Guide to the Papers of Alfred Deakin
MS 1540
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 2007
Online Items
Series 2. Diaries, 1884-1916
Alfred Deakin's diaries, kept each year from 1884 to 1916, provide a succinct account of his daily activities. There is a tendency towards fuller entries in the later years. Two volumes were kept for 1887 and for 1890 (the large one for the latter year being used in part for his visit to India)...
Series 3. Notebooks and general manuscripts, 1873-1917
This series contains most of Deakin's notebooks. They were written from 1873 to 1917, with many of the notebooks dating from either the 1880s or from 1910 to 1917. Some material is undated. The notebooks are crammed with personal reflections on many subjects. As well, they comment on a vast variety of literature, including much of a mystical and philosophical nature, while some contain autobiographical reflections. Many begin with legal notes or financial accounts, indicating that they originally served a more prosaic purpose...
Series 5. Religion and spiritualism, 1874-1913
This series illustrates Deakin's youthful association with the Spiritualist Movement, as well as his lifelong interest in philosophy and religion. There are manuscript and typescript writings by Deakin, notebooks, notes, certificates, pamphlets, journals, printed material and other documents...
Series 6. Law practice, 1854-1898
After studying law at the University of Melbourne and at evening classes, Deakin was admitted to the Bar in September 1877. Few briefs came his way and he was drawn increasingly into his work as a journalist for The Age. His entry into politics in 1879, and for a longer period from 1881, caused a cessation of his legal practice until financial difficulties forced his return in 1892. He earned a good income from his practice until he became absorbed in Federal politics in 1900...
Subseries 6_3. Deeming case, 1892
Extensive records of the Deeming case, including affidavits, evidence from the Coroner's Court and Deakin's notes on the trial. Deakin defended Frederick Deeming (alias Albert Williams), who was charged with the murder of Emily Williams. Her body had been found under a hearthstone in a Melbourne house. Deeming was also charged with the murder, several years earlier, of his wife and four children in their home near Manchester, which focused international attention on the outcome of the case...
Series 7. Journalism, 1878-1914
The correspondence, dating from 1891 to 1914, deals with Deakin's occasional journalism, as well as his regular and anonymous contributions to the Morning Post (London). The series contains an almost complete file of clippings of Deakin's letters to the Morning Post between 1901 and 1911. There are also several miscellaneous items, including notes relating to The Age, 1878-1899, a tribute written by Deakin on David Syme's death in 1908, and other miscellaneous clippings of Morning Post letters by Deakin and others. Deakin's Morning Post letters of 1912-1914 are not included in the Deakin Papers...
Subseries 7_1. Correspondence, 1891-1914
Largely concerning Deakin's contributions to various newspapers, particularly his letters to the Morning Post. Among the correspondents are Frank Fox, Leo Maxse, Philip Mennell and Fabian Ware...
Subseries 7_1_1. Correspondence, 1891-1904
This subseries contains Items 7/1 - 7/30.
Subseries 7_2. Miscellaneous notes and other documents, 1878-1908
Financial jottings relating to The Age, 1878-1881, a small notebook detailing leading articles contributed to The Age between June 1898 and April 1899, and a tribute written by Deakin on David Syme's death in 1908...
Subseries 7_3. Miscellaneous Morning Post letters by Deakin, 1904-1910
Loose clippings of a selection of Deakin's letters to the Morning Post...
Subseries 7_4. Miscellaneous Morning Post letters by Deakin and others, 1902-1910
Loose clippings of a selection of Deakin's letters to the Morning Post, together with related articles by others...
Subseries 7_4_1. Miscellaneous Morning Post letters, 1902-1904
This subseries contains Items 7/182 - 7/197.
Subseries 7_4_2. Miscellaneous Morning Post letters, 1905
This subseries contains Items 7/198 - 7/222.
Subseries 7_4_3. Miscellaneous Morning Post letters, 1906
This subseries contains Items 7/223 - 7/268.
Subseries 7_4_4. Miscellaneous Morning Post letters, 1907
This subseries contains Items 7/269 - 7/303.
Subseries 7_4_5. Miscellaneous Morning Post letters, 1908
This subseries contains Items 7/304 - 7/335.
Series 9. Victorian Minister, 1884-1897
This series contains correspondence, notes, memoranda, reports, certificates, programs, menus, a photograph, press clippings and other printed material. There is some correspondence and general items relating to Deakin's activities as a Minister in Victoria, but apart from this, most of the material concerns Deakin's work as Chief Secretary and his visit to London as a Victorian delegate to the Colonial Conference of 1887. Among the general correspondents are R.M. Collins, David Davies, J.L. Dow, Sir Sandford Fleming, James Graves, Richard Hain, Jules Joubert, Lord Knutsford, James Mirams, John Quick, Richard Richardson, William Uren, R.S. Walpole and William T. Webb...
Subseries 9_1. Correspondence, 1884-1890
Concerning political and party matters, the International Exhibition of 1888, various bills before Parliament and the defence arrangements of the colony. There are letters from R.M. Collins, David Davies, J.L. Dow, Sir Sandford Fleming, James Graves, Richard Hain, Jules Joubert, Lord Knutsford, James Mirams, John Quick, Richard Richardson, William Uren, R.S. Walpole and William T. Webb. Some of the letters in this subseries were copied from the originals held in Series 5, as Deakin used the originals as notepaper for his 'Orthodoxy' manuscript (MS 1540/5/46-90)...
Subseries 9_2. Vice-Regal documents, 1883-1890
Certificates confirming Deakin's appointment to various ministerial positions...
Subseries 9_3. Chief Secretary, 1885-1897
Correspondence, notes, memoranda, press clippings and other printed material. These papers relate to various administrative matters (including a memorandum on Marcus Clarke and his family), and such issues as the 1888 Chinese Immigration Conference, the Land Act, the Councils of Conciliation Bill, the Contractors Lien on Land Bill, the Declaration of Affidavits Bill, the Residence Areas Bill, the Partition Bill, the Criminal Law Amendment Act, the Metropolitan General Cemetery Bill, plural voting, females in the public service, the appointment of the Solicitor-General, defence matters and some parliamentary debates. There is more extensive material on the Distress for Rent Bill, the Infant Life Protection Bill, the 1890 Maritime Strike, the Factories and Shops Act and various financial matters. There is also a report prepared for the Royal Commission on the Parliament Buildings on which Deakin served, entitled A short history and description of the Parliament House (1886)...
Subseries 9_3_1. A short history and description of the Parliament House, 1886
This subseries contains Item 9/113.
Subseries 9_3_2. Notes, bills, memoranda and other documents, 1885-1890
This subseries contains Items 9/114 - 9/171.
Subseries 9_4. 1887 Colonial Conference, London, 1886-1887
Deakin led the Victorian delegation to the 1887 Colonial Conference, called to celebrate Queen Victoria's golden jubilee. The correspondence is mostly of a social nature. It includes the first offer made to Deakin of a knighthood, some requests for interviews and articles, a letter on defence from Lord George Hamilton of the Admiralty and one congratulating Deakin on his return to Victoria...
Series 10. Irrigation, c.1884-1949 (bulk 1885-1917)
Deakin's first ministerial appointment as Commissioner for Public Works and Water Supply sparked a lifelong interest in irrigation. He was responsible for the important Irrigation Act of 1886. In 1885 he studied irrigation in the United States, which led to a visit to Victoria by the two successful irrigationists, George and William Chaffey, and the inauguration of the Mildura irrigation settlement. Deakin also reported on irrigation in Egypt and Italy, which he studied during his visit to Europe in 1887, and The Age sponsored his trip to investigate irrigation schemes in India in 1890 to 1891...
Subseries 10_1. Correspondence, 1885-1917
Concerning the visit of George and William Chaffey, irrigation at Mildura, Deakin's writings on irrigation and other matters. The correspondents include George Chaffey, T.F. Knowles, Lord Knutsford, J.H. McColl, Philip Mennell, Stuart Murray, F.H. Newell, R.C. Nicolls, Sir Colin Scott-Moncrieff, George Swinburne, David Syme, Baron Ferdinand von Mueller and Professor Robert Wallace...
Subseries 10_1_2. Correspondence, 1892-1917
This subseries contains Items 10/41 - 10/101.
Correspondence; author(s) include R. Henson Broadhurst, G. Desailly; recipient(s) include Alfred Deakin (Item 10_42)
Correspondence; author(s) include George Chaffey, William B. Chaffey; recipient(s) include Alfred Deakin (Item 10_46)
Subseries 10_2. Visit to the United States, 1885
Notebook, notes, souvenirs and press clippings concerning Deakin's 1885 visit to California, Mexico and Ontario to study various irrigation schemes. Deakin's account of the visit, Irrigation in Western America, so far as it has relation to the circumstances in Victoria, was published in 1885. A copy of this work is held in Subseries 10.8...
Notebook containing notes from Deakin's trip to California, Mexico and Ontario, 1885. The notebook contains two sequences of entries. The first sequence begins at the front of the notebook. For the second sequence the notebook was turned around, and Deakin began writing from the back of the notebook. So that the pages would be in a readable order the second sequence has been digitised starting from the back of the notebook. Please note that the blank pages between these two sequences have not been digitised.
Subseries 10_3. Agreement between the Chaffey brothers and the Victorian Government, 1886-1888
Agreement, licence and related parliamentary papers. George and William Chaffey were involved in the establishment of the Mildura irrigation settlement...
Subseries 10_4. Notes, parliamentary papers and other documents, c.1884-1900
Notes by Deakin on Mildura, typescript notes on Deakin's irrigation work, Deakin's article 'Irrigation in Australia' (n.d.), typescript extracts from Hansard on irrigation, several papers relating to the Draft Bill on Riparian Rights (1890), a proposal for a weir on the Yarra River (1889), material on the Diamond Hill Water Supply, various documents on the financing of irrigation trusts and Deakin's speech on the 1886 Irrigation Bill...
Subseries 10_5. Visit to India, 1890-1891
Notebooks (2), press clippings and a map from Deakin's visit to Ceylon and India in 1890-1891. The visit was sponsored by The Age. Deakin's account of irrigation in the region, Irrigated India, an Australian view of India and Ceylon : their irrigation and agriculture, was published in 1893. A copy of this work is held in Subseries 10.8...
Notebook containing notes from Deakin's trip to India, 1890-1891. The notebook contains two sequences of entries. The first sequence begins at the front of the notebook. For the second sequence the notebook was turned around, and Deakin began writing from the back of the notebook. So that the pages would be in a readable order the second sequence has been digitised starting from the back of the notebook. Please note that the blank pages between these two sequences have not been digitised.
Notebook containing notes from Deakin titled Agriculture. The notebook contains two sequences of entries. The first sequence begins at the front of the notebook. For the second sequence the notebook was turned around, and Deakin began writing from the back of the notebook. So that the pages would be in a readable order the second sequence has been digitised starting from the back of the notebook. Please note that the blank pages between these two sequences have not been digitised.
Subseries 10_6. Commonwealth-State Royal Commission on Water Supply, 1901-1902
Memoranda and printed material relating to the use of the Murray River for water supply and irrigation, together with a briefcase supplied for Deakin by the Commission...
Subseries 10_7. Press clippings, c.1891-1949
Concerning various irrigation schemes, Deakin's activities as Commissioner and related matters...
Subseries 10_8. Printed material, 1885-1915
Pamphlets, articles and other printed material, including Deakin's works Irrigation in Western America, so far as it has relation to the circumstances in Victoria (1885), Irrigation in Egypt and Italy (1887), Irrigated India, an Australian view of India and Ceylon : their irrigation and agriculture (1893) and 'Irrigation in Australia' (n.d.), together with Californian notes, a report made to the Hon F. Hagelthorn on immigration, irrigation, fruit growing and trade (1915) by Frank Clarke, The Nile of Australia, nature's gateway to the interior, a plea for the greater utilization of the Murray and its tributaries (1906) by David J. Gordon, 'The flowing wells of central Australia' (1911) by Professor J.W. Gregory, Progress report on irrigation in the United States, part 1 (1891) by Richard J. Hinton, Proceedings of the First Conference of Irrigationists held in Melbourne 25th, 26th and 28th March 1890 (1890), The Murray River, irrigation and navigation (1903) by Robert T. McKay, Lecture on irrigation canals in Bengal (1893) by C.W. Olding and The great Australian artesian basin and the source of its water (1914) by E. F. Pittman...
Fourth progress report : irrigation in Egypt and Italy : a memorandum for the members of the Royal Commission on Water Supply
First progress report : irrigation in Western America, so far as it has relation to the circumstances of Victoria : a memorandum for the members of the Royal Commission on Water Supply
Irrigation in western America, so far as it has relation to the circumstances of Victoria : a memorandum for the members of the Royal Commission on water supply.
The "Nile" of Australia : nature's gateway to the interior: a plea for the greater utilization of the Murray and its tributaries
Lecture on irrigation canals in Bengal : delivered at the Engineering College, Sibpur, on the 23rd February 1893
Series 11. Federation delegate, 1884-1944 (bulk 1887-1900)
Deakin was a member of the Federal Council of Australasia in 1889, 1895, 1897 and 1899. He was a delegate to the Australasian Federation Conference of 1890, the National Australasian Convention of 1891 and the Federal Convention of 1897-1898. He was also the Victorian delegate to London in 1900 to secure the passage of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Bill through the Imperial Parliament...
Subseries 11_1. Correspondence, 1888-1900
Correspondence with many of the leading federalists from all of the colonies, although few copies of Deakin's own letters were retained. The bulk of the correspondence dates from 1897 to 1900. Among the correspondents are Edmund Barton, James Bryce, James Dickson, Sir John Forrest, William Gay, Sir Samuel Griffith, John Winthrop Hackett, George Higinbotham, Walter James, C.C. Kingston, George Leake, Elliott Lewis, Alan McLean, Richard E. O'Connor, Sir Henry Parkes, John Quick, George Reid, C. Carty Salmon, A. Bruce Smith, Josiah Symon, Sir George Turner, B.R. Wise and H.J. Wrixon...
Subseries 11_2. Ephemera, press clippings and other documents, 1896-1900
Much of the ephemera relates to the March 1897 elections for delegates to the Australasian Federal Convention. There is also a Federation badge, together with pamphlets, press clippings and other papers, including 'The present Federal crisis' by Deakin, from Proceedings, People's Federal Convention, Bathurst, November, 1896 (1897), 'The case for Clause 74' by J.H. Symon, from The Gleam magazine, 1900, and typescript notes from a speech by Deakin, possibly given at the National Australasian Convention debates, Adelaide, 1897...
Subseries 11_4. Australian Natives' Association, 1884-1908
Correspondence, a summary of an address by Deakin on the Association's aims and objects, 1888, programs and menus for banquets in Deakin's honour, 1887-1901, agendas, printed material, a poster and a certificate. The Australian Natives' Association was established in Melbourne in 1871 as a non-political and non-sectarian friendly society, promoting the moral, social and intellectual improvement of its native-born (male) members. Deakin was an Honorary (Life) member of the Association's Prahran branch...
Correspondence; author(s) include J.F. Drummond, Carl E. Layh, Charles E. Taylor; recipient(s) include Alfred Deakin (Item 11_219)
Correspondence; author(s) include T. Jefferson Connelly, Frederick C. Wainwright; recipient(s) include Alfred Deakin (Item 11_220)
Subseries 11_5. Notes for speeches, c.1890-1897
Manuscript notes for speeches by Deakin on such themes as 'Election of Victoria', 'Ethics of federalism', 'Responsible government', 'Resolutions - March 1890 - from Federal Conference' and 'Notes on federalism'. Among the papers are many fragments of speeches and incomplete notes...
Subseries 11_6. Vice-Regal documents, 1888-1900
Certificates of Deakin's appointment to or election as a delegate to such events as the Intercolonial Conference on the Chinese Question, 1888, the Federal Council of Australasia, 1889 and 1895, the Australasian Federal Convention, 1897 and the Australian delegation to London in support of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Bill, 1900...
Subseries 11_7. Complimentary banquet, 1899
Correspondence and telegrams from Edmund Barton, C.C. Kingston, George Reid and others regarding attendance at the banquet, together with programs, notes for Deakin's speech and related papers. The banquet in Deakin's honour was held on 21 August 1899 in his constituency of Essendon and Flemington, in recognition of his great efforts in the cause of Federation...
Subseries 11_8. Australasian Federation Conference, 1890
Copy of the Official record of the proceedings and debates (1890), together with Deakin's briefcase from the conference. The Australasian Federation Conference was held in Melbourne from 6 to 13 February 1890, and attended by representatives from the colonial parliaments and New Zealand. Delegates resolved to form a union of the colonies, and planned a national convention to consider a federal constitution...
Subseries 11_9. National Australasian Convention, 1891-1892
Information for delegates, Convention papers, notes, drafts and criticisms of a bill to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia. The National Australasian Convention was held in Sydney from 2 March to 9 April 1891. Seven representatives from the six colonial parliaments attended, together with three representatives from New Zealand. At this inaugural constitutional convention, delegates prepared a draft constitution and agreed to adopt the name 'Commonwealth of Australia'...
Subseries 11_10. Commonwealth acts and bills, 1898-1900
Drafts of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Bill, 1898-1900, together with proposed amendments, and related papers...
The Premiers of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia in conference assembled, having fully considered the amendments suggested in the form of resolutions by the Legislative Council and by the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales in the Bill drafted by the Australasian National Convention, 1897-8, unanimously agree as follows : - ...
Subseries 11_11. Miscellaneous printed material, 1891-1900
Selection of articles, pamphlets and other printed material relating to federation, including On effective voting (1896) by Reverend T.J. Smith, The history of federation (1894) by G.G. Read Murphy, A digest of federal constitutions (1896) by John Quick, Federation, as proposed by the Adelaide Convention (1897) by W.M. Hughes and W.T. Dick, Annual report for the year ending 30 June 1899 (1899) by the Australasian Federation League of New South Wales, 'Equitable representation' (n.d.) by Professor Nanson, Suggestions (1897) by Luogo, Historical sketch of Australian federation, extracted from The Year Book of Australia (1891) by G.B. Barton, Proceedings, People's Federal Convention, Bathurst, November, 1896 (1896), The Australian Commonwealth Bill : the Spectator's criticism : a reply (1900) by J.H. Symon, The Australian Commonwealth Bill : observations by Mr J.H. Symon, Q.C., in reply to Chief Justice Way's attack upon the delegates and Mr Chamberlain's 'compromise' as to Clause 74 (1900) by J.H. Symon, The attainment of federation : what was lacking in the Convention Bill (1898) from the Daily Telegraph, The Canadian Dominion and proposed Australian Commonwealth : a study in comparative politics (1895) by J.G. Bourinot, Honour to whom honour is due, a federal retrospect (1899) by Bruce Smith and Draft federation bill : speech (1897) by J.H. Want...
Subseries 11_12. Press clippings, 1898-1913
Press clippings relating to such subjects as the debate between H.B. Higgins and J.E. Mackey, the Federal Convention Bill and The making of the Australian Commonwealth, 1889-1900 (1913) by B.R. Wise, together with issues of Punch, June 2 1898, and The Critic, June 4 1898...
Subseries 11_13. London, 1900-1907
Correspondence, invitations, notes, parliamentary papers and related documents. Deakin was the Victorian delegate to London in 1900 to secure the passage of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Bill through the Imperial Parliament...
Subseries 11_13_1. Correspondence, 1900-1907
This subseries contains Items 11/366 - 11/582.
Correspondence; author(s) include James Bryce, Marion Bryce; recipient(s) include Alfred Deakin (Item 11_378)
Correspondence; author(s) include Edmund Barton, Joseph Chamberlain, Sir William Lyne, Sir Julian Salomons, Lord Tennyson; recipient(s) include Alfred Deakin (Item 11_527_42)
Subseries 11_14. 'The inner history of the federal cause', 1898-1944
Deakin's manuscript, together with notes, Brookes' typescript draft and a copy of the 1944 edition. Deakin wrote 'The inner history of the federal cause' between 1898 and 1900. The manuscript was later edited by Herbert Brookes, and published as The federal story : the inner history of the federal cause (1944). J.A. La Nauze edited a second edition of this work (1963), and a later edition entitled 'And be one people' : Alfred Deakin's federal story was introduced by Stuart Macintyre (1995)...
Subseries 11_14_1. 'The inner history of the federal cause' manuscript, parts I-XXIII, 1898-1900
This subseries contains Items 11/661 - 11/1267.
Subseries 11_15. Australasian Federal Convention, 1897-1898
Publications, reports and other documents circulated for delegates, together with drafts of the constitution. The first session of the Australasian Federal Convention was held in Adelaide from 22 March to 23 April 1897. 40 elected representatives prepared a draft constitution based on a draft adopted by the 1891 session of the National Australasian Convention. A second session of the Convention was held in Sydney, 2 September to 24 September 1897, and the third and final session was held in Melbourne, 20 January to 17 March 1898. On 16 March 1898 the Convention adopted 'A Draft of a Bill to Constitute the Commonwealth of Australia', to be submitted for consideration by Australian voters at a referendum...
Subseries 11_16. Draft of a bill to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia, 1899
Copy of the Draft of a Bill to Constitute the Commonwealth of Australia, printed on vellum, 1899, together with associated documents. Drafted in various stages from 1890 to 1899, the Bill was endorsed by referendums in 1898, 1899 and 1900. The Bill was introduced in British Parliament on 14 May 1900, and the resulting Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act was passed on 5 July 1900...
Series 14. Barton Government, 1900-1904
Deakin became the first Attorney-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901. From the previous September he had begun to consider the choice of Ministers and the administrative problems that would face the new government. Papers from this period include correspondence, opinions, memoranda, speeches, notes, transcripts and printed material. There are documents relating to a number of legal questions, particularly the Judiciary Bill, 1903, the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, 1903-1904, and the Stephens v. Abrahams case, 1903. There is also general correspondence and other papers relating to celebrations for the inauguration of the Commonwealth and the opening of the first session of Federal Parliament, papers relating to Deakin's term as Acting Prime Minister in 1902, and papers relating to such issues as the case, defence, immigration, postal and telegraph services, tariffs and proposed sites for the federal capital...
Subseries 14_1. Correspondence, 1900-1903
Subjects covered are the formation of the first ministry, the cables and letters generated by 'Hopetoun's blunder', the 1901 election, ministerial salaries, the dispatch of troops to South Africa and other defence matters, the High Commissioner position in London, immigration and the Kanakas, Lord Hopetoun's expenses and his subsequent resignation, the arrangements for the investiture of Lord Tennyson, and the differences between Tennyson and Sir Edmund Barton. The correspondence also refers to the New South Wales Commonwealth dispute over Dawes Battery, the status of the Governor-General's secretary, C.C. Kingston's resignation in 1903, New Guinea, problems in Western Australia, the Electoral Bill, texts of cables relayed to and from Britain during Barton's visit in 1902, the arrangements for Parliament House, Wragge's weather bureau, Reid's visit to Tasmania in 1903, the federal capital, proposals regarding an Australian navy, and Deakin's attempted resignation in 1902...
Subseries 14_1_2. Correspondence, 1901
This subseries contains Items 14/50 - 14/105.
Subseries 14_1_3. Correspondence, 1902
This subseries contains Items 14/106 - 14/327.
Subseries 14_1_3_1. Correspondence, 1902
This subseries contains Items 14/106 - 14/250.
Subseries 14_1_3_2. Telegrams despatched to Prime Minister in London, 1902
This subseries contains Items 14/251 - 14/283.
Subseries 14_1_4. Correspondence, 1903
This subseries contains Items 14/328 - 14/407.
Correspondence; author(s) include Sir Edmund Barton, J.C. Watson; recipient(s) include Alfred Deakin (Item 14_354_5)
Correspondence; author(s) include Philip Mennell, W. Warren; recipient(s) include Alfred Deakin (Item 14_361)
Correspondence; author(s) include Alfred Deakin, Lord Tennyson; recipient(s) include Alfred Deakin (Item 14_362)
Correspondence; author(s) include Joseph Chamberlain, A. Atlee Hunt; recipient(s) include Bernhard R. Wise (Item 14_371_3)
Subseries 14_2. Inaugural celebrations, 1901
Account by the Daily Telegraph of the celebrations that followed the inauguration of the Commonwealth, together with invitations and a Souvenir of the inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth (1901)...
Subseries 14_3. Opening of the first Parliament, 1901
Invitations, programs, commemorative publications and illuminated addresses for the opening of the first session of Federal Parliament...
Subseries 14_4. The case, 1902-1903
Correspondence between Deakin, Joseph Chamberlain and John Jenkins regarding the arrest at Adelaide of the crew of the Dutch vessel , 1902, together with related parliamentary papers...
Subseries 14_5. Printed material, memoranda and other documents, 1901-1902
Copy of Tennyson's dormant commission, an account by the Sydney Morning Herald of the celebrations which followed the inauguration of the Commonwealth, extracts from Barton's first Maitland speech, an article by Deakin on tariffs, papers on defence, a pamphlet on the proposed sites for the federal capital, Deakin's appointments as a Minister and Attorney-General, and issues of the Commonwealth Gazette, including one announcing the death of Queen Victoria...
Subseries 14_6. Attorney-General, 1900-1904
Correspondence, opinions, memoranda, printed material and other documents. The correspondence covers a variety of legal questions such as the powers of the new Federal Government, agricultural bounties, appeals to the Privy Council and the High Court, naturalisation, a code of standing orders, Crown lands, the and the Stephens v. Abrahams case, which was heard in the Victorian Supreme Court in 1903. In particular, there is extensive correspondence between Deakin and Sir Samuel Griffith about the Judiciary Bill, 1903, and the establishment of the High Court. Some of the correspondents are E.G. Blackmore, Andrew Inglis Clark, Thomas Derham, Isaac A. Isaacs, B.R. Wise, Harry N.P. Wollaston and Joseph Woolf...
Subseries 14_6_2. Opinions, memoranda and other documents, 1901-1903
This subseries contains Items 14/647 - 14/890.
Subseries 14_6_3. Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, 1903-1904
This subseries contains Items 14/891 - 14/934.
Series 15. Prime Minister, 1901-1923 (bulk 1903-1910)
This large series contains all of the material in the Deakin Papers that relate to Deakin's three terms as Prime Minister, from 1903 to 1904, 1905 to 1908 and 1909 to 1910, including correspondence, memoranda, reports, notes, notebooks, speeches, receipts, certificates, memorabilia, press clippings and other printed material. Featured in this series are papers that Deakin received as Prime Minister relating to the most important portfolios of his administrations, including External Affairs, Trade and Customs, Treasury, Home Affairs, Attorney-General, Postmaster-General and Defence...
Subseries 15_1. General correspondence, 1903-1910
Letters of a political nature that Deakin received as Prime Minister and drafts of a number of the replies, together with all the letters he received dealing with general governmental activities. Many are congratulatory messages following Deakin's three elections as Prime Minister, while others concern issues surrounding the 1906 and 1910 elections, the New Hebrides, women's suffrage, marriage laws, meteorology and rainmaking, British land ownership in Australia, various government commissions and the Imperial Conferences on merchant shipping (1907), defence (1909) and the press (1909)...
Subseries 15_1_1. Congratulatory letters, 1903
This subseries contains Items 15/1 - 15/308.
Subseries 15_1_3. Correspondence, 1905
This subseries contains Items 15/369 - 15/485.
Subseries 15_1_4. Correspondence, 1906
This subseries contains Items 15/486 - 15/679.
Correspondence; author(s) include Joseph Chamberlain, Alfred Deakin; recipient(s) include Alfred Deakin (Item 15_506)
Correspondence; author(s) include Sir George Le Hunte, Thomas Price; recipient(s) include Alfred Deakin (Item 15_507_8)
Subseries 15_1_7. Correspondence, 1909
This subseries contains Items 15/855 - 15/953.
Subseries 15_2. Governors-General, 1903-1910
Letters that Deakin received from Lords Dudley, Northcote and Tennyson as Prime Minister, some official correspondence with the Secretary of State for the Colonies concerning these Governors-General, and other correspondence on the office of the Crown's representative in Australia. There are also papers regarding recommendations for honours, including both official and private correspondence and some notes in Deakin's hand. Lastly, there are some papers on precedence...
Subseries 15_2_1. Correspondence, 1903-1910
This subseries contains Items 15/1014 - 15/1133.
Subseries 15_2_1_1. Correspondence, 1903-1906
This subseries contains Items 15/1014 - 15/1049.
Subseries 15_2_1_2. Correspondence, 1907-1908
This subseries contains Items 15/1050 - 15/1086.
Subseries 15_2_1_3. Correspondence, 1909-1910 and undated
This subseries contains Items 15/1087 - 15/1133.
Subseries 15_2_2. Honours, 1903-1908
This subseries contains Items 15/1134 - 15/1287.
Subseries 15_2_2_1. Correspondence, 1903-1906
This subseries contains Items 15/1134 - 15/1213.
Correspondence; author(s) include Thomas Bent, Sir Reginald Talbot, Sir Reginald Talbot; recipient(s) include Lord Elgin, Lord Northcote (Item 15_1190_6)
Subseries 15_2_4. Precedence
This subseries contains Items 15/1298 - 15/1381.
Correspondence; author(s) include R.L. Antrobus, Joseph Chamberlain, Evan Macgregor, Sir Montague F. Ommanney, G. Fleetwood Wilson; recipient(s) include Lord Linlithgow (Item 15_1301_13)
Correspondence; author(s) include Lord Northcote, Sir Harry Rawson; recipient(s) include Alfred Lyttelton (Item 15_1325_7)
Correspondence; author(s) include Joseph Carruthers, Sir Frederick M. Darley, Sir Harry Rawson; recipient(s) include Lord Northcote (Item 15_1360_5)
Subseries 15_3. Imperial Conference, London, 1907
Correspondence, conference papers and other material that Deakin received while in London for the Imperial Conference in 1907. Imperial defence, imperial preference and the conference itself predominate in the correspondence. Some of the other topics are wireless and telegraphic communication, insurance companies, offers of honorary doctorates from Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh universities, interviews with the Press and women's suffrage. There are also many invitations...
Subseries 15_3_1. Correspondence, 1907
This subseries contains Items 15/1382 - 15/1597.
Subseries 15_3_4. Visit of colonial Premiers and the Houses of Parliament to Portsmouth, 1907
This subseries contains Items 15/1666 - 15/1667.
Subseries 15_3_5. Press clippings, printed material and other documents, 1907
This subseries contains Items 15/1668 - 15/1685.
Subseries 15_3_6. Invitations, menus, programs and other documents, 1907
This subseries contains Items 15/1686 - 15/1741.
Subseries 15_4. General papers, 1902-1916
Notes, notebooks, memoranda, reports, certificates, press clippings, printed speeches and other printed material relating to general matters. Among these papers are Deakin's notes for speeches and other jottings concerning such subjects as tariffs, the 1906 and 1910 elections, the death of C.C. Kingston, old age pensions, customs, States' debts, and 'The Fusion'. There are Deakin's Cabinet notebooks for May 1902-June 1906, June 1906-November 1908 and June 1909-April 1910, which carry cryptic subject headings listing matters to be discussed in Cabinet. There are also papers relating to Australian assistance for the Colonial Office and Senate procedure, Thursday Island, the 'closure', the areas of responsibility of various government departments, bills passed between 1901 and 1908, and a report by Sir Charles Lucas on his visit to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji in 1909, together with certificates relating to Deakin's appointment as Prime Minister and impressions from the Commonwealth Seal...
Subseries 15_4_2. Printed speeches, 1903-1909
This subseries contains Items 15/1758 - 15/1806.
Subseries 15_4_3. Miscellaneous printed material, 1906-1907
This subseries contains Items 15/1807 - 15/1816.
Subseries 15_4_4. Memoranda, reports and other documents, 1903-1910
This subseries contains Items 15/1817 - 15/1886.
Subseries 15_5. Portfolios,1901-1923 (bulk 1903-1910)
Correspondence, notes, a notebook, memoranda, reports, receipts, memorabilia, programs, pamphlets, press clippings and other printed material. This material relates to the most significant portfolios of Deakin's time as Prime Minister, including External Affairs, Trade and Customs, The Treasury, Home Affairs, Attorney-General, Postmaster-General and Defence. There are papers concerning immigration, administration of the territories, Australia's High Commission in London, trade, fiscal policy, the location of the federal capital, the High Court, defence policy, military infrastructure and other matters...
Subseries 15_5_1. External Affairs, 1903-1910
Correspondence, notes, a notebook, memoranda, pamphlets, printed material and other documents. Following Barton's practice, Deakin took the additional portfolio of External Affairs during his first two terms as Prime Minister. However, papers on only a limited area of Australia's 'external relations' are gathered here. They concern immigration and Australia's relations with countries outside the British Empire, Papua New Guinea, the appointment of a High Commissioner in London, British interest in the New Hebrides and the administration of the Northern Territory...
Subseries 15_5_1_1. Immigration, 1903-1909
Correspondence, memoranda, printed material and other documents, including Deakin's extensive correspondence with those who advocated British emigration, such as the Salvation Army and the States' Agents-General. Other correspondence deals with the racial aspects of 'White Australia', such as the use of Kanaka labour in Queensland, and the unsuitability of Asian migrants in Australia. Minor subjects include the Natal, German commerce, home rule for Ireland, Japan, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, Samoa and other Pacific islands. Other papers include a memorandum to the Governor-General relating to the Immigration Restriction Act and a memorandum on immigration in Fiji...
Subseries 15_5_1_2. Papua and New Guinea, 1904-1908
Correspondence, including letters to Deakin on such topics as the attitudes of the whites to the New Guinea natives, administrative problems and appointments, exploration and the 1906 Royal Commission. The principal correspondents are Colonel J. Antill, William Bromilow, A.M. Campbell, Lord Carrington, Sir Samuel Griffith, Beatrice Grimshaw, A.W. Howitt, Sir George Le Hunte, Sir William MacGregor, Kenneth Mackay, G. Read Murphy, T.P. Hubert Murray (including his important 1906 report), Richard E. O'Connor and M. Staniforth Smith...
Subseries 15_5_1_2_1. Correspondence, 1904-1906
Subseries 15_5_1_3. High Commissioner, London, 1904-1910
Correspondence concerning the role of Australia's representative in Britain and the site of new Commonwealth offices in London. There are letters from Sir Thomas Bent, Timothy Coghlan, Joseph Cook, Andrew Fisher, Sir John Forrest, H.A. Grainger, Walter James, John Jenkins, S.F. Piper, George Reid, J.W. Taverner, Sir Horace Tozer and B.R. Wise...
Subseries 15_5_1_4. New Hebrides, 1905-1908
Correspondence, a notebook and printed material, primarily concerning the conflict between French and British interests in the islands. The correspondence includes letters from Beatrice Grimshaw, Hastings D'Oyly, Reverend John G. Paton, Reverend Frank A.C. Paton, Ernest Rason and Richard Seddon...
Subseries 15_5_1_5. Northern Territory, 1905-1909
Correspondence, notes, memoranda and printed material dealing with the transfer of the Northern Territory to Federal control and the development of the Territory. The main correspondents are J. Edmond, Dr J.A. Gilruth, Colonel H. Goad, Sir George Le Hunte, Archibald Peake, Baldwin Spencer and Sir Josiah Symon. The papers include a draft of the Northern Territory Surrender Bill, the corresponding South Australian Act and two official dispatches to Deakin from C.E. Herbert...
Subseries 15_5_2. Trade and Customs, 1903-1911
Correspondence, memoranda, press clippings and other printed material. The correspondence includes letters to Deakin on tariffs, trade with New Zealand, trademarks, manufacturing industries, the sugar industry, British preference, trade with Canada, the shipment of fruit from Tasmania, the export of possum skins and several trade bills. The principal correspondents are Octavius Beale, Timothy Coghlan, R.M. Collins, Sir John Forrest, Moreton Frewen, William H. Irvine, J.H. Keating, Sir William Lyne, D.H. Ross, Sir John Seddon, David Syme, Lady Tennyson and Sir Joseph Ward...
Subseries 15_5_2_2. Correspondence, 1908-1909
This subseries contains Items 15/2607 - 15/2677.
Correspondence; author(s) include James Barnard, Austin Chapman, James H. Edwards, John H. Keating; recipient(s) include Alfred Deakin (Item 15_2607_20)
Correspondence; author(s) include A. Griffiths, John H. Keating; recipient(s) include Austin Chapman, Nicholas Lockyer (Item 15_2633_7)
Correspondence; author(s) include John H. Keating, Herbert Nicholls; recipient(s) include Alfred Deakin (Item 15_2638_41)
Subseries 15_5_2_3. Royal Commission of Inquiry into Secret Drugs, 1905-1910
This subseries contains Items 15/2678 - 15/2695.
Subseries 15_5_2_4. Reciprocal trade with New Zealand, 1906
This subseries contains Items 15/2696 - 15/2775.
Subseries 15_5_2_5. Royal Commission on the Tariff, 1904-1907
This subseries contains Items 15/2776 - 15/2814.
Subseries 15_5_3. The Treasury, 1904-1910
Correspondence, notes, memoranda, reports, press clippings and other printed material relating to the Treasury during Deakin's terms as Prime Minister. The papers concern such issues as States' debts, the financial agreement and the 1910 referendum, ministerial salaries, Australian loans in Britain and loan conversion, world monetary standards, the note issue and silver coinage. They also touch on the cost of the transcontinental railway, token coins, the Australian public debt, government finances and the Banking and Note Acts. The correspondents include Joseph Carruthers, Timothy Coghlan, R.M. Collins, Sir John Forrest, Moreton Frewen, H.A. Grainger, Robert Harper, William H. Irvine, William Kidston, John Murray, Thomas Playford and Charles Wade...
Subseries 15_5_3_1. Correspondence, 1905-1908
This subseries contains Items 15/2934 - 15/2978.
Correspondence; author(s) include Joseph Carruthers, Sir John Forrest, Thomas Playford; recipient(s) include Alfred Deakin (Item 15_2938_43)
Correspondence; author(s) include Moreton Frewen, John P. Jones; recipient(s) include Alfred Deakin (Item 15_2965_71)
Subseries 15_5_3_2. Correspondence, 1909-1910
This subseries contains Items 15/2979 - 15/3065.
Subseries 15_5_3_3. Memoranda, bills and other documents, 1904-1910
This subseries contains Items 15/3066 - 15/3277.
Subseries 15_5_4. Home Affairs, 1901-1912
Correspondence, press clippings and other papers. The correspondence includes letters on the transcontinental railway and other railways, statistics, the Public Service and meteorology. Thomas Bavin, W.G. Duffield, Sir John Forrest and George H. Knibbs are among the correspondents...
Subseries 15_5_5. Attorney-General, 1903-1923
Correspondence, notes, memoranda, receipts, press clippings and other printed material. There are papers on the 1904 Acts Interpretation Bill, appeals arising from the 1909 Industries Preservation Act, preferential voting, Commonwealth treaties, the States' taxing powers relating to federal employees and the Deakin and Lyne v. Webb case relating to the same issue...
Subseries 15_5_5_1. Memoranda, bills and other documents, 1904-1909
This subseries contains Items 15/3341 - 15/3379.
Subseries 15_5_6. Postmaster-General, 1904-1910
Correspondence concerning such matters as mail contracts, personnel problems, cable services and the Marconi system, the Postal Congress in Rome in 1906, the penny post and Empire communications. The principal correspondents are Austin Chapman, Timothy Coghlan, R.M. Collins, Henry Dobson, Sir Sandford Fleming, Sir John Forrest, William Kidston, George Swinburne and David Syme...
Subseries 15_5_7. Defence, 1903-1913
Correspondence, notes, memoranda, reports, programs, memorabilia, press clippings and other papers dealing with defence, both naval and military. Letters to Deakin refer to general matters of strategy, Australia's changing relationship with the Royal Navy, the moves towards a Naval Agreement, the deliberations of the Committee of Imperial Defence, the 1909 Imperial Conference on Naval and Military Defence, the new defence scheme incorporating a voluntary training course, cases concerning military personnel, the interchange of naval officers between Australia and England and a graving dock for Melbourne...
Subseries 15_5_7_1. Correspondence, 1905
This subseries contains Items 15/3515 - 15/3542.
Subseries 15_5_7_2. Correspondence, 1906
This subseries contains Items 15/3543 - 15/3606.
Subseries 15_5_7_3. Correspondence, 1907-1908
This subseries contains Items 15/3607 - 15/3670.
Subseries 15_5_7_4. Correspondence, 1909-1910
This subseries contains Items 15/3671 - 15/3703.
Subseries 15_5_7_5. Colonel J.F.G. Foxton, 1909
This subseries contains Items 15/3703a - 15/3857.
Subseries 15_5_7_6. United States Atlantic Fleet, 1907-1909
This subseries contains Items 15/3858 - 15/3944.
Subseries 15_5_7_8. Memoranda, reports and other documents, 1905-1909
This subseries contains Items 15/4005 - 15/4101.
Subseries 15_5_7_9. Memoranda, reports and other documents, undated
This subseries contains Items 15/4102 - 15/4231.
Series 16. Leader of the Opposition, 1902-1933
This series contains correspondence, notes, speeches, memoranda, reports, minutes, pamphlets, posters, ephemera, journals, press clippings and other printed material relating to a wide range of interests that concerned Deakin as Leader of the Opposition. There is also a considerable amount of material on the various Protectionist and Liberal parties with which Deakin was associated...
Subseries 16_1. Correspondence, 1902-1913
Subjects mentioned in the correspondence include Deakin's resignation from office in 1904, the various moves to form a coalition with the two other parties in the same year, the dispute between Sir Josiah Symon and the High Court judges, 1904-1905, Reid's accession to office in 1904, problems of Western Australia, the development of the Northern Territory and the redistribution of electoral boundaries in 1905. In addition, there are letters on the establishment of Canberra, taxation, trade, the Reform League, the Australian Party, trade unions, Deakin's moves to oust Reid in 1905, the change of government in 1908, the events leading up to the Fusion in June 1909, the appointment of a High Commissioner in London, the 1911 Imperial Conference, suffragettes as political prisoners and the consequences of Deakin's retirement...
Subseries 16_1_2. Correspondence, 1904
This subseries contains Items 16/7 - 16/198.
Subseries 16_1_3. Correspondence, 1905
This subseries contains Items 16/199 - 16/439.
Correspondence; author(s) include R.M. Boyd, Joseph Wood; recipient(s) include Alfred Deakin (Item 16_203_12)
Correspondence; author(s) include Sir Josiah Symon, Sir Josiah Symon; recipient(s) include Sir Edmund Barton (Item 16_219_23)
Correspondence; author(s) include Sir Edmund Barton, Sir Samuel Griffith, Richard E. O'Connor; recipient(s) include Sir Josiah Symon (Item 16_237_43)
Subseries 16_1_5. Correspondence, 1909
This subseries contains Items 16/459 - 16/603.
Subseries 16_1_6. Correspondence, 1910
This subseries contains Items 16/604 - 16/648.
Subseries 16_2. Memoranda, notes for speeches and other documents, 1904-c.1913
Concerning the formation of the Coalition, agreements with Reid and the Labor Party, defence and the 1911 Imperial Conference, tariffs, the budget speech of 1912-1913 and other matters...
Subseries 16_3. Printed speeches, 1904-1912
Primarily parliamentary papers featuring speeches by Deakin and others...
Subseries 16_4. Historic Memorials Committee, 1912
Correspondence, agendas and minutes. Deakin served on the Committee, which was established in 1911 to commission works celebrating the continuity of Parliament and to preserve memorials of significant people and events...
Subseries 16_5. Liberal Party, 1903-1933
Correspondence, notes, speeches, memoranda, minutes, pamphlets, posters, ephemera, journals, press clippings and other printed material. These papers comprise the bulk of the material in the collection relating to the various Liberal groups of the time...
Subseries 16_5_1. Correspondence, 1903-1913
This subseries contains Items 16/1072 - 16/1402.
Subseries 16_5_1_1. Correspondence, 1903-1906
This subseries contains Items 16/1072 - 16/1111.
Subseries 16_5_3. Memoranda, notes, minutes, pamphlets and other documents, 1904-1912
This subseries contains Items 16/1444 - 16/1496.
Subseries 16_5_5. Press clippings and pamphlets, 1904-1933
This subseries contains Items 16/1511 - 16/1520.
Subseries 16_5_6. 1911 referendum, 1910-1911
This subseries contains Items 16/1521 - 16/1629.
Subseries 16_5_7. 1913 referendum, 1912-1913
This subseries contains Items 16/1630 - 16/1911, 16/1914 - 16/1931.
Series 19. Family papers, 1804-1975
The series comprises correspondence, manuscripts, typescripts, notes, a notebook, personal documents, photographs, souvenirs, programs, press clippings and other printed material. The correspondence is primarily between family members, including a large exchange between Deakin and his son-in-law Herbert Brookes. There are papers of Pattie Deakin, including material relating to returned soldiers, the 'ANZAC Buffet' and the opening of Parliament in Canberra in 1927, together with reminiscences of Alfred Deakin by members of his family, material relating to Deakin family history and other papers...
Subseries 19_7. Photographs
Several loose photographs, including many of Deakin, and two large family photograph albums. The family photograph albums have been digitised, and are available online through this finding aid. The photographs in these albums have also been individually catalogued (http://nla.gov.au/catalogue)...