John Baker interviewed by Edgar Waters [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 2439040
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Baker, John S. (John Simms), 1908-2001, interviewee
- Online Version:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 1993
- 8 sound tape reels (ca. 240 min.) ; 7 in.
- Summary:
-
Baker, a retired trade union official, speaks of his interest in folk songs, specifically folk songs in the trade union movement, and gives an account of their origin and evolution in Australia; his own interest in Australian cultural life; the establishment of the first little art theatre in Australia in Adelaide in 1932-33 and how Robert Helpmann had practised his dance routines there; his move to Sydney in 1939 while working with Australian Post Office, the popularity of bush music bands, his involvement in the Telegraphists and Postal Clerks Union established in 1881, one of the first national unions and covered white collar workers, having a great influence on the development of unions in Australia in the 20th century; his interest in the history of public institutions; his interest in applying arts to promoting trade unions and his attempt to write a folk opera based on the life of Ben Chifley; later the Australian Council of Salaried and Professional Associations (ACSPA) also used the arts to promote their campaigns.
Baker speaks of his involvement with the Federal Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advancement (FCAATSI) from 1962; the relationship between trade unions and espionage carried out by national security and intelligence organisations; evidence from the 1960's onwards of interference from security intelligence networks, American and European, in unions in the southeast Asian and Pacific region, particularly among member associations of the Public Service International; how transnational corporations used intelligence services to fragment the union movement; imperialism in communications.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on Nov. 26 & 27, 1993 at Erina, N.S.W.
- Also available online http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-204788503
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Transcript available (typescript, 77 leaves)
- Subject:
-
- Baker, John S. (John Simms), 1908-2001 -- Interviews
- Postal Telegraphists Union
- Labor unions and mass media -- Australia
- Labor unions and international relations -- Australia
- Labor unions and fascism -- Australia
- Labor unions -- Public relations -- Australia
- Labor unions -- Australia -- Officials and employees -- Interviews
- Occupation:
- Trade union officials
- Other authors/contributors:
- Waters, Edgar, 1925-2008, interviewer
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2063 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 1993
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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