Guide to the Papers of George Foster Pearce
MS 1927
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- George Foster Pearce
- Title
- Papers of George Foster Pearce
- Date Range
- 1909-1952
- Collection Number
- MS 1927
- Extent
- 0.7 metres (5 boxes + 1 folio)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- National Library of Australia
Introduction
Scope and Contents
MS 1927 contains Pearce's personal correspondence 1911-52, together with early manuscript and typescript drafts of his autobiography Carpenter to Cabinet, personal documents, miscellaneous articles and six volumes of press cuttings.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn852726).
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 George Foster Pearce, National Library of Australia, MS 1927, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The National Library's collections of Pearce Papers were received in three separate groups, the first of which was received in 1951 from Sir George himself. The other two groups received in 1966 and 1967 came from his son Philip, through Peter R. (later Sir Peter) Heydon.Other papers from Sir George's three terms between 1908 and 1921 as Minister for Defence, were lodged in the Australian War Memorial. A further set of papers are held in the Commonwealth Archives Office (CP 820) having been transferred there in August 1960 via a strongroom from Pearce's office in Parliament House. These include (i) personal papers while he was Vice-President of the Executive Council (1926-29) and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (1930-31) and (ii) private papers 1915-30 relating to private and business interests, chiefly property, taxation and legal matters.
Related Materials
The three collections of Pearce Papers were catalogued as MS 213, MS 1827 and MS 1927 respectively, and descriptive lists are available for each collection.
Item Descriptions
Series 1. Personal Correspondence, 1911-1952
Comprises Items 1-455.
The correspondence is arranged in chronological order; some undated letters arte placed at the end. Subjects covered include the discovery of oil in Papua; industrial disputes; Australian-Japanese relations; the Australian government shipping line; Western Australian state politics; naval defence; the federal political crisis of 1929; Pearce's appointment to public office after leaving parliament. There are a long series of letters with an English correspondent, J.F. Ramsbotham, concerning the English political scene; letters from members of his family and other personal correspondence; communications concerning S.M. Bruce; and requests for assistance with historical research.
Series 2. Confidential and Official Correspondence, 1932
Comprises Items 456-520.
The correspondence is arranged in chronological order. Subjects covered include general Australian politics; the N.S.W. Labour Party in 1932 and earlier; Australian naval expansion; defence facilities at Darwin; the Geneva Disarmament Conference of 1932; the Honours List; H.S. Foll's criticism of Cabinet membership; and the Defence Liaison Office in London.
Series 3. Subject Files, 1911-1952
Comprises Items 521-1505.
Memorandum by Vice-Admiral A.S. Hyde, 1933 (Item)
Re comparative cost of building cruisers and sloops in U.K. and Australia
Folder re visit of Sir Maurice and Lady Hankey to Australia, 1934 (Item)
Correspondence and memoranda, chiefly concerned with the itinerary of the visit
Note made by Pearce for his History of Defence Business Board of the Second World War (Item)
Includes correspondence and memoranda.
Correspondence, 1952, re possible re-establishment by government of Business Board for advising government re defence expenditure (Item)
Note for speeches and correspondence, 1930-2 (Item)
Re government measures to combat Depression Includes information concerning the role of the United Australia Organization of Victoria and its leading members in influencing federal politics and policy in 1931. File not arranged in chronological order. Also contains a letter from S.M. Bruce, May 1930, containing his views on the political and economic situation in Australia and his possible return to active politics.
Correspondence and press cuttings, 1932-1934 (Item)
Re Western Australia's secession attempt. Details of the campaign against secession, with mention of federal grants to the states.
Folder of correspondence about Pearce's defeat in the Western Australian Senate election of 1937 (Item)
Arranged in chronological order. Includes mention of Pearce's possible entry into Western Australian state politics.
Press release by Pearce, in reply to John Curtin's views on unemployment and migration; with relevant press cuttings, March 1938 (Item)
Memoranda, correspondence and reports on the development of Northern Australia, 1928-1929 (Item)
Principally correspondence with Sir Charles Nathan, who was attempting to interest British concerns in developing this region.
Correspondence, memoranda and draft report by Development Branch of Prime Minister's Department re the development of Northern Australia 1929-1934 (Item)
Correspondence, memoranda, cuttings, and draft report by Development Branch re development of Northern Australia 1932-1935 (Item)
Series 4. Carpenter To Cabinet
Comprises Items 1506-2363.
Correspondence, memoranda, receipts and legal documents relating to the publication of Pearce's book Carpenter to Cabinet (Item)
Further correspondence and receipts concerning the publication of Carpenter to Cabinet (Item)
Plus letters commenting on the book from Pearce's family, associates and others. Also cuttings of press reviews of the book.
Cuttings of press reviews of Carpenter to Cabinet; of Pearce's press articles; miscellaneous press cuttings; cuttings on Pearce's retirement from the Senate (Item)
Early manuscript and typescript drafts of Carpenter to Cabinet with Pearce's manuscript emendations. (Item)
Series 5. Articles
Comprises Items 2364-2481.
Series 6. Personal Documents
Comprises Items 2482-2802.
Pearce's stocks, bonds and insurance policies (Item)
Also minutes of meetings of The Emu Bay Railway Co. Ltd., 1946-1947 and 1951; also details of Lady Pearce's estate.