Guide to the Papers of Sir William Dargie
MS 7752
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 1989
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Sir William Dargie
- Title
- Papers of Sir William Dargie
- Date Range
- 1941-1978
- Collection Number
- MS 7752
- Extent
- 3.33 metres (22 ms boxes + 1 packet)(3 MS and 1 Folio Box)(1 packet)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Special Collections (Manuscripts)
Introduction
Scope and Contents
The collection dates from World War 2, represented by some family letters and photographs, but the bulk of the collection concerns Dargie's activities on various government committees related to the Arts.
The collection contains correspondence, a small number of photographs, much photocopied material - agendas, minutes, reports etc of various committees, some press cuttings, a small number of printed works, and several newspapers. There is one small painting and a bronze object. There are numerous small sketches and doodles on the photocopied material from committees and enquiries.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2880112) for the access conditions.
Conditions Governing Use
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Sir William Dargie, National Library of Australia, MS 7752, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Dargie papers were presented to the Library in 1983 by Sir William Dargie.
Arrangement
The earlier papers were kept in chronological order. However, after 1970 this order was not maintained.
Biographical Note
1912 Born June 4, Melbourne
1931-1934 Studied at studio of A D Colquhoun (Melbourne)
1936 Became fulltime painter
1940 Winner of Woodward and McPhillimy Art Awards
1941-1946 Official war artist, serving in the Middle East, New Guinea, India (1944), Greece, Burma.
1946-1953 Director, National Gallery of Victoria Art School
1954-1955 Visited England to paint HM the Queen
1957 Published 'On Painting a Portrait'
1952-1973 Member, to 1969, and then Chairman of the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board (CAAB). During his time on the CAAB, he planned and carried out collecting expeditions to Papua and New Guinea for the purpose of supplementing Commonwealth collections of primitive art.
1964-1975 Member, Australian War Memorial Art Advisory Committee
1965-1966 Member, National Art Gallery Committee of Enquiry
1968-1972 Member, Interim Council of Australian National Gallery (ANG)
1968 Member, Joint Working Group, National Capital Development Commission and ANG Interim Council
1970-1972 Member, Aboriginal Arts Advisory Committee
1970-1973 Member, National Capital Planning Advisory Committee
1970-1974 Trustee, Museum and Art Gallery of Territory of Papua and New Guinea and Native Cultural Reserve, Port Moresby
1978-1983 Member, Council of National Museum of Victoria
1980-1987 Member to 1981, then Chairman, Board of Trustees, McClennan Gallery, Langwarrin, Vic.
Item Descriptions
Class. Original Consignment
Series 1. Early Letters, c. 1941-1943
There is one small series of early letters, mostly written by Dargie to his wife. The exception is one written to him from his parents. Two letters, (undated) may be pre-war but the rest cover the period 1941 -43 during his war service initially in the Middle East, and then in New Guinea.
Series 2. Portrait of HM the Queen, 1954-1955 - Box 1
A small group of papers associated with activities involved in the commissioning, painting and exhibition of the Dargie portrait of the Queen, presented to the Commonwealth of Australia by Ian Beveridge. Includes correspondence (with Buckingham Palace, Ian Beveridge, friends), some photographs, discussions concerning copyright, arrangements for the portrait's exhibition in Dunfermlineshire, press cuttings and one newspaper. Part of the corrected proof for his book 'On Painting a Portrait' is also with this material.
Series 3. Correspondence - Personal Files, 1960-1978 - Box 1-4
For the period 1960 to 1971 Dargie's personal correspondence was arranged in chronological order. Mostly, the letters are written to Dargie, but particularly in later years there are some replies - either handwritten drafts or typed carbon copies. The range of topics is wide - requests for exhibition openings, judging, talks, demonstrations, autographs etc. There is correspondence with fellow artists - Russell Drysdale, Sir Daryl Lindsay among others, and with family - his mother and his brother Horrie. There are letters from dealers, including requests for works or arranging portrait commissions including Moreton Galleries (Brisbane - John and later Ann Wienneke), Rudy Komen. There are letters of congratulation. During his absences overseas, there are letters from family, chiefly his wife. There are some family financial transactions including share deals and insurance documents. There is frequent correspondence with Sir Leon Trout, Robert Haines and Lady Hamilton Fairley. There is a small number of newspaper clippings, and a few photographs. There is some material relating to New Guinea and his collecting trips, correspondence relating to appointments to the ANG, and copies of speeches. From 1970 to 1978, correspondence was not kept in chronological order, however it has been arranged thus where possible.
Series 4. Condolences - Box 4
A small amount of material - telegrams, letters, cards, received following the death of his mother in 1969
Series 5. Commonwealth Art Advisory Board, 1961-1973
Subseries 5_1. Papers, 1961-1973 - Box 4
This is a largest group of papers (6 manuscript boxes) covering Dargie's time on the Board - first as a member, and later as chairman until its abolition in 1973. Although he was appointed to the Board in 1952 (according to "Who's Who") there are no papers until 1961/1962, and they are rather fragmentary. The bulk of the papers consists of agendas, minutes and briefing papers of the Board from 1963 to 1972. Up to 1967, these were sorted into general annual folders, from 1968 to 1970 they were separated into annual folders of minutes, agendas, and correspondence, while from 1971 onwards they were random and unsorted. An effort has been made to put them in annual order.
There are a small number of private letters included in the correspondence, including letters from Graeme Pretty. There are some copies of field diaries of agents collecting for CAAB. Other material includes negotiations for purchases, copies of reports by James Mollison, correspondence concerning the demise of CAAB in early 1973, and a copy of the Interim Report of the Australian Council for the Arts (1973).
Subseries 5_2. Melanesian Correspondence Files, 1968-1970 - Box 5-10
Collecting trips - this correspondence, dating from April 1968 to 1970, is chiefly concerned with collecting trips to New Guinea, in January/February and September/October 1969 undertaken by Dargie, representing the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board. There is correspondence between Dargie and his son (in Rabaul), Marion Rafcliffe Taylor and others relating acquisition of artefacts. There are letters between Dargie and WR Cummings, Secretary of CAAB. Also included are accounts for acquisitions, shipping arrangements, inventories of purchases, some newspaper clippings, and photographs of artefacts.
Acquisitions from Galleries - this correspondence concerns the acquisition of materials through galleries, and dates from February 1968 to September 1970. It includes extensive correspondence with Graeme Pretty, an auction catalogue of the Glover collection, report of a tour in 1970, correspondence with Gallery Stephen Kellner and Native Art Gallery. There are some photographs of artefacts, some photocopies and some advertising blurbs.
Series 6. Australian War Memorial Art Advisory Committee, 1964-1975 - Box 11-12
Dargie served as an advisor to this committee for its first two meetings (1964 - 1966), then later as a member (1966 onwards). The series consists of the agenda, minutes and briefing papers for meetings of the committee from the first meeting in 1964 to the fourteenth meeting in 1971. There is also the agenda for the first meeting of the AWM Gallery Committee (1975) which appears to have superseded the Art Advisory Committee. (There are no minutes or agendas for the final two meetings of the Art Advisory Committee - the 15th and 16th meetings). There are AWM Annual Reports for years ending June 30 1966 - 1969 inclusive, and for 1971. There is a small amount of correspondence dating from 1962 - 1973, chiefly arrangements for meetings, but also from WR Lancaster, Director of AWM concerning commissioning and purchasing of art works, acquisitions, details for paintings. There are some typed copies of replies. There are a small number of photographs of war scenes related to details of paintings.
Series 7. National Art Gallery Committee of Enquiry, 1965-1966 - Box 13
Dargie served on this committee. The series consists of minutes, agenda and discussion papers of meetings of the committee of enquiry - first meeting held on 6/10/65. There are photocopies of submissions to the enquiry, and also of copies of Acts relevant to other Australian galleries, as well as background papers to the enquiry. There is also a copy of the report of the enquiry (1966).
Series 8. Australian National Gallery Interim Council, 1968-1970 - Box 14
Dargie served on this body from August 1968 to August 1969. This series includes minutes, agendas, reports and correspondence, 1968-1970. It includes a file of papers relating to the appointment of the Director of the Gallery, 1969-1970.
Series 9. Joint Working Group - NCDC and National Gallery Interim Council, 1966-1968 - Box 14
Dargie served on this committee as a member of the Interim Council. There are agendas and minutes of four meetings from August 1968 to September 1968. There is a copy of the preliminary architectural brief, and a copy of the report of the Committee of Enquiry, March 1966.
Series 10. Aboriginal Arts Advisory Committee, 1970-1972 - Box 15
This committee was set up by the Australian Council for the Arts, under the Prime Ministers Department. Dargie received an invitation to join it in March 1970. (The first meeting was held in February 1970.) The series consists of the minutes , agenda and briefing papers for meetings 1-5 (1970), and the minutes of the 8th meeting in 1972. There is also a small amount of correspondence chiefly concerned with administrative arrangements.
Series 11. National Capital Planning Advisory Committee, 1969-1973 - Box 15
Dargie was appointed a member of this committee in 1970 for 3 years. This series covers minutes (meetings 102 to 127, with 103 missing) and agendas for meetings nos 102 to 128 (missing 105) of the commission, for the period December 1969 to March 1973. There is also correspondence relating to arrangements for meetings, and briefing notes for meetings. There are notes for ANG working party meetings (NB look at these and transfer to series 9).
Series 12. Board of Trustees, Territory of Papua and New Guinea Art Gallery, 1970-1975 - Box 16-18
Dargie was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the above organisation in December 1970. This series covers the minutes, agenda etc of the Board during his period of service.
Series 13. Miscellaneous Printed Material, c. 1960s-1970s - Box 19
Includes single issues of serials, sometimes containing articles by or about Dargie; catalogues of auctions and art shows, including some shows organised by CAAB; NCDC publications; two books of poems by Anne Chapman Parratt (1974 and 1976). There is a small quantity of maps of Greece/Crete annotated with the positions of the opposing forces.
Series 14. Miscellaneous Personal Papers, 1959-1972 - Box 20
There is a group of receipts for the period 1959 to 1963, for materials involved with his career - paints, framing, transport etc. A miscellaneous group of newspaper cuttings, some invitations and receipts, car registration papers for 1970 and 1972, and a tax return for 1971, together with a few advertising blurbs complete this series.
Series 15. Photographs - Box 20
The majority of photographs are of wartime activities. Very few are labelled. There are several small panoramas (of Crete ?), some official photos and some snapshots from New Guinea, Middle East and India. There are a few family photos, including 'Bill at 8 months'. There are a few photos for portraits, and some photos of portraits. Most of the material is in black and white. There are several 4x5" colour transparencies of portraits, and a quantity of black and white negatives.