MS 9582
Papers of Keast Burke (1896 - 1974)
Scope and Content Note
Creator: Keast Burke
Title: Papers
Date range: 1919-66
Reference number: MS 9582
Extent: 84 cm (6 boxes)
Administrative Information
Available for reference
Provenance: The papers were donated to the Library by Keast Burke in
several instalments during 1964 and 1968. Further material (Folders 32-38) was
received from Mrs Sandra Piggott (daughter) in 2001.
The collection comprises correspondence, draft articles and notes,
circulars, newspaper clippings, brochures and miscellaneous printed material
relating to Keast Burkes career as a photographer and editor. There are
also papers relating to The Story of the Camera in Australia.
Arrangement: The papers were formerly in MS 1053, MS 2226 and MS 1162.
They have been amalgamated into one collection at MS 9582, but the original
arrangement within the folders has been retained.
Biographical Note
Eric Keast Burke was born in 1896 in Christchurch, New Zealand. He came
to Australia in 1904, attended the Sydney Church of England Grammar School and
later graduated with a B.Ec from Sydney University.
Burke served in World War I and wrote the history of his unit With
Horse and Morse in Mesopatamia, 1927. With his father he edited
Kodaks Australasian Photo-Review, later becoming its full editor
and the advertising manager for Kodak. On his retirement he joined Globe
Publishing as the first Australian editor of Australian Photography,
(1961-69). He is known for his distinguished contributions to the technique and
history of Australian photography and his avid interest in the preservation of
photographic archives. Keast Burke was Photographic Consultant to the National
Library from 1964 until his death in 1974. Burke is also widely known for
persuading the Holtermann family to donate their historic photographs to the
Mitchell Library. Gold and Silver : an album of Hill End and Gulgong
photographs from the Holtermann collection by Keast Burke was published by
Heinemann in 1973 and later by Penguin in 1974.
At the time of his death in 1974, Keast Burke was survived by his wife
Iris, three sons, one daughter and nine grandchildren.
References: Australian Author, July, 1974
Australian Photography, May, 1974
Australian Photography, February, 1965
Remarkable Occurrences: the National Library of Australia's first
100 years 1901-2001, Chapter 12
Folders
1-10 Correspondence, 1952-63, concerning photography, mostly written to
Keast Burke in his capacity as editor of Australian Photography,
Australian Popular Photography and the Photo Publishing
Company. Also copies of letters sent by him. The main correspondents are
photographic clubs and societies including the Federation of Camera Clubs (NSW)
and Kodak Australasia (previously MS 1053)
11-16 Correspondence concerning photography,1962-66, the main
correspondents include Kodak Australasia, Documentary Film Productions and
various photographic studios (previously MS 2226)
17-18 Newspaper clippings on photography and Monte Luke, 1919-60s
(previously MS 1053)
19 Newspaper clippings on photography, 1963-66 (previously MS 2226)
20-28 Draft articles, notes, circulars, brochures, exhibition
catalogues, entry forms for photographic competitions, correspondence,
newspaper clippings, and other miscellaneous items, 1960s (previously MS
1053)
29 Draft articles and notes, 1963-65 (previously MS 2226)
30 Miscellaneous collection of printed material on photography
(previously MS 1053)
31 Bound music score (previously MS 1162)
Addition 2001
This addition contains letters from Jack Cato to Keast Burke, together
with carbon copies of replies. The correspondence documents Catos
research into the history of Australian photography which resulted in the
publication of The Story of the Camera in Australia (1955). The
letters contain additional information and sources used for his research that
were not included in the publication. Although this material has been taken out
of binders for preservation reasons, the original sequence has been
retained.
Folders
32-38 Correspondence between Keast Burke and Jack Cato, 1948-55,
including correspondence index in folder 1. The correspondence documents Cato's
research into the history of Australian photography which resulted in the
publication of The Story of the Camera in Australia (1955). The
letters contain additional information and sources used for his research that
were not included in the publication. Although this material has been taken out
of binders for preservation reasons, the original sequence has been
retained.
Box List
| Box
|
Folder/Piece |
| 1 |
1-6 |
| 2 |
7-12 |
| 3 |
13-19 |
| 4 |
20-27 |
| 5 |
28-31 |
| 6 |
32-38 |
February 2002 |