Guide to the Papers of Robert Darby
MS 8928
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Darby, Robert, Mr
- Title
- Papers of Robert Darby
- Date Range
- 1671-2019
- Collection Number
- MS 8928
- Extent
- 13.2 metres (88 ms boxes)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Special Collections (Manuscripts)
Introduction
Scope and Contents
This collection reflects Robert Darby's interest and involvement in left-wing politics over the period 1970-82, and his participation in union and community affairs from 1979-85. There is considerable overlap between material on University-based student groups and left-wing political movements generally. The main focus is on Victorian (La Trobe University) material, however several States and the Australian Capital Territory are well represented.
The Melbourne material relates mainly to Darby's involvement with La Trobe University groups, the Radical Student Movement (1975) later called the Students for Australian Independence (1976-77), the Society for Australian Culture (1976-77) and the La Trobe Marxist-Leninists (1976-77), and with general groups including the Australian Independence Movement (1976-81), Mobilisation against Rockefeller (1976), the Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) (1976-81), and groups created for a particular protest.
The Canberra material relates to radical and community groups, the Union movement (ACOA), and to the newsletters and newspapers these organisations produced. Represented are the Australian Independence Movement (1978-82) and the Canberra Workers Alliance (1978-80), and their joint newspaper for the ACT group, the Southern Cross, edited by Darby 1978-80; Jobless Action CYSS Project, Woden, and its related newspapers, Access (1980), Hard Times (1980-81), and Canberra-Monaro Searchlight (1981); the Australian Clerical Officers Association (ACOA) (1978-84), and Hotline (1981-83). There are business files for these newspapers.
The Bowyang files, including a full set of the journal (1978-83), are a feature of the collection.
There are subject files on topics relating to Darby's interests and activities. One set of files contains background material for articles he contributed to various journals, and another set is concerned with the A.C.T. There is Australian Union of Students material, including leaflets collected at demonstrations, and material from Maoist and other political groups from interstate. Some conferences attended by Darby are documented.
The newspaper clipping files are concerned with the elections of 1975 and with the loans and constitutional crisis of that year. A large number of Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) booklets are in the collection, many of them written by E. F. Hill who led the breakaway group from the Communist Party of Australia.
The collection also comprises research material of Robert Darby relating to the social history of routine neonatal (male) circumcision in Britain and Australia and includes: records of the Australian anti-circumcision organisation 'NOCIRC of Australia'; correspondence; publications; medical journal articles; newspapers and magazine articles from Australia and overseas; notes and drafts from Darby's PhD thesis on Marjorie Barnard and Frank Dalby Davison.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1060727).
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 Papers of Robert Darby, National Library of Australia, MS 8928, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The original consignments were purchased in 1985 and 1986. Class 2 wa acquired via donation in 2019.
Biographical Note
Robert Darby was born in Melbourne in 1953, entering Melbourne University in 1971 and La Trobe University in 1975. He joined the Public Service in Canberra in 1978, working at the Australian Archives and later at the Department of Employment and Youth Affairs where he worked in the Women's Bureau and the Employment Discrimination Section. He returned to full time study in 1985 and was awarded a PhD in Australian Literature from the Australian Defence Force Academy.
Darby joined the Communist Party in 1974, changing to the Marxist-Leninist group in 1976. He has not had any involvement with radical political groups after leaving this organization in 1982.
He was active in a number of student political associations in Melbourne, and in radical and unemployment groups in Canberra. He was active in the ACOA, the Australian Independence Movement, Jobless Action, and the Access Newspaper Association. He served as editor or on the production side of a number of small circulation, political-cultural periodicals. He was an editor of Independence Voice (Melbourne), 1975-78, and of Southern Cross (Canberra), 1978-80. He was a foundation editor of Bowyang, 1979-83.
Item Descriptions
Class 1. Original consignment, 1970 - 1985
This consignment reflects Robert Darby's interest and involvement in left-wing politics over the period 1970-82, and his participation in union and community affairs from 1979-85. There is considerable overlap between material on University-based student groups and left-wing political movements generally. The main focus is on Victorian (La Trobe University) material, however several States and the Australian Capital Territory are well represented.
The Melbourne material relates mainly to Darby's involvement with La Trobe University groups, the Radical Student Movement (1975) later called the Students for Australian Independence (1976-77), the Society for Australian Culture (1976-77) and the La Trobe Marxist-Leninists (1976-77), and with general groups including the Australian Independence Movement (1976-81), Mobilisation against Rockefeller (1976), the Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) (1976-81), and groups created for a particular protest.
The Canberra material relates to radical and community groups, the Union movement (ACOA), and to the newsletters and newspapers these organisations produced. Represented are the Australian Independence Movement (1978-82) and the Canberra Workers Alliance (1978-80), and their joint newspaper for the ACT group, the Southern Cross, edited by Darby 1978-80; Jobless Action CYSS Project, Woden, and its related newspapers, Access (1980), Hard Times (1980-81), and Canberra-Monaro Searchlight (1981); the Australian Clerical Officers Association (ACOA) (1978-84), and Hotline (1981-83). There are business files for these newspapers.
The Bowyang files, including a full set of the journal (1978-83), are a feature of the collection.
There are subject files on topics relating to Darby's interests and activities. One set of files contains background material for articles he contributed to various journals, and another set is concerned with the A.C.T. There is Australian Union of Students material, including leaflets collected at demonstrations, and material from Maoist and other political groups from interstate. Some conferences attended by Darby are documented. The newspaper clipping files are concerned with the elections of 1975 and with the loans and constitutional crisis of that year. A large number of Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) booklets are in the collection, many of them written by E. F. Hill who led the breakaway group from the Communist Party of Australia.
Series 1. Subject Files: Melbourne period, 1970-1980 - Box 1
The subject files are on topics relating to Darby's interests and activities.
There are files for the Australian Union of Students (1974-77), U.S. military bases (1973-76), the Builders Laborers' Federation (1974-80), Will Heidt of the Vehicle Builders Union (1974-76), and the Vietnam Moritorium (1970).
The AUS files have newspaper clippings (1977), position papers, reports and council minutes; information on the Omega and Pine Gap bases, including Lateline interviews on Omega; the Vietnam moratorium material includes leaflets, broadsheets and memoranda, and copies of Resist, the official organ of the Draft Resisters Union.
Series 1. Subject Files: Melbourne period, 1970-1980 - Box 2
The subject files are on topics relating to Darby's interests and activities.
There are files for the Australian Union of Students (1974-77), U.S. military bases (1973-76), the Builders Laborers' Federation (1974-80), Will Heidt of the Vehicle Builders Union (1974-76), and the Vietnam Moritorium (1970).
The AUS files have newspaper clippings (1977), position papers, reports and council minutes; information on the Omega and Pine Gap bases, including Lateline interviews on Omega; the Vietnam moratorium material includes leaflets, broadsheets and memoranda, and copies of Resist, the official organ of the Draft Resisters Union.
Series 2. Subject Files: Canberra period, 1978-84 - Box 3
Subject files containing background material for articles Darby contributed to various journals, and general subject files are located in this series.
The subject files for articles include business, health (1980-84), media (1981-82), noise (1981-82), occupational health and safety, smoking (1982-3), industrial relations/white collar unions, welfare state crisis conference, and women (1979). The general files include subjects such as Aborigines, asbestos, Cuba, Russia, technology, transport, and the USSR. A small group of files is concerned with the ACT, topics including small business, infill, the motor circuit, microtechnology, Reid and Yarralumla. Also in this series are files on the Australian Labor Party (ALP), the Australian Independence Movement (AIM), and the Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) (CPA(M.L.)) The ALP file is mainly newspaper clippings, 1978-82.
Series 2. Subject Files: Canberra period, 1978-1984 - Box 4
Subject files containing background material for articles Darby contributed to various journals, and general subject files are located in this series.
Series 2. Subject Files: Canberra period, 1978-84 - Box 5
Subject files containing background material for articles Darby contributed to various journals, and general subject files are located in this series.
Series 2. Subject Files: Canberra period, 1978-84 - Box 6
Subject files containing background material for articles Darby contributed to various journals, and general subject files are located in this series.
Series 3. Subject Files: Australian Clerical Officers' Association (ACOA) - Box 7
Darby was involved with the ACOA while working in the Public Service, 1978-84
ACOA related documents include newspaper cuttings, copies of published ACOA literature, articles, handouts, interviews and a small amount of correspondence, mostly copies. Some of the correspondents include Dan Hellier, and Kosmas Tsokhas. Copies of some of Darby's letters are included. Darby was involved with the production of Hotline, the official organ of the ACT Branch of the ACOA from 1981-83, and there is material dealing with Hotline business.
Topics covered in the series include the uranium plebiscite (1978), nuclear power and its ramifications for ACOA members, the Razor Gang (1981-82), CERR/CEEP, ACOA elections, the Kelly Centenary Festival, and the Australian Film Institute.
Series 3. Subject Files: Australian Clerical Officers' Association (ACOA) - Box 8
Darby was involved with the ACOA while working in the Public Service, 1978-84
ACOA related documents include newspaper cuttings, copies of published ACOA literature, articles, handouts, interviews and a small amount of correspondence, mostly copies. Some of the correspondents include Dan Hellier, and Kosmas Tsokhas. Copies of some of Darby's letters are included. Darby was involved with the production of Hotline, the official organ of the ACT Branch of the ACOA from 1981-83, and there is material dealing with Hotline business.
Topics covered in the series include the uranium plebiscite (1978), nuclear power and its ramifications for ACOA members, the Razor Gang (1981-82), CERR/CEEP, ACOA elections, the Kelly Centenary Festival, and the Australian Film Institute.
Series 3. Subject Files: Australian Clerical Officers' Association (ACOA) - Box 9
Darby was involved with the ACOA while working in the Public Service, 1978-84
ACOA related documents include newspaper cuttings, copies of published ACOA literature, articles, handouts, interviews and a small amount of correspondence, mostly copies. Some of the correspondents include Dan Hellier, and Kosmas Tsokhas. Copies of some of Darby's letters are included. Darby was involved with the production of Hotline, the official organ of the ACT Branch of the ACOA from 1981-83, and there is material dealing with Hotline business.
Topics covered in the series include the uranium plebiscite (1978), nuclear power and its ramifications for ACOA members, the Razor Gang (1981-82), CERR/CEEP, ACOA elections, the Kelly Centenary Festival, and the Australian Film Institute.
Series 4. Printed material relating to Melbourne University, 1971-74 - Box 10
Leaflets of several University organizations are in this small series, including the Labour Club, the University of Melbourne General Staff Association, the School of History staff and student committee, and the SRC. There is material on the 1971 occupation of the Administration building at the University, to force debate on the University's governing structure.
Series 5. Material relating to Melbourne-based organizations, mainly La Trobe University, 1971-77 - Box 10
This series is arranged chronologically and consists of newsletters and leaflets issued by many La Trobe clubs and societies, conference proceedings, and pamphlets and broadsides of various Melbourne protest organizations not specifically university based.
Darby made a consistent effort to acquire as complete a collection as possible. There is material on the mobilization against Nelson Rockefeller's 1976 visit to Australia, the Defend La Trobe Struggle, the car industry, foreign bases, Students for Australian Independence, the anniversary of the release of students from prison on contempt charges (August 4 Victory Commemoration), Students for a Democratic Society (Troll), Maoists, the Radical Student Movement, the DLP, Trotskyism, and 'freaks and monsters' - 'lunatic' fringe publications.
Material from several of the above organizations is also in Series 6.
Series 5. Material relating to Melbourne-based organizations, mainly La Trobe University, 1971-77 - Box 11
This series is arranged chronologically and consists of newsletters and leaflets issued by many La Trobe clubs and societies, conference proceedings, and pamphlets and broadsides of various Melbourne protest organizations not specifically university based.
Darby made a consistent effort to acquire as complete a collection as possible. There is material on the mobilization against Nelson Rockefeller's 1976 visit to Australia, the Defend La Trobe Struggle, the car industry, foreign bases, Students for Australian Independence, the anniversary of the release of students from prison on contempt charges (August 4 Victory Commemoration), Students for a Democratic Society (Troll), Maoists, the Radical Student Movement, the DLP, Trotskyism, and 'freaks and monsters' - 'lunatic' fringe publications.
Material from several of the above organizations is also in Series 6.
Series 5. Material relating to Melbourne-based organizations, mainly La Trobe University, 1971-77 - Box 12
This series is arranged chronologically and consists of newsletters and leaflets issued by many La Trobe clubs and societies, conference proceedings, and pamphlets and broadsides of various Melbourne protest organizations not specifically university based.
Darby made a consistent effort to acquire as complete a collection as possible. There is material on the mobilization against Nelson Rockefeller's 1976 visit to Australia, the Defend La Trobe Struggle, the car industry, foreign bases, Students for Australian Independence, the anniversary of the release of students from prison on contempt charges (August 4 Victory Commemoration), Students for a Democratic Society (Troll), Maoists, the Radical Student Movement, the DLP, Trotskyism, and 'freaks and monsters' - 'lunatic' fringe publications.
Material from several of the above organizations is also in Series 6.
Series 5. Material relating to Melbourne-based organizations, mainly La Trobe University, 1971-77 - Box 13
This series is arranged chronologically and consists of newsletters and leaflets issued by many La Trobe clubs and societies, conference proceedings, and pamphlets and broadsides of various Melbourne protest organizations not specifically university based.
Darby made a consistent effort to acquire as complete a collection as possible. There is material on the mobilization against Nelson Rockefeller's 1976 visit to Australia, the Defend La Trobe Struggle, the car industry, foreign bases, Students for Australian Independence, the anniversary of the release of students from prison on contempt charges (August 4 Victory Commemoration), Students for a Democratic Society (Troll), Maoists, the Radical Student Movement, the DLP, Trotskyism, and 'freaks and monsters' - 'lunatic' fringe publications.
Material from several of the above organizations is also in Series 6.
Series 5. Material relating to Melbourne-based organizations, mainly La Trobe University, 1971-77 - Box 14
This series is arranged chronologically and consists of newsletters and leaflets issued by many La Trobe clubs and societies, conference proceedings, and pamphlets and broadsides of various Melbourne protest organizations not specifically university based.
Darby made a consistent effort to acquire as complete a collection as possible. There is material on the mobilization against Nelson Rockefeller's 1976 visit to Australia, the Defend La Trobe Struggle, the car industry, foreign bases, Students for Australian Independence, the anniversary of the release of students from prison on contempt charges (August 4 Victory Commemoration), Students for a Democratic Society (Troll), Maoists, the Radical Student Movement, the DLP, Trotskyism, and 'freaks and monsters' - 'lunatic' fringe publications.
Material from several of the above organizations is also in Series 6.
Series 5. Material relating to Melbourne-based organizations, mainly La Trobe University, 1971-77 - Box 15
This series is arranged chronologically and consists of newsletters and leaflets issued by many La Trobe clubs and societies, conference proceedings, and pamphlets and broadsides of various Melbourne protest organizations not specifically university based.
Darby made a consistent effort to acquire as complete a collection as possible. There is material on the mobilization against Nelson Rockefeller's 1976 visit to Australia, the Defend La Trobe Struggle, the car industry, foreign bases, Students for Australian Independence, the anniversary of the release of students from prison on contempt charges (August 4 Victory Commemoration), Students for a Democratic Society (Troll), Maoists, the Radical Student Movement, the DLP, Trotskyism, and 'freaks and monsters' - 'lunatic' fringe publications.
Material from several of the above organizations is also in Series 6.
Series 6. Other Organizations, 1974-77 - Box 16
Represented in this series are Students for Australian Independence (1976), the Red Eureka movement (1977-82), Eureka Students' League (1976), the Libertarian Club, Patriots for Australian Independence (1977), the Australian National Liberation Movement (1974-75), Canberra Workers' Alliance, the Australian Independence Movement, and Sydney organizations (1976-77).
The Red Eureka movement, led by Albert Langer, was a movement for independence and socialism, in opposition to the Marxists-Leninists.
Series 6. Other Organizations, 1974-77 - Box 17
Represented in this series are Students for Australian Independence (1976), the Red Eureka movement (1977-82), Eureka Students' League (1976), the Libertarian Club, Patriots for Australian Independence (1977), the Australian National Liberation Movement (1974-75), Canberra Workers' Alliance, the Australian Independence Movement, and Sydney organizations (1976-77).
The Red Eureka movement, led by Albert Langer, was a movement for independence and socialism, in opposition to the Marxists-Leninists.
Series 7. Woden Jobless Action / Community Youth Support Scheme, 1978-81 (Canberra) - Box 18
Jobless Action Woden operated as a CYSS project from January 1978 to October 1981. Its aim was to assist unemployed youth develop job search skills and to involve the broader community wherever possible.
Committee correspondence, minutes of meetings and reports, general administration material, Ann Wentworth's (Chairperson) file of material, accomodation, unemployment, funding and youth dole cuts, and the closure of the CYSS, make up this series. Correspondents include Robert Darby, Margaret Brazel, Harold Kaye, and John Haslem.
Series 7. Woden Jobless Action / Community Youth Support Scheme, (Canberra), 1978-81 - Box 19
Jobless Action Woden operated as a CYSS project from January 1978 to October 1981. Its aim was to assist unemployed youth develop job search skills and to involve the broader community wherever possible.
Committee correspondence, minutes of meetings and reports, general administration material, Ann Wentworth's (Chairperson) file of material, accomodation, unemployment, funding and youth dole cuts, and the closure of the CYSS, make up this series. Correspondents include Robert Darby, Margaret Brazel, Harold Kaye, and John Haslem.
Series 8. Conferences, 1974-80 - Box 20
Darby attended the Marxist Scholars Conference (Sept. 1974), organised by the Adelaide Revolutionary Marxists; the seventh national Australian Institute of International Affairs conference (April 1978); and the National Youth conference (1980). There are papers given at the Marxist Scholars and the AIIA conferences. Robert Darby worked in the Office of Youth Affairs and there is organizational material for the National Youth Conference in this series.
Series 8. Conferences, 1974-80 - Box 21
Darby attended the Marxist Scholars Conference (Sept. 1974), organised by the Adelaide Revolutionary Marxists; the seventh national Australian Institute of International Affairs conference (April 1978); and the National Youth conference (1980). There are papers given at the Marxist Scholars and the AIIA conferences. Robert Darby worked in the Office of Youth Affairs and there is organizational material for the National Youth Conference in this series.
Series 9. Business files for newspapers, 1979-82 - Box 22
The business files for the student/political newspapers to which Darby contributed include correspondence, notes on meetings, copy for issues, art work for advertisements, advertising, legal and financial records, photographs and newspaper clippings.
The papers included Southern Cross (1979-81), Access (1980), Hard Times (1979-81), and the Canberra-Monaro Searchlight (1981). Southern Cross was edited by Darby and published by the ACT group of the Australian Independence Movement and the Canberra Workers Alliance. Access was an independent community newspaper which merged into Hard Times after three issues. Hard Times was produced by Jobless Action.
Series 9. Business files for newspapers, 1979-82 - Box 23
The business files for the student/political newspapers to which Darby contributed include correspondence, notes on meetings, copy for issues, art work for advertisements, advertising, legal and financial records, photographs and newspaper clippings.
The papers included Southern Cross (1979-81), Access (1980), Hard Times (1979-81), and the Canberra-Monaro Searchlight (1981). Southern Cross was edited by Darby and published by the ACT group of the Australian Independence Movement and the Canberra Workers Alliance. Access was an independent community newspaper which merged into Hard Times after three issues. Hard Times was produced by Jobless Action.
Series 10. Bowyang : work on changing Australia, 1978-83 - Box 23
Foundation editor of Bowyang, Darby was associated with the journal from 1978 to its cessation in 1983, as was Humphrey McQueen. A letter that Darby wrote to Peter Cochrane on 7 July 1978 (Box 23) resulted in Bowyang.
The series includes editorial correspondence between Darby, Drew Cottle, Peter Cochrane, Kosmas Tsokhas, McQueen and others, and documentation on finance, distribution, graphics, and other aspects of Bowyang's operation.
The editorial correspondence (1978-83) includes correspondence on the last issue on the peace movement, edited by Barry York, and the winding up of the journal. The files for other correspondence (1979-83) include letters on the final issue, no. 8. There are used and unused articles in the series, and copy for the issue on the peace movement.
A complete set of Bowyang is also included.
The Library acquired other Bowyang files from McQueen in 1981 and 1984 (held at MS 4809 and MS 6511)
Series 10. Bowyang : work on changing Australia, 1978-83 - Box 24
Foundation editor of Bowyang, Darby was associated with the journal from 1978 to its cessation in 1983, as was Humphrey McQueen. A letter that Darby wrote to Peter Cochrane on 7 July 1978 (Box 23) resulted in Bowyang.
The series includes editorial correspondence between Darby, Drew Cottle, Peter Cochrane, Kosmas Tsokhas, McQueen and others, and documentation on finance, distribution, graphics, and other aspects of Bowyang's operation.
The editorial correspondence (1978-83) includes correspondence on the last issue on the peace movement, edited by Barry York, and the winding up of the journal. The files for other correspondence (1979-83) include letters on the final issue, no. 8. There are used and unused articles in the series, and copy for the issue on the peace movement.
A complete set of Bowyang is also included.
The Library acquired other Bowyang files from McQueen in 1981 and 1984 (held at MS 4809 and MS 6511)
Series 11. Newspaper clippings, 1975-76 - Box 25
The clippings relate to the loans and constitutional crisis of 1975, the subsequent election and the aftermath, and articles on 11 November written in November 1976.
Series 12. Publications - Box 26
Leaflets, pamphlets, newspapers, Communist Party publications, and the works of E. F. Hill are included in this series. The Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) was formed in 1964 following the Sino-Soviet dispute, when a group led by Hill broke from the Communist Party of Australia after disagreements about matters of Marxist theory and political practice.
There are sets of Southern Cross and Prisoners Voice (1976), issues of Red Patriot, organ of La Trobe Marxists-Leninists (Apr. 1975-Jul. 76), Gadfly (nos. 1-4 1980), On dit, Young Socialist,West Heidelberg community news, Campus Spartacist, Labour action, Record, Discipline news, and SAI news (Students for Australian Independence)
Series 12. Publications - Box 27
Leaflets, pamphlets, newspapers, Communist Party publications, and the works of E. F. Hill are included in this series. The Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) was formed in 1964 following the Sino-Soviet dispute, when a group led by Hill broke from the Communist Party of Australia after disagreements about matters of Marxist theory and political practice.
There are sets of Southern Cross and Prisoners Voice (1976), issues of Red Patriot, organ of La Trobe Marxists-Leninists (Apr. 1975-Jul. 76), Gadfly (nos. 1-4 1980), On dit, Young Socialist,West Heidelberg community news, Campus Spartacist, Labour action, Record, Discipline news, and SAI news (Students for Australian Independence)
Series 12. Publications - Box 28
Leaflets, pamphlets, newspapers, Communist Party publications, and the works of E. F. Hill are included in this series. The Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) was formed in 1964 following the Sino-Soviet dispute, when a group led by Hill broke from the Communist Party of Australia after disagreements about matters of Marxist theory and political practice.
There are sets of Southern Cross and Prisoners Voice (1976), issues of Red Patriot, organ of La Trobe Marxists-Leninists (Apr. 1975-Jul. 76), Gadfly (nos. 1-4 1980), On dit, Young Socialist,West Heidelberg community news, Campus Spartacist, Labour action, Record, Discipline news, and SAI news (Students for Australian Independence)
Class 2. Consignment received 2019, 1671 - 2019
This consignment comprises research material of Robert Darby relating to the social history of routine neonatal (male) circumcision in Britain and Australia and includes: records of the Australian anti-circumcision organisation 'NOCIRC of Australia'; correspondence; publications; medical journal articles; newspapers and magazine articles from Australia and overseas; notes and drafts from Darby's PhD thesis on Marjorie Barnard and Frank Dalby Davison