MS 8345
Papers of Bruce and Edith Milliss
- Papers of Bruce and Edith Milliss
- 1880-1970
- 2.98 m. (17 boxes and 1 folio box)
- Permission required for research during the lifetime of Roger Milliss
The papers of Bruce and Edith Milliss, which include the papers of
William and Clara Clampett (parents of Edith Milliss), were purchased by the
Library from their son Roger Milliss in 1991. They comprise correspondence,
cuttings, photographs, financial papers and printed material.
The correspondents include Bruce Milliss, David Milliss, Roger Milliss, Edith Milliss, Arthur Clampett, Clara
Clampett, Ernest Clampett, J.B. Chifley, A.S Luchetti, Eleanor Dark and Griffith, Gill, Love & Co.
Bruce Milliss, born in Cooyal, NSW, in 1899, began his working life as a
shop assistant in Portland then became a businessman in Katoomba, NSW. He
married Edith Milliss (née Clampett) in 1929 and they had two sons,
David and Roger.
Bruce and Edith Milliss had a great interest in the welfare of
Katoomba. They were active in several local community organisations, including
Katoomba Primary School Parents' and Citizens' Association, Day Nursery School
Association and School (Oslo) Lunch Advisory Committee. He was prominent in the
Australian Labor Party in the 1930s and 1940s, and then joined the Communist
Party. From 1952 to 1970 he was engaged in trade with China and the Soviet
Union. He was a witness before the Petrov Commission in 1954.
Both Bruce and Edith Milliss died in 1970.
The Papers had been listed by Roger Milliss before coming to the
Library. Although part of the Papers have been roughly sorted, it was found
that the bulk of the collection was in a state of great disarray and it was
therefore necessary to rearrange them.
Wherever possible files on a particular activity have been kept
together as separate series.
- General correspondence, 1934-70
- Family correspondence, 1924-68
- Financial and legal papers, 1952-70
- Photographs
- Cuttings, 1930s-48
- Window dressing, 1917-22
- Milliss and Byron, c. 1930
- New Dawn Films, 1952-69
- B.J. Milliss Pty. Ltd., , 1952-70
- Visit to China: family correspondence and photographs, 1959 and 1964
- Community works, 1939-48
- Miscellaneous, 1914-63
- Printed material
- Papers of William and Clara Clampett, 1834-1969
Series 1. General correspondence, 1934-70
The series comprises letters received by Milliss from friends and
acquaintances, copies of some of Milliss' letters, correspondence with J.B.
Chifley (including photographs of the anti-Chifley demonstration in 1949,
during the miners' strike) and letters and cards of sympathy sent to David and
Roger Milliss after the death of Bruce Milliss.
The correspondents include J.B. Chifley, A.S. Luchetti, Eleanor Dark,
John Stewart, Allan Ashbolt and E.L. Davidson.
Folder
1 Felix and Marianne Wolf to Bruce and Edith Milliss, 1964-66
2 Ben Chifley, 1943-50, Photographs of anti-Chifley demonstration (miners’ strike), 1949
3 General – received, 1934-45
4 General, 1943-70
5 Sympathy cards and letters, 1970
Series 2. Family correspondence, 1924-68
The series includes letters of Bruce to Edith Clampett (before their
marriage), correspondence between Bruce and Edith Milliss (while Bruce Milliss
was on a business visit to China in 1956/57), and correspondence with David and
Roger Milliss.
Folder
1 To Edith Clampett, 1926-34
2 Edith to Bruce (in China), 1956-57
3 Bruce to Edith (from China), 1956
4 Bruce to Edith, 1957
5 From David and Roger Milliss, 1924-44
6 David to Bruce and Edith, 1956
7 Roger to Bruce and Edith, 1954-70
Series 3. Financial and legal papers, 1952-70
The series contains taxation papers, papers relating to insurance
policies, workers' compensation policy papers, correspondence with H.R.
Griffiths, Grill, Love & Co. and wills of Bruce and Edith Milliss.
Folder
1 1922-59
2 1952-61
3 Wills and other legal documents, 1970-72
4 Cheque butts, 1952-70
Series 4. Photographs
Family photographs and photographic albums (mostly undated).
Folder
1-5 Photographs
6-7 Photographs
8 Postcards
Series 5. Cuttings, c. 1930-50
Miscellaneous cuttings.
Folder
1-2 Cuttings
Series 6. Window dressing, 1917-22
As a young man Milliss worked as a shop assistant in Portland, NSW.
This series contains photographs and copies of the Storekeeper and
Art of window dressing by C.W. Vance.
Series 7. Milliss and Byron, 1927-39
In 1927 Milliss and Byron (a draper shop) opened for business in
Katoomba. The series comprises business cards and letter head paper, a
certificate of Registration and copies of their catalogues.
Series 8. New Dawn Films, 1952-69
Milliss was the Chairman of New Dawn Films. The series includes papers
relating to the Sovexportfilm, financial and other papers.
Series 9. B.J. Milliss Pty. Ltd., 1952-70
Milliss had numerous business interests, including the importation of
tea and films from China. The series contains correspondence and financial
papers relating to China National Tea, Bushells Ltd., E.H. Harris & Co.,
Vadco Traders, Victor Dekyvere & Co., Embassy Theatre (See also papers
relating to the Royal Commission on Espionage in Series 11), English Scottish
and Australian Bank Ltd., Pearl Centre Shop, Australia-China Association, China
Council, and a typescript by Milliss entitled 'Early China trade'.
Folder
1 Embassy Theatre, 1954
2 Business cards and contacts, 1950s-60s
3 China Council for Promotion of International Trade, 1955-70
4 Vadco Traders and Dekyvere
5 China trade - papers dealing with its conclusion after Bruce Milliss’ death, 1970-71
6 Early China trade
7 Australia-China Society, 1967-70
8 Sundry
9 English Scottish and Australian Bank
10 Chinese films
11 Memorandum and Articles of Association
12 Balance sheets, 1961-68
13 Sale of Chandos St., 1969-70
14 Miscellaneous
15 Balances sheet, 1960
16 Balance sheets, 1952-53, 1958
17 Japan Export and Import Cooperative
18 Records of Tea sales, 1955-69
19 Various papers
20 China National Tea and Native Produce, 1965-70
21 Bushells
22 E. H. Harris & Co
23 Pearl Centre shop, 1969
Series 10. Visit to China: correspondence , 1959 and 1964
Bruce and Edith Milliss visited China in 1959 and 1964. The series
contains correspondence with David and Roger Milliss, as well as related
photographs, slides and travel documents.
Folder
1 Letters of Edith to David, 1964
2 1959
3 Travel documents
4 Diaries of Edith, 1959 & 1964
5 Slides
6-7 Photos
Series 11. Community works, 1939-48
Bruce and Edith Milliss were active members of various local (Katoomba)
community organisations. The series includes some correspondence, minutes of
meetings, photographs, leaflets, roneoed material and cuttings concerning the
following organisations:
- Katoomba War Agricultural Committee
- Katoomba Primary School Parents' and Citizens' Association
- School (Oslo) Lunch Advisory Committee
- Wykehurst Guest House and Children War Evacuation Scheme
- Citizen's T.B. League of New South Wales
- Katoomba municipal elections and other municipal business
- Children's Free Library Movement
The correspondents include R. Lucas and J.G. McKenzie.
Folder
1 Assorted
2 Citizens’ Emergency Supplier, 1942-45
3 Various, 1943-50
4 Western Suburbs Hospital Maternity Wing, 1952
5 Citizens’ Tuberculosis League of N.S.W., 1948
6-7 Wykehurst, 1939-42
8 Photographs – Wykehurst Guest House, 1940s
9 Oslo Lunch Committee
10 Plaque – Katoomba Children’s Free Library
11 Katoomba War Agricultural Committee, 1942-
Series 12. Miscellaneous, 1914-63
The files contained in this series include the following:
Royal Commission on Espionage, comprising transcripts of the
proceedings, cuttings, exhibit material relating to the Embassy Theatre, and
copies of The Royal Commission on Espionage by Brian Fitzpatrick and
'Petrov conspiracy'.
Miscellaneous typescripts, notes and roneoed material, including
'Dollar devaluation and you' (by Milliss), 'Britain dances to the dollar: the
Common Market and you', 'Indentured immigration', Katoomba Branch A.L.P.-Post
War Reconstruction, Communist Party of Australia 22nd Congress, 'Origin of the
presents developments in China'.
Miscellaneous personal items, including Roger Milliss' Baby Health
Centre card and school report and Edith Clampett's R.S.L. certificates.
Folder
1 Typescripts, 1940-63
2 1954-55
3 Personal items
Series 13. Printed material
Miscellaneous publications.
Series 14. Papers of William and Clara Clampett, 1834-1969
The series contains correspondence, diaries kept at Norseman by William
Clampett, job references for Edith Clampett, school papers of Edith Clampett
(including papers relating to Eisteddfod and Fort Street High School) , family
photographs and photographic albums, Clampett's plumber licenses, and legal and
financial papers.
The correspondents are Clara Clampett, Edith Clampett, Arthur Clampett,
Ernest Clampett, and David and Roger Milliss.
Box 13
Letters of Edith to parents, 1905-1936
Arthur Clampett to Edith, 1964
Clara Clampett to Edith, 1929-44
Ernest Clampett to Bruce and Edith, 1929-70
Family letters, 1898-1918
Letters to Roger and David Milliss, 1943-47
References for Edith Clampett, 1918-27
Edith Clampett school papers: Eisteddfod and concert programs, 1921-28
Box 14
Edith’s school papers
Miscellaneous letters, 1893-1946
Legal, official, and financial, 1894-1941
Legal documents (including wills of W. J. Clampett), 1936-69
Box 15
House papers: plans and official correspondence, 1906-34
Miscellaneous, 1899-1930
Miscellaneous, 1894-1934
Papers related to death of Clara Clampett, 1947-48
Album of Edith Clampett, 1915
Photographs and drawings, c.1896
Box 16
Photo album
Box 17
WJC – box of personal items and cards
Box Series Folder
1 1 1-5
1 2 1-4
2 2 5-7
2 3 1-3
3 3 4
3 4 1-5
4 4 6-8
4 5 1
5 5 2
5 6 -
6 7 1
6 8 -
7 9 1-17
8 9 18-23
8 10 1-4
9 10 5-7
9 11 1
10 11 2-10
11 11 11
11 12 1-3
12 13 -
13-17 14 -
Folio box 1 Miscellaneous items from Series 5, 9, 11 & 12
Guide prepared January 1995. Last updated 4 April 1997. |