Guide to the Papers of Herbert and Ivy Brookes

Series 1. General Correspondence

The general correspondence of Herbert and Ivy Brookes, dating from 1877 until 1969 has been placed together, and arranged chronologically.

The letters cover a wide range of subjects: Herbert's work on the Victorian gold fields, his marriage to Jennie Strong, and her death, his friendship with Alfred Deakin, the courtship and marriage of Ivy Deakin and Herbert, family life and events, business interests, politics, conscription, the loyalist movement, women's affairs, the two World Wars, industry, broadcasting, music, art, literature, Melbourne University, rural matters, international affairs, conservation and religion. It should be noted that correspondence which refers to, but does not deal exclusively with, the subject-matter of the other series, has been placed in Series 1.

The principal correspondents are the Deakin and Brookes families, and friends and associates from the political, musical, academic and business world of Melbourne during the first half of the twentieth century.

Series 2. Diaries

Herbert Brookes' pocket diaries for 1897, 1915-62, his journal dedicated to Alfred Deakin, containing diary entries for 1900 and Jennie Strong Brookes' diary for 1898 form this series.

Series 3. General Newspaper Cuttings

There is a large collection of loose newspaper cuttings dating from 1895 until 1969. Where possible they have been arranged chronologically. In addition ten scrap-books contain Ivy's cuttings, mostly relating to social and cultural activities of the family. Many newspaper articles have been placed in the series to which they refer.

Series 4. General Publications

This series contains single copies of The American Standard, Les Annales, Liberty and Progress, The Listener, New York Tribune, United Empire, Science and Industry; publications of the English Speaking Union of the United States; News bulletins of the Foreign Policy Association (U.S.); political pamphlets and election dodgers; pamphlets on taxation and rating of land values; copies of legislation; speeches by Joseph Cook and Thomas Ewing on the Defence Bill of 1909, and David J. Gordon on the proposed transfer of powers from State to Commonwealth in 1915; Labour in Power by W.M. Hughes (1912) and the Official Report of the Fourth Commonwealth Political Labour Conference, Brisbane 1908; reports of the Conference of Australian Railways and Transport Authorities, Sydney 1932; and many travel pamphlets and brochures collected during the Brookes' trips overseas.

Series 5. Programs, Invitations

The programs and invitations in the collection have been arranged chronologically, and reflect the interests of the Brookes in politics, civic affairs, social and cultural activities. Of particular note is the large number of programs for concerts; these date from 1895 to 1966. Further programs, invitations and souvenirs of overseas trips were added to the collection in September 2003.

Series 6. Financial Papers

The financial papers contain account books 1897, 1902, 1905-6, savings bank books 1904, and cheque butts 1896-98, and 1905-06, correspondence, maps and share certificates dealing with miming affairs from 1893 until 1942 with Mont Robinson, A. Harris and others; correspondence from 1941 until 1958 with brokers, J.B. Were and Co., and James Dunlop and Co., concerning investments; and accounts from solicitors, J.M. Smith and Emmerton from 1946 until 1959. Also included in the series are papers dealing with the Brookes' family interest in Nappee Wash Pty Ltd, including notices of meetings from 1950 until 1957, balance sheets, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1956 and 1957, and its annual report for 1957.

Series 7. Notes and Writings

The series contain notes written by Herbert Brookes, some of them in five small books but mostly on loose paper. They record his childhood and years working on the goldfields in Victoria; contain records of meetings, and reflections on family and national events; drafts of speeches and typescript articles, including those concerning the socialist journalist H.H. Champion and the English lay-preacher Harry Drummond during the 1890's; notes on philosophy, religion and mysticism. Many are undated. Many other notes have been placed in relevant subject series.

Series 8. Photographs

The photographs comprise both studio portraits and informal snap-shots, ranging from portraits of the Brookes and Deakin families last century, to snap-shots of their grand children. A number are unidentified. In addition there are photographs commemorating family and official occasions, including the first meeting of the Liberal Party in 1909.

Series 9. Certificates

In this small series are the marriage certificate of Herbert Brookes and Ivy Deakin (1905), Ivy's diploma from the Conservatorium of Music (1903), Herbert's certificates of membership of the Australian Natives' Association (1901) and the Victorian Institute of Engineers (1908) and Rolls of Honour after World War I. The series also includes Herbert's Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Melbourne and the seal.

Series 10. Family Papers

These papers include Ivy Brookes' reports from Merton Hall, and the conservatorium of Music, an indenture dated 1921 between Pattie Deakin and Ivy concerning "Llanarth" the Deakin home; Alfred Deakin's bible given to the Brookes in 1919; one of Herbert's sketch books; and Ivy's address book. There are also notes on the family tree of the Brookes and Robinson families, and a note book dated 1869 belong to William Brookes.

Series 11. Pastoral Interests

Herbert Brookes, with his brothers and sisters, inherited three pastoral properties in central Queensland. They retained their ownership under the name of William Brookes and Co. until their sale in 1964. This large series includes business correspondence from 1921 until 1961 with the manager, E. Bayliss, the solicitors Cannan and Peterson, and with Dalgety and Co. Ltd, and the Queensland Primary Producers' Co-operative Association Ltd, all of Brisbane.

In 1929 Brookes, in partnership with K. Mitchell, T. Lyle, and P. Cresswell purchased Granite Peak Station at Wiluna, W.A., and this subseries contains their business correspondence, monthly with K. Mitchell, the manager from 1920 until 1963.

Series 12. Austral Otis Engineering Company

This small series contains correspondence between 1906 and 1931, concerning administrative, financial and technical matters of Austral Otis, as well as letters written by Brookes on behalf of the Iron Trades Employers, in 1908 and 1909, notes, and the Annual Reports of the Company for 1919, 1927, 1928 and 1930.

Series 13. Australia Paper Mill Company Ltd

This company formed a considerable part of the inheritance received by the Brookes family from their father in 1910. Herbert was elected a director in 1913, and from 1915 until 1922 was Chairman of Directors. There are a small number of letters concerning its management and policy during that time, as well as letters until 1938 concerning the family interest in the Company which later became Australian Paper Manufacturers Ltd. There are notes dated 1915 and 1917, printed material including memorandum and articles of Association of the Australian Paper Mills Company Ltd (1910), and Rules of the Australian Paper Mills Employees Mutual Benefit Society (1918), annotated copies of the annual report of 1919. Reference to the families' interest in the Paper Mills appear also in Series 1.

Series 14. National Mutual Life Association

This small series contains correspondence with Sir Brudenell White, P.G. White and others shortly after Brookes was appointed a director of N.M.L.A. in 1928. However, most of the letters concern dealings between N.M.L.A. and a client S.S. Appleby from 1947 until 1952. Brookes remained on the board until his eightysecond year.

Series 15. Chamber of Manufactures

There are notices of meetings, agenda and minutes from the Secretary F.L. Ashby during the years from 1913 until 1917 when Brookes was President of the Chamber of Manufactures of Victoria. During 1917 and 1918 he was President of the Associated Chambers of Manufactures of Australia. Minutes of meetings, reports, speeches, notes, printed matter and press cuttings are also included. The series contains material on a number of issues which concerned the Chambers. The include the coal strikes of 1916 and 1920, the moulders' dispute of 1917, contracts of the Department of Defence during World War I, suggested schemes for profit-sharing and co-partnership in 1919, and the Standard Hours Case (44 hours) before the Arbitration Court in 1926.

Series 16. World War I, 1914-1918

Papers concerning Herbert Brooks' involvement in official and patriotic affairs during World War I have been organized into three small subseries; the State Munitions' Committee, the State War Council, and the Australian Red Cross Society. However, single letters refer to his membership of the Central Coal Board, the Council of Defence and the Australian Patriotic Fund Committee during this period.

Brookes' State Munitions' Committee correspondence during 1915 and 1916 deals with the establishment and organization of Munitions' works in Victoria.

There are papers of the State War Council from 1915 until 1918, many concerned with the Finance Committee on which Brookes served, as well as soldiers' repatriation; the proposed War Funds Control Board, reports of the Council on the organization and control of patriotic funds, after the war, together with pamphlets and press cuttings.

Included in the last subseries is a small amount of material dealing with the Red Cross Society. (Brookes was a member of the Victorian Divisional Committee in 1915.) There are letters, notes, the reports of the Red Cross Hospitals' Committee and the Voluntary Aid Detachments for 1917.

Series 17. Australian Protective League

This is a small series containing the letter from the Prime Minister's Department dated 1918, inviting Brookes to join the Australian Protective League, a voluntary league of citizens set up to serve the Government as an auxiliary to the Bureau of Investigation; his notes of meetings between Sir George Pearce, E.L. Piesse, F.C. Urquart and Sir George Steward, a report in 1915 by Urquart on "disloyal" organizations and their personnel, a report by Piesse to Pearce containing a plan for a Federal Investigation Department and notes on the Industrial Workers of the World and the One Big Union.

Series 18. Liberal Party 1909-1914

The Brookes played important roles in the formation of the Commonwealth Liberal Party which emerged in 1909 after the "fusion" of the Free Traders and ex Protectionist Tariff Reformers, with the Deakin Protectionists. In September 1911 the Commonwealth Liberal Party and the People's Party combined to form the People's Liberal Party.

The series contains the minute book dating from its first meeting on 8.2.1909 until 1914; the treasurer's cash book 1909-1913; the ledger books 1911-1914; two minute books of the Central Women's sub-committee of the C.L.P. and the Women's Provisional executive of the P.L.P. from 1909 until 1912; the minute book of the South Yarra branch of the P.L.P. from September 1911 until June 1915; a typescript copy of the Inter-State Conference of Liberal organisations held in Melbourne in November 1911; a report to the President of the Tasmanian Liberal League, as to differences between members of Leagues at the women's Conference in Hobart in January 1912, financial papers including receipts from 1911 until 1914.

The correspondence which is placed next dates from 1909 until 1916, and discusses the "fusion", the internal organization and finances of the Liberal parties, the referenda of 1911 and 1913, the elections of 1910, 1913 and 1914, the referendum, of 1916, and The Liberal (the official organ of the Party, it was financed largely by Brookes).

There are also many articles and press cuttings assembled by Brookes for use in The Liberal, together with cartoons by P. Huthrance and "Bep". Pamphlets, election material and press cuttings for this period have been placed at the end of the Series.

Series 19. National Union 1917-1925

Following the defeat of the Referendum on conscription in October 1916, the National Labor Party, under W.M. Hughes merged with the Liberal parliamentary groups to form the Nationalist Party in February 1917. Herbert Brookes joined the executive committee of the National Union (Victorian Section) in 1917 and the series contains correspondence concerning the referendum 1917, the Australian Women's National League and the United National Federation League in 1918, the National Campaign Council in 1919, the Australian Liberal Union whose funds were paid into the National Convention of the Union in 1921, the elections of 1922 and 1925.

As well there are notes made by Brookes of an interview with W.M. Hughes in 1920, a meeting between Earle Page and Hughes at "Winwich" in 1921, and an interview with S.M. Bruce in 1924.

There is printed material used in the referenda campaigns of 1916 and 1917; the platform constitution and rules of the United National Federation and its annual conference in 1918; a note book containing mailing records and accounts for the campaign in Victoria in the general election of 1925.

Series 20. Victorian Protestant Federation

There is correspondence between the Federation's secretary Rev. W. Albiston and Brookes from 1919 until 1957, mostly concerning the publication of The Vigilant, the official organ of the V.P.F., financial statements, notes, the constitution of the V.P.F. adopted in 1918, two pamphlets written by Herbert Brookes, and issued by the V.P.F. in 1932, namely The Empire and the Imperial Issue, originally delivered to the Royal Empire Society in 1932, and A great colonial Englishman - George Washington, and single copies of The Vigilant from 1920 until 1932.

Series 21. Loyalist League

Herbert Brookes was convenor of the preliminary meeting at "Winwick" of the Citizens' Loyalist Committee in March 1918. This committee was the forerunner of the Loyalist League formed later that year; its functions were to prepare and publish literature to be distributed by means of its agents, mainly through the branches of the Victorian Protestant Federation.

Brookes was treasurer of both groups, and the financial statements for the period 10.4.1918-10.9.1920 are in the series.

There is a small amount of correspondence with E.D. Patterson and A. Leeper during 1918, 1919 and 1921 and copies of roneoed letters dated from 1921 until 1928 from M.J. McCarthy of the Christian Defence Effort in London. There are notes by Brookes, printed material, including the Loyalist Manifesto 1919, and press cuttings.

Series 22. Board of Trade 1918-1928

Brookes represented the Associated Chambers of Manufactures on the Board of Trade, set up in 1918 to act under the Minister for Trade and Customs. The series has been divided into two parts, with the small amount of the Board's correspondence between Brookes, W. Massy Greene, Sir John Elder and R. MCK. Oakley, and typescript copies of minutes of many of its meetings between 1920 and 1928, being placed first.

The second subseries contains papers of the Bureau of Commerce and Industry and the Board of Trade. It consists of correspondence with W. Leitch and Stirling Taylor concerning the formation of the Bureau in 1918, a report on its functions and activities in 1924, a report of a conference between W.M. Hughes, the manufacturers and the State committees in 1920 concerning the future development of the woollen manufacturing industry, a typescript copy of an article The Commonwealth Fleet c. 1922, and printed material.

Series 23. Tariff Board 1922-1928

Brookes was a member of the Tariff Board from its inception in March 1922 until 1928. The series is small but contains correspondence with S.M. Bruce, W. Leitch, R. McK. Oakley, D. Masterton and others concerning administrative and policy decisions of the Board, including the galvanized iron industry, 1925, duties on iron and steel in 1926, power alcohol in 1926, trade with New Zealand, with reference to dried fruits in 1926, and the Newnes State Works in 1927. There are also papers concerning the unsuccessful libel writ issued by Brookes in 1924 against R.G. Nial Ltd; an address by R.C. Mills in 1926 entitled The Tariff Board of Australia; printed material including the Board's report of 1925 on Agricultural Implements, and press cuttings.

Reference to the Tariff Board is also made in Series 24 which deals with Brookes' attendance at the Imperial Economic Conference in London as one of the advisers to the Australian Delegation.

Series 24. Overseas Trip 1923

Herbert and Ivy Brookes travelled to Europe and America in 1923; in September Herbert was a member of the Australian delegation at the Fourth Assembly of the League of Nations in Geneva, and in October and November, as a member of the Tariff Board, was an observer at the Imperial Economic Conference in London.

The series contains a small amount of correspondence dealing with travel arrangements, and official and social functions, printed material, including a Record of Proceedings and documents of the Imperial Economic Conference, together with a list of delegates at the Assembly in Geneva. There are also travel brochures and press cuttings.

Series 25. Commissioner-General USA 1929-1930

The series comprises messages received by the Brookes when Herbert was appointed Commissioner-General to the U.S.A. in May 1929; copies of official communications from Brookes to Prime Ministers Bruce (until October 1929) and Scullin (from October 1929), semi-official and personal correspondence during 1929 and 1930, concerning arrangements for their official and social engagements, world economic conditions, trade, music, art, medicine, education and travel; notes on events, and places visited, speeches, Ivy's desk calendar for 1930, lists of introductions, programmes, visiting cards, and many press cuttings.

Series 26. Australian Broadcasting Commission

Brookes was the first Vice-Chairman of the A.B.C. from 1932 until 1940. The series is small, but includes correspondence with H.P. Brown, W.J. Cleary, E.M.R. Couchman and others concerning administrative and policy decisions, as well as much discussion of the Commission's taking over financial and managerial responsibility for celebrity concerts in 1935 and 1940 respectively. As well there are many loose notes made by Brookes after meetings of the Commission, scripts for talks and press cuttings.

From 1943 until 1951 he was a member of the Victorian State Advisory Committee of the A.B.C. and there is a small amount of correspondence for this period.

"With the greetings of the BBC. Christmas 1936" Promotional christmas card with schematic world map prduced by the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Series 27. University of Melbourne 1921-1969

Herbert Brookes was on the Council of the University of Melbourne from 1933 until 1947, and from 1934 served on the Orchestra Advisory Committee. From 1926 until 1969 Ivy Brookes was a member of the Faculty of Music, and served with her husband on the Orchestra Advisory Committee of the University. In addition Mrs Brookes was a member of both the Board of Studies in Physical Education from 1938 until 1970 and the Board of Social Studies between 1941 and 1967. Two subseries have been formed; the first and larger contains Herbert's papers, the second those of his wife.

The correspondence between Brookes, Sir James Barrett, Sir Douglas Copland, R.E. Priestley and others concerns Priestley's appointment as Vice-chancellor in 1935, the new wing of the Conservatorium in 1934, the building and financing of Union House, opened in 1938, the Vice-Chancellor's residence, made possible by a gift from the Brookes and George Nicholas, and the conflict within the University Council during 1937 and 1938 which led to Barrett being succeeded as Chancellor by Sir John Latham in 1939. Brookes has loose notes on many of these issues, together with an incomplete set of minutes of Council, and Finance Committee meetings from 1933 until 1944. There is also a small number of papers concerning Herbert's association with Trinity College, as a member of its Council from 1921 until 1924.

The few papers concerning Ivy Brookes' role at the University have been divided into three parts. Placed first are copies of many of the meetings of the Faculty of Music from 1964 until 1966, together with notes made by Ivy concerning earlier days in the Faculty with reference to Sir Bernard Heinze. The papers of the Board of Social Studies in Physical Education consist of a file of printed material dating from 1956, but mostly during 1965, dealing with the Beaurepaire Physical Education Centre in 1956, and the proposed establishment of a Chair of Physical Education in 1965.

At the end of the subseries is an incomplete set of minutes of meetings of the Board of Social Studies between 1963 and 1966, printed material which concerns student quotas in 1963, and reports of a sub-committee on field-work in 1966.

Series 28. Orchestral Music in Victoria

This series documents the history of orchestral music in Victoria from 1908 until 1968. It falls into three groups; the Lady Northcote Permanent Orchestra Trust Fund, (1908-1968), the Ladies' committee of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (1926-1966), and the Million Shilling Appeal (1927), each of which has been arranged as a subseries.

The Lady Northcote Permanent Orchestra Trust Fund was established in 1908 with the purpose of setting up a permanent orchestra. Its correspondence in this collection dates from 1915 until 1968, and is arranged chronologically. Topics discussed include the Alberto Zelman and Marshall Hall Orchestras, the Verburgghien Orchestra Guarantee Company set up in 1921, the appointment of Bernard Heinze to the Ormond chair of Music in 1925, and the foundation of the Faculty of Music in 1926, the inauguration of celebrity concerts by the University Symphony Orchestra in 1929, and the amalgamation in 1932 at the instance of Sidney Myer of both the University and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras under the name Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Further correspondence appears here, as well as in Series 26 (ABC) and Series 27 (University of Melbourne) concerning the assumption in 1935 by the ABC of financial responsibility for celebrity concerts. The Trust's deed, dated 1908, an incomplete set of minutes of meetings from 1927 until 1966, typescript notes of articles by J. Sutton Crow, and Bernard Heinze, and press cuttings complete with subseries.

Placed next are the papers of the Ladies' Committee of the University Symphony Orchestra, later known as the Ladies' Committee of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Ivy Brookes formed this committee in 1925 and was its Vice-President and later President. Contained here are correspondence between 1925 and 1961, much of it concerning fund-raising, minute books (1926-1931), notes including lists of members, a very incomplete set of minutes of meetings and agenda until 1967, printed material and press cuttings.

The Million Shilling Appeal was launched in 1927 to obtain finance for the nucleus of a

This association evolved in 1913 from the Guild of Play of the Women's Division of the People's Liberal Party, Ivy Brookes was its foundation Secretary, whilst her father, Alfred Deakin, was Vice-President. The correspondence extends from 1910 until 1966 but most of it dates from the years when Ivy was Vice-president (1936) and President (1952-1966). Minutes of meetings from 1954 until 1966, an incomplete set of financial statements and annual reports from 1922 until 1967, together with notes, invitations, photographs, permanent Orchestra, and Ivy Brookes became its Vice-President. Correspondence concerning the Appeal, agenda minutes, financial statements, printed matter and press cuttings complete the series.

Series 29. Playground and Recreation Association of Victoria 1913-1967

This association evolved in 1913 from the Guild of Play of the Women's Division of the People's Liberal Party. Ivy Brookes was its foundation Secretary, whilst her father, Alfred Deakin, was Vice-President. The correspondence extends from 1910 until 1966 but most of it dates from the years when Ivy was Vice-president (1936) and President (1952-1966). Minutes of meetings from 1954 until 1966, an incomplete set of financial statements and annual reports from 1922 until 1967, together with notes, invitations, photographs, a scrap book and loose press cuttings complete the series.

Series 30. Brown Society 1907-1921

The Brown Society of Victoria, like similar societies in England, was formed to commemorate the work of the Manx poet T.E. Brown (1830-97). The group met from 1907 until 1921 at "Winwick", the Brookes' home, and the agenda included musical and literary items. The series contains agenda and minutes of meetings, copies of Brown's writings, correspondence between Brookes and Brown's son Hugh, and daughters, Dora and Ethel, articles by Pattie Deakin, E. Littleton Groom, Brookes and others, photographs, programmes and press cuttings.

Series 31. The Chautauga Association 1921-1924

Herbert Brooks, Meredith Atkinson and Sir James Barrett formed the first committee of the Chautaugua Association in Australia in 1921. Its objects were "to provide civic educational and social advancement throughout the Commonwealth by organizing and conducting Chautauguas, the programmes consisting of entertainment given by lecturers, entertainers and musical artists of professional ability".

There is correspondence dating from 1921 between Brookes, H.M. Lee, C. Callow, E.R. Peacock, concerning the formation and administration of the association and Brookes' resignation in 1924 during his term as President. There are also notes and printed material, including programmes and Chautaugua News (N.Z.) No.1 July 1922.

Series 32. British Immigration League of Australia 1909-1910

There is correspondence during 1909 and 1910 between Brookes and Rev. R.L. Gwynne of the Kentish Colonisation Society concerning a scheme for bringing British boys to Australia to work on training farms, together with the report dated 1908-09 of the British Immigration League of Australia, circulars of the Kent Colonisation Society 1910, and many press cuttings.

Series 33. Rotary Club 1921

Brookes was a foundation member of the Melbourne Rotary Club when it was formed in 1921, with thirty five charter members. There are a small number of letters from W.A. Drummond, Sir John Monash, L.J. Mitchell and W.J. Rose between 1921 and 1931, publications of Rotary, including the Official Directory of Rotary International (1923), and the second annual report of the Melbourne Rotary Club (1922-23).

Series 34. Nojee Boys' Camp 1933

In 1933 Herbert Brookes and George Nicholas made a gift of 200 acres of country near Noojee to the Victorian Government for the establishment of a forest school settlement for unemployed youth. The series contains correspondence between Brookes, A.V. Galbraith and the Forest Commission, and others from 1933 until 1939, reports of the boys, typescript notes, two scrap books, and loose press cuttings which include an article in the Herald outlining the scheme.

Series 35. League of Nations Union 1921-1944

This is a small series containing a typescript copy of the rules of League of Nations Union (Victorian Division) adopted at its first meeting in 1921, a small amount of correspondence between 1923 and 1944, much of it with secretaries Mark Gardner, Constance Duncan and Nora Collisson, notices of meetings; a circular on the International Labour Organization (1923); financial statements; papers concerning the Bureau of Social and International Affairs which, after 1929, provided secretarial services for the Union and other groups.

There are also minutes of a small number of meetings during the 1930's, the first annual report of the League of Nations' Youth Movement in 1933, and the annual report and balance sheet of the League of Nations' Union for 1932-33 and for 1943-44.

The printed material includes an article The League in 1933 by P.D. Phillips and a report entitled League of Nations, etc presented to Parliament in 1921 by Senator E.D. Mullen, Australian representative at the First Assembly of the League of Nations.

Series 36. Australian Association for the United Nations 1945-1962

Ivy Brookes became Vice-president of the Australia Association for the United Nations when it was formed in 1945, and was first chairwoman of the Association's Status of Women Committee. On her resignation from the Association in 1962 she was made a life-member.

The series is small and contains the constitution, an incomplete set of roneoed copies of agenda, minutes and reports from 1950 until 1962, together with notes and press cuttings.

Series 37. Empire Trade Defence Council 1919

There is a small number of papers concerning the inaugural meetings of the Council, at which Ivy Brookes presided in 1919. The constitution is included together with correspondence with L.E. Goodisson, and the Australian Industries Protection League, with which the Council was affiliated.

Series 38. Housewives Association of Victoria 1913-1916

This small series contains notes written by Ivy Brookes outlining the formation of the Housewives Co-operative Association in 1913, financial statements, and correspondence in 1916 when she resigned as President.

Series 39. National Council of Women 1912-1969

Ivy Brookes became an executive member of the National Council of Women in 1912, and for the remainder of her life was involved in Council affairs. This large collection of papers has been grouped into four subseries: records of the Nation Council of Women; records of the International Council of Women; records of the Consultative Committee on Import Policy and subject files containing material collected through her involvement in the N.C.W.

The correspondence in the series commences in 1927 and continues until 1968, much of it concerning Ivy's activities as convenor of the Press, Arts and Letters Standing Committee from 1935 until 1948, and her work as President of the Australian National Council of Women from 1949 until 1952. Topics discussed include the establishment of a Chair of Fine Arts at the University of Melbourne in 1934, meetings of the N.C.W. in Canberra in 1939 and 1960, and in Hobart in 1957, the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1954, a submission to the Commonwealth Government on the Australian content of television programmes, and the listing of women in the professions and the arts.

There is an incomplete set of reports of the Press, Arts and Letters Committee, papers for the Triennial Conference of N.C.W. in Melbourne in 1967, and the report by Ruth Gibson of South Australia on the Commission on the status of Women, 10th session, Geneva, in 1956.

In 1938, as President of the N.C.W. of Victoria, Ivy Brookes led the Australian delegation to the International Council of Women's Golden Jubilee Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, and there is correspondence, conference papers, minutes, reports and printed material relating to this Conference. There are also bulletins of I.C.W. (1940-1941), the constitution and standing order of I.C.W. dated (1888 and revised in 1936), programmes and an article entitled Highlights on the history of the I.C.W. by Louise Van Eeghan (1959).

As the representative of the N.C.W. Ivy Brookes was appointed to the Consultative Committee on Import Policy in 1952, and there is a small amount of correspondence from 1951 until the committee was disbanded in 1960, together with minutes of some meetings held between 1952 and 1959.

The last subseries contains subject files on the Refugees from Europe Committee (1940), Save the Forests Campaign (1944), Exhibition Youth Centre (1946), Pioneer Women's Memorial (1953-57), National Fitness Council, Council of Social Services, and the Pan-Pacific Women's Association.

(The Library contains the minutes of the NCW of Victoria 1906-60 on microfilm G7541-7548)

Series 40. Women's Hospital 1921-1970

Ivy Brooks was a member of the Board of Management of the Women's Hospital, Melbourne, from 1921 until 1970, and its President in 1927-29 and 1934-36.

The series is large, with the correspondence, arranged chronologically from 1927 until 1967, concerning administrative and policy matters, the Royal Victorian College of Nursing, the Victorian State Council of the Australian Hospital Association, the Brookes-Gillespie Nursing Home opened in 1960, and the building appeal in 1967.

Following the correspondence, are placed loose notes made by Ivy, financial statements from 1933, circulars from 1947 until 1967, minutes of meetings of the Board from 1964 until 1969, statistics and almoners' reports in 1935, and annual reports from 1921 until 1968.

These are all incomplete sets, and have been arranged chronologically within each group. Finally there is printed material including news bulletins and press releases during the 1960's, programmes and press cuttings.

Series 41. Hospital Benefits Association 1936-1938

Ivy Brookes represented the Women's Hospital on the executive committee of the Hospital Benefits Association when it was formed in 1936. There is correspondence in 1936 concerning its formation, regulations, financial statements 1936-38, memorandum and articles of association, pamphlets, application forms and press cuttings.

Series 42. Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria 1936-1966

When the Anti-cancer Council of Victoria was constituted in 1937 Ivy Brookes became its Vice-president. The series contains correspondence from 1936 until 1966 with executive members; the Anti-cancer Act 1936; an incomplete set of minutes of meetings from 1936 until 1967; plans for the Central Cancer Institute (later Peter MacCallum Clinic) 1945; reports and financial statements from 1938 until 1966; pamphlets and press cuttings.

Series 43. International Club of Victoria 1932-1958

Ivy Brookes founded the International Club of Victoria in 1932, and was assisted by Jane McMillan, the organising secretary.

The series contains correspondence dating from 1932 until 1958 dealing with the formation and administration of the Club, the Centenary Pageant in 1934, the Pageant of Nations (1945), note-books of committee meetings (1946-47), account books (1947-51), financial statements for the periods 1938-41 and 1948-51, an incomplete set of reports and minutes of meetings.

In addition, there are papers concerning the disbanding of the Club in 1958 and the sale of the Club building in East Melbourne. Four scrap-books contain cuttings from 1932 until 1958.

Series 44. World War II 1939-1945

During the War Ivy Brookes was an executive member of the Australian Comforts' Fund, the Women's Voluntary National Register, the Fighting Forces' Welfare Service and the Australian Women's Land Army Committee. There are subseries for each of these organizations.

Ivy Brookes was Deputy Chairwoman of the Australian Comforts Fund (Victorian Division) and convenor of the Branches and Functions Committee from 1939 until 1945. Included in the subseries is her correspondence with branches throughout Victoria, a list of branch office-bearers, circulars, copies of broadcasts from 1940 (mostly undated) and minutes of meetings from 1940 until 1945. In addition there is a book containing minutes of meetings of the Branches and Functions Committee from October 1939 until February 1945, notes and itineraries, and printed material, including the annual reports of the A.C.F. (Victorian Division) from 1941 until 1945.

The next subseries contains a small amount of material concerning the Women's Voluntary National Register which was set up in 1939, with Ivy as convenor of what became known later as the Women's Australian National Register. There are notes, a small number of letters, publications and press cuttings.

The Fighting Forces Welfare Service was formed in 1942 to coordinate all welfare activities for men and women on, or discharged from, active service, and their dependants. Ivy Brookes was Chairwoman of the provisional executive and later was one of its Vice-Presidents. The series is small, but contains some correspondence, the constitution and minutes of some meetings from 1942 and 1944. (In that year its work was taken over by the Australian Red Cross Society (Victorian Division).

There is a small collection of papers of the State Advisory Committee for the Land Army, including lists of members, agenda for meetings in 1944, and reports of trips of the Australian Women's Land Army mobile canteen during 1944 and 1945. Arranged next are financial papers and reports of the Victorian Amenities Committee for the Land Army, for the period 1944 until 1947. In 1948, the Australian Women's Land Army Ex-members' Association was formed and its trust deed, constitution and some financial statements and a small amount of correspondence up to 1962 is included.

Series 45. Australian Group for Reconstruction 1943

This small series contains correspondence between Ivy Brookes and R.J.F. Boyer druign 1943 when the Group was being formed, a list of interested persons, and a draft statement on Dunbarton Oaks Proposals for World organization.

Series 46. Women Justices' Assocation 1953-54

This is a small series containing correspondence during 1953 and 1954 between Ivy Brookes, the Honorary Justices' Association and the Women Justices' Association concerning their differences, together with printed material including the constitution of W.J.A. of Victoria.

Series 47. Alfred Deakin

This series contains papers collected by the Brookes for the use of biographers of Ivy's father, Alfred Deakin. Theye were made available to Walter Murdoch for his Alfred Deakin - a sketch published in London in 1923; to J.A. La Nauze for Alfred Deakin : a biography, published by Melbourene University Press in 1965, and were used by Herbert Brookes when he edited Deakin's own The Federal Story; the inner history of the federal cause, 1880-1900, which was first published by Robertson and Mullens in 1944, (a second edition, edited and introduced by J.A. La Nauze, was published by Melbourne University Press in 1963).

The papers include letters received by Brookes in 1919 and 1920 in response to requests in the press for personal reminiscences of Deakin, a scrap-book containing typescript notes by Brookes, manhy press cuttings, and entries in the Grand Eisteddfod (South Street Ballarat) in 1920 for an essay entitled Alfred Deakin, his life and work.

The series also contains correspondence with Murdoch (1919-1936) La Nauze (1951-61), Robertson and Mullens, and Melbourne University Press.

Placed at the end of the series is a small amount of correspondence in 1966 between the Australian Broadcasting Control Board and Ivy Brookes concerning the ABC television series "Mister Prime Minister" which included a program devoted to Alfred Deakin.

Series 48. T.E. Ruth

Rev. T.E. Ruth, born in England in 1875 came to Melbourne in 1914 as minister at the Collins Street Baptist Church. In 1923 he was invited to be the minister to Pitt Street Congregational Church, Sydney. He retired in 1939 and died in Sydney in 1956. He and the Brookes became close friends after 1914, and shared a common interest in the Conscription Referenda of 1916 and 1917. The series contains their correspondence from 1923 until 1956. There is also a collection of Ruth's writings comprising typescript copies of sermons, pamphlets issued by the Loyalist League of Victoria, and cuttings of his articles in the press.

Series 49. Arthur H.S. Lucas

Arthur Lucas taught science and mathematics at Wesley College Melbourne from 1883 to 1892 and among his pupils was Herbert Brookes. In 1893 he moved to Sydney to become headmaster of Newington College, and later, in 1921, of Sydney Grammar School. During this time he became a recognised authority on sea-weeds. In 1924-25 he was Acting Professor of Mathematics at the University of Tasmania. There are a small number of letters from Lucas during the period 1921 to 1936; most concern his work and his interest in sea-weeds. The series also contains the manuscript of the autobiography A.H.S. Lucas : his own story, published posthumously by Angus and Robertson in 1937, Brookes' correspondence with Angus and Robertson, and Lucas' poems and articles, including The Caulerpas of Victoria (1931) and The marine algae of Lord Howe Island (1935).

Series 50. Poetry

The series contains poetry by Herbert Brookes on loose notepaper and in exercise books. These poems were often written to commemorate family and national occasions. Placed after his own poems are many that he transcribed, by Kipling, Shelley, Masefield, O.W. Holmes, A.T. Woodward, Florence Hagelthorn and Henry Van Dyke.

Series 51. Articles by Others

In this series are typescript and printed articles on international affairs, politics, religion, art, literature and philosophy by Sir Douglas Copland, R.S. Conway, Norman Carter, A. Boyce Gibson, B. Hubert Cooper, F.H. Bunker, Huston Smith and others; radio scripts by C.H. Peters, W. Bottomley and E.R. Power; a typescript copy of Walter Barrett's autobiography A Drover on the Downs (1940), the handwritten memoirs of articles issued by the Round Table group in 1920 entitled White Australia, Australia's record in Papua and the Western Australian Public Service Strike, addresses by George Fairbairn, D.A. Swanson, Clements Langford, H.T. Braddon, and Stirling Taylor on industrial relations; and typed extracts from books by Arnold Toynbee, F. Cumont and others, and from the New York Times, The Atlantic and The Manchester Guardian.

Series 52. Miscellaneous Manuscripts

This small series includes minutes of meetings in Australia in 1913 and 1914 of the British Association for the Advancement of Science; a small number of papers of the Australian Society of New York Inc., including the first two editions of The Coo-ee-Clarion 4 Jan. 1940 and 18 Jan. 1940; and a portrait, notes and an obituary of Sir David Orme Mazsson, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, who died in 1937.

Series 53. Tributes After the Death of Herbert Bookes 1963

The series contains Herbert Brookes' instructions concerning his funeral service, together with the messages of condolence received by his family after his death on 1 December 1963.

Series 54. Australian Citizen

Herbert Brookes' biography by his nephew Rohan Rivett was published by Melbourne University Press in 1965. Included in this series are letters which Rivett received from Ivy Brookes, Walter Murdoch, John La Nauze, the National Library of Australia, and members of his family, notes, the outline of the book for the publishers, and Murdoch's foreward. There are press copies of reviews which appeared in the daily newspapers, the Catholic Worker, Business Archives and History, Nation, and the Bulletin, during December 1965.