, 1947

Tom Walsh, The Sino-Japanese Conflict, 1939

John Marlowe, Iran, a short political guide, 1963

Series 6 Papers of J.A. Clark

The series comprises papers of Joseph J. Clark’s father, Joseph A. Clark. J.A. Clark was a tailor in Dubbo and Member for Castlereagh in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. The correspondence concerns the 1916 Conscription campaign and referendum. The correspondents are W.J. Kerwin, J.M. Power, P.C. Evans, Arthur A. Hammond and G.G. Nicholoson. The ledger and financial papers document his tailoring business.

Folder

1
Conscription campaign and referendum, 1916, Parliamentary debates, pamphlets, correspondence, Political Labour League Members Yearly Ticket booklet, 1907

2
Ledger, accounts outstanding on 1st June 1930, Dubbo

3-4
Financial papers of J.A. Clark, names and accounts from tailor business

5
What Labor has accomplished, 1946

6
What Labor has accomplished , 1949


Box list

Series

Box/Folio

Folder/item

1

1

1-7

1

2

8-13

1

3

14-17

2

3

1-3

2

4

4-12

2

5

13-20

2

6

21-27

3

7

Pocket diaries 1934-1988

4

8

Pamphlets

5

9-10

Books

6

11

1-6

October 2000.