Guide to the Papers of Sir Frederick Chaney

Searching...

MS 9874

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Frederick Charles Chaney
Title
Papers of Sir Frederick Chaney
Date Range
1914-2002
Collection Number
MS 9874
Extent
3.5 metres (6 boxes + 2 folio boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
National Library of Australia

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The collection covers the entire span of Sir Frederick Chaney's life. There are photographs and newspaper clippings as well as some correspondence, transcripts and administrative materials. However, there are only very limited papers relating to his activities as a school teacher, President of the Western Australian R.S.L and from his period as Member for Perth.

Many of the photographs and some of the correspondence document Chaney's role in ceremonial functions including attendance at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and a number of visits to Australia by members of the Royal family.

The papers reflect the strong family focus of Sir Frederick Chaney and include correspondence of both Sir Frederick and Lady Chaney as well as from their children and grandchildren.

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn879724).

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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Frederick Chaney, National Library of Australia, MS 9845, [box number and series and/or file number]'.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The papers were donated by Frederick Michael Chaney on 14 February 2003.

An interview with Sir Frederick Chaney, recorded by Bruce Edwards on 14 July 1983, is held in the Oral History Section (TRC 4900/49)

Arrangement

The papers have been largely left in the order in which they were received from the Chaney family.

Biographical Note

Frederick Charles Chaney was born in Fremantle on the 12 October 1914. He was educated at Aquinas College and Claremont Teachers' College.

He worked as a school teacher between 1936 and 1955. In 1941, Chaney enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force, where he trained as a pilot before becoming a flying instructor. He served in Australia, New Guinea and Borneo. Seconded to the Z Force commando unit, he was awarded the Air Force Cross after completing a number of dangerous missions, including the rescue of stranded allied airmen from behind enemy lines.

Between 1952 and 1955 Chaney was the State President of the Western Australian Returned Services League (R.S.L.). In 1955 Chaney stood successfully as Liberal candidate for the Federal seat of Perth, holding this seat until 1969. He served as Government Whip, 1962-1963 and as Minister of the Navy, 1964-1966. Between 1970 and 1973 Chaney was Administrator of the Northern Territory and he was Lord Mayor of Perth from 1978 to 1982.

Chaney married Mavis Bond in 1938 and they had seven children. He died in Perth on 18 December 2001.

Item Descriptions

Series 1. Personal documents, 1914-2001

Personal papers and photographs documenting Chaney's early life, military career and his later political and ceremonial roles. Chaney attended the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in London in 1953 in his capacity as President of the Western Australian RSL and was involved in the visit of the Queen and Prince Philip to Western Australia in 1954.

Family history (File 1) - Box 1

Copies of Frederick Charles and Rose Templar Chaney's family tree, copies of photographs, marriage certificates and ship's passenger lists

Photographs and annuals, 1914-1939 (File 2) - Box 1

Photographs of Chaney as a child and a youth, and of Malyalling School; Christian Brothers' College Annuals, 1930 and 1932

Scrapbook, 1914 to 1970 (File 3) - Folio-Box 1

Photographs, correspondence, newspaper clippings, election material and invitations. Includes photographs and correspondence of Mavis (Bond) and Sir Frederick Chaney's parents.

Royal Australian Air Force, log book, 1942-1943 (File 4) - Box 1

Royal Australian Air Force, log book, 1943-1946 (File 5) - Box 1

Military service, 1942-1945 (File 6) - Box 1

Correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs and pay books. Includes a section of the Oral History recording with Ronda Jamieson of the Battye Library recorded between 1983 and 1984 and relating to Chaney's military career (the recording and transcript are held the J.S. Battye Library, State Library of Western Australia)

Royal visits and Returned Services League, 1953-1955 (File 7) - Box 2

Photographs, correspondence and newspaper clippings.

Correspondence, newspaper clippings and photographs, 1974-2001 (File 8) - Box 2

Correspondents include Sir Charles Court and a number of veterans' organisations

Correspondence, reports and transcripts, 1978-1995 (File 9) - Box 2

Includes correspondence with the Department of Veterans Affairs, copies of oral history transcripts and correspondence with libraries and historians.

Award of Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, 1981 (File 10-11) - Box 2

Correspondence offering the honour and congratulating Chaney, and two newspaper clippings

Series 2. Family correspondence, 1921-1999

Letters and postcards sent by and to members of the Chaney family.

Correspondence, 1921-1999 (File 1) - Box 3

Letter by Chaney dated 1921 and marked 'Freddy's first epistle' as well as letters sent during World War II, 26 letters from Chaney to his wife whilst he was attending the Coronation in London in 1953, and a number of letters by the Chaneys to their children written during their travels in 1963 and 1967

Correspondence, 1970-1973 (File 2) - Box 3

Letters sent and received by the Chaney family whilst Chaney was Administrator of the Northern Territory

Series 3. Member of Parliament for Perth, 1955-1969

Chaney held the seat of Perth in the House of representatives from 1955 to 1969. During his terms he served as Government Whip, 1962-1963 and as Minister of the Navy, 1964-1966. Chaney became Minister in the immediate aftermath of the HMAS Voyager tragedy, for which there are some papers.

Correspondence, newspaper clippings, administrative papers and photographs

Correspondence, photographs, leaflets and newspaper clippings, 1955-1969 (File 1) - Box 4

Includes Liberal Party election material and an offer of appointment as Commander of the Order of the British Empire (C.B.E), 1969

Correspondents include Billy Snedden and John Gorton

Minister for the Navy, 1964-1966 (File 2) - Box 4

Correspondence, photographs and newspaper clippings. Includes Chaney's diplomatic passport. Correspondents include Sam Landeau, Rear Admiral Frank Leveson George and Allen Fairhall and relate to Chaney's departure from the Ministry in 1966

Government documents relating to the collision on 10 February 1964 of HMAS Voyager and HMAS Melbourne (File 3) - Box 4

Photograph (mounted on board) of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, 1967 (File 4) - Box 4

Photograph album, 1967 (File 5) - Box 6

Photographs of the Asian Parliamentary Union, General Assembly, Bangkok, Thailand, 1967, in which Chaney was the Australian representative

Series 4. Administrator of the Northern Territory, 1970-1973

Chaney served as Administrator of the Northern Territory between 1970 and 1973

Newspaper clippings, 1970-1973 (File 1) - Box 4

Correspondence, 1970-1973 (File 2) - Box 4

Correspondents include Pierre Trudeau, Princess Margaret and Dame Margot Fonteyn

Photographs, 1970-1973 (File 3) - Box 4

Administrative papers and reports, 1970-1973 (File 4) - Box 5

Photograph album, 1970-1973 (File 5) - Box 6

Photographs documenting Chaney's term as Administrator of the Northern Territory

Photograph album, 1972 (File 6) - Box 6

Photographs of the visit of Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon to Darwin, October 1972. Includes a signed family portrait

Photograph album, undated (File 7) - Box 6

Photographs of an Air Force dinner, Darwin

Series 5. Lord Mayor of Perth, 1978-1982

Chaney was twice elected Lord Mayor of Perth. During his terms he oversaw the city's 150th anniversary celebrations.

Speeches, 1978-1982 (File 1) - Box 5

Reports, annual reports, programmes and newspaper clippings, 1978-1982 (File 2) - Box 5

Correspondence, 1978-1982 (File 3) - Box 5

Photographs, 1978-1982 (File 4) - Box 5

Photographs of Chaney and the celebrations for Perth's 150th anniversary, 1979, and 'Get well' card signed by the Town Clerk and staff of Council House, December 1981 (File 5) - Box 6

Photograph album, 1979 (File 6) - Box 6

Photographs of the celebrations for Perth's 150th anniversary

Photograph album, 1981 (File 7) - Folio-Box 1

Photographs of an official visit made by Chaney as Lord Mayor of Perth to Kagoshima, Japan

Series 6. Obituaries and condolences, 2001-2002

Obituaries, 2001 (File 1) - Box 1

Newspaper clippings and a eulogy by Frederick Michael Chaney

Letters and cards of condolence, death notices in newspapers, funeral attendance cards, funeral programme, and a cassette tape recording of the funeral service (File 2)


Top