Papers of Sir Alan and Lady Mildred Watt, 1941-1974, 2008 [manuscript]
- Bib ID:
- 2268341
- Format:
- Manuscript
- Author:
- Watt, Alan, Sir, 1901-1988
- Related Online Resources:
- Finding aid at National Library of Australia
- Access Conditions:
- Available for research. Not for loan.
- Description:
-
- [1941-2008]
- 0.66 m. (4 boxes) + 2 packets.
- Summary:
-
The MS 3788 collection includes 45 letters written by Alan Watt in Washington, D.C., to colleagues in the Department of External Affairs including Colonel W.R. Hodgson (Secretary) and John D.L. Hood (Acting Secretary). Lady Watt's papers consist of typed copies of her diaries written in Moscow, 1947-1949, Malaya, 1954-1956, Japan, 1956-1959, and Germany, 1959-1962, written en route to Australia from Cologne in 1962 and to Japan, Moscow, the Hague and London in 1963, written in Papua New Guinea in 1967 and in China in 1974. Also included are typescript copies of her literary manuscripts. The collection includes a copy of the 1969 publication by Robert F. Randle, Geneva 1954: the settlement of the Indochinese War (4 boxes).
The Acc09.023 instalment comprises transcriptions made by the son of Sir Alan and Lady Mildred Watt, Peter James Vallack Watt, "From the diaries of Lady Mildred Mary Watt, Germany, April 1959-February 1962" and "An account of the years spent in Moscow (June 1947-1949)". There is a bound paper copy and an electronic version on CD-ROM (1 packet).
The Acc13.165 instalment comprises transcripts on CD-ROM of 6 diaries and 1 letter of Lady Mildred Watt written in Moscow (June 1947-October 1949); Singapore (1954-1956); Japan (March 1956-December 1959); Germany (April 1959-February 1962); journey to Australia from Bonn by way of Vienna, Belgrade, Athens, Ankara, Istanbul, Greece and Rome (March-May 1962); trip to Japan, Delhi, Tashkent, Moscow, The Hague and London (September-October 1963); letter to family (August 1954). Transcriptions completed by Lady Watt's son, Peter James Vallack Watt (1 packet).
- Biography/History:
-
Diplomat, public servant and author. Alan Stewart Watt was born in 1901 and joined the Department of External Affairs in 1937. He held diplomatic posts in Washington, D.C., 1940-1945, U.S.S.R., 1947-1950, Southeast Asia, 1954-1956, Japan, 1956-1960, and the Federal Republic of Germany, 1960-1962. He was involved in the establishment of the United Nations and was head of the Department of External Affairs between 1950 and 1954. He retired from the Department in 1962. He became a member of the board of The Canberra times and was director of the Australian Institute of International Affairs from 1963 to 1969. In retirement Watt wrote books and articles on Australian foreign policy and his autobiography titled Australian diplomat: memoirs of Sir Alan Watt was published in 1972. Watt died in Canberra in 1988.
Mildred Mary Watt was a writer and scholar of the Russian language. Her published works include Japan, land of sun and storm (1966), and Between the hammer and the anvil (1972). She married Sir Alan Watt in 1927, and died in 1983.
- Notes:
-
- Manuscript reference no.: MS 3788, MS Acc09.023, MS Acc13.165.
- Digital content preserved
- Related Material:
-
- Interview with Sir Alan Watt; Located at; National Library of Australia Oral History collection ORAL TRC 306.
- Interview with Sir Alan Watt, diplomat; Located at; National Library of Australia Oral History collection ORAL TRC 1453.
- Cited In:
- Guide to collections of manuscripts relating to Australia ; C809.
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Finding aid available online.
- Subject:
-
- Watt, Alan, Sir, 1901-1988 -- Archives
- Watt, Mildred, Lady, 1903-1983 -- Archives
- Australia. Department of External Affairs -- Officials and employees -- Archives
- Diplomats -- Australia -- Archives
- Diplomats' spouses -- Australia -- Archives
- Authors, Australian -- 20th century -- Archives
- Women authors, Australian -- 20th century -- Archives
- Diplomatic and consular service, Australian
- Australian literature -- 20th century
- Australia -- Officials and employees -- Archives
- Australia -- Foreign relations
- Time Coverage:
- 1941-2008
- Occupation:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Terms of Use:
- Copying of Peter James Vallack Watt's copyright material permitted for research purposes.
- Copyright:
-
Copyright Undetermined
If you wish to copy or order copies, contact us. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- Reason for copyright status:
- A Manuscript Collection may have a range of formats and dates.
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Literary Dramatic Musical
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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