Guide to the Papers of Sir James Plimsoll

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MS 8048

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Sir James Plimsoll
Title
Papers of Sir James Plimsoll
Date Range
1928 - 1987
Collection Number
MS 8048
Extent
12.6 metres (81 ms boxes + 1 medium folio box + 7 sound/av carriers)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Special Collections (Manuscripts)

Introduction

Scope and Content

A very large proportion of the material comprised publications and the collection is very strong in art exhibition catalogues, theatre and concert programs, travel and tourist literature, Russian and Japanese language material, and newspaper cuttings. Much of the published material was of no biographical interest and duplicated material held in the Library's general collections. As a result, almost half of the material received in 1990 was discarded by the Library.

The Plimsoll Papers contain a few documents dating from Plimsoll's early years, but the collection as a whole is very uneven. There is virtually nothing on his war service, his activities in the Far East after 1945, or on his early diplomatic career. With the exception of a long run of diaries, material on his work as a diplomat is scanty; nearly all the files he retained in the period 1948-82 are in the Australian Archives. There is, however, quite a lot of information about his social and cultural activities in this period. By far the strongest segment of the papers were accumulated during his term as Governor of Tasmania and includes an extensive personal correspondence, as well as photographs and publications.

With the exception of some of the Tasmanian papers, the Plimsoll Papers were unfiled and in extreme disorder when they came to the Library. The present arrangement has been imposed by Library staff.

The official and semi-official papers of Plimsoll held at the National Archives of Australia occupy 3.69 metres of shelving (M2203).

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1769030).

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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 James Plimsoll, National Library of Australia, MS 8048, [series and/or file number]'.

Provenance

Sir James Plimsoll, who died on 8 May 1987, bequeathed his papers and books to the National Library. Following intervention by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the executors were informed that some of the papers were Commonwealth records and others were records of the Tasmanian Government. Consequently, the papers were transferred to the Australian Archives for detailed examination. It was finally determined that 149 boxes would come to the National Library, four boxes would be sent to the Tasmanian State Archives, and the remaining boxes would be retained by the Australian Archives. The papers were received by the National Library in March 1990.

Conditions Governing Access

Available for reference, with exception of 4-6 files in Series 2.

Biographical Note

DateEvent
1917Born, 25 April, at Sydney
1929-33Educated at Sydney Boys' High School
1938Graduated as Bachelor of Economics, University of Sydney
1938Appointed economist, Bank of New South Wales
1941Graduated as Bachelor of Arts, University of Sydney
1942Enlisted in Australian Imperial Forces
1945Member of Australian delegation, Far Eastern Commission
1948Appointed First Secretary, Department of External Affairs
1950Australian representative on United Nations Commission for Unification and Rehabilitation of Korea
1953Returned to Department of External Affairs
1955Assistant Secretary, Geographical Regions Division, Department of External Affairs
1956Awarded C.B.E.
1959Australian Permanent Representative to United Nations
1962High Commissioner to India and Ambassador to Nepal
1962Awarded knighthood
1965Secretary, Department of External Affairs
1970Ambassador to United States of America
1974Ambassador to Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
1976Awarded A.C.
1977Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and European Economic Community
1980High Commissioner to United Kingdom
1981Ambassador to Japan
1982Governor of Tasmania
1984Admitted to degree of Doctor of Science in Economics, University of Sydney
1987Admitted to degree of Doctor of Laws, University of Tasmania
1987Died, 8 May, at Hobart
DateEvent
1917Born, 25 April, at Sydney
1929-33Educated at Sydney Boys' High School
1938Graduated as Bachelor of Economics, University of Sydney
1938Appointed economist, Bank of New South Wales
1941Graduated as Bachelor of Arts, University of Sydney
1942Enlisted in Australian Imperial Forces
1945Member of Australian delegation, Far Eastern Commission
1948Appointed First Secretary, Department of External Affairs
1950Australian representative on United Nations Commission for Unification and Rehabilitation of Korea
1953Returned to Department of External Affairs
1955Assistant Secretary, Geographical Regions Division, Department of External Affairs
1956Awarded C.B.E.
1959Australian Permanent Representative to United Nations
1962High Commissioner to India and Ambassador to Nepal
1962Awarded knighthood
1965Secretary, Department of External Affairs
1970Ambassador to United States of America
1974Ambassador to Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
1976Awarded A.C.
1977Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and European Economic Community
1980High Commissioner to United Kingdom
1981Ambassador to Japan
1982Governor of Tasmania
1984Admitted to degree of Doctor of Science in Economics, University of Sydney
1987Admitted to degree of Doctor of Laws, University of Tasmania
1987Died, 8 May, at Hobart

Item Descriptions

Series 1. General correspondence, 1949-87

Apart from the last five files in this series, the correspondence was loose and in no order and has been arranged chronologically by Library staff. Although it covers a long period, it only becomes relatively extensive in the final years of Plimsoll's life. In many earlier years there are only a handful of letters. There are only a small number of copies of Plimsoll's own letters. A few of the papers were badly damaged in 1977 in the fire at the Australian Embassy in Moscow and photocopies have been substituted.

The subject matter of the correspondence is necessarily varied and ranges from congratulatory letters on Plimsoll's honours in 1956, 1962 and 1978 and on his many appointments, expressions of sympathy following his heart attack in 1985, business matters and orders for the supply of books to discussions about Australian and international politics, diplomatic appointments, social events at Government House in Hobart, and the roles of governors and the governor-general. Among the correspondents are Lord Casey, Lady Casey, Sir Paul Hasluck, Sir Laurence Macintyre, Lady Macintyre, Sir Douglas Copland, Joyce McConnell, Evelyn Dutton, Sir John Kerr, Cecily Osborne, Sir Peter Heydon, Sir Daryl Lindsay, Richard Krygier, Francis Stuart, Sir Walter Crocker, Sir Bruce Williams, Marion O'Dea, Lady Cawthorn, Hugh Gilchrist, Barrie Dexter, Ruth Dobson, Peter Curtis, Max Loveday, Warren Reed, Sir William Heseltine, Lady Gore-Booth, Stewart Jamieson and James Mollison.

Other personal letters can be found attached to Christmas cards in Series 9. There are also many personal letters in the files created when Plimsoll was Governor of Tasmania (Series 21).

1949-58 (File 1) - Box 1

1959 (File 2) - Box 1

1960 (File 3) - Box 1

1961 (File 4) - Box 1

1962 (File 5_8) - Box 1

1963 (File 9) - Box 1

1964 (File 10) - Box 2

1965 (File 11) - Box 2

1966 (File 12) - Box 2

1967 (File 13) - Box 2

1968-69 (File 14) - Box 2

1970 (File 15) - Box 2

1971 (File 16) - Box 2

1972 (File 17) - Box 2

1973-74 (File 18) - Box 2

1975 (File 19) - Box 2

1976-77 (File 20) - Box 3

1978 (File 21) - Box 3

1979 (File 22) - Box 3

1980 (File 23) - Box 3

1981 (File 24) - Box 3

1982 (File 25) - Box 3

1983 (File 26) - Box 3

1984 (File 27) - Box 3

1985 (File 28_31) - Box 3, Piece Files 28-29, Box 4, Piece Files 30-31

1986 (File 32_33) - Box 4

1987 (File 34) - Box 4

Undated (File 35_36) - Box 4

Lord Casey, 1958-71 (File 37) - Box 4

Lord Casey, 1972-76 (File 38) - Box 4

Art galleries and exhibitions, 1963-74 (File 39) - Box 5, Piece Series 1/ File 39

Scouting, 1965-69 (File 40) - Box 5, Piece Series 1/ File 40

National Gallery of Victoria, 1981-82 (File 41) - Box 5, Piece Series 1/ File 41

Series 2. Family papers, 1948-87

Plimsoll never married but he was close to his father (who died in 1965), his brother John, his nieces and other members of the family, including relatives in New Zealand. This series mostly comprises letters from various members of the family, with a very small number of copies of Plimsoll's own letters. Many of the letters have been lost. There is only one letter from his mother, written in 1954. The great majority of the letters from his father date from 1960-65, while there are large gaps in the letters from John Plimsoll. The letters from John Plimsoll are often accompanied by newspaper cuttings referring to his son or to Australian politics. Most of the letters from John Plimsoll deal with financial and investment matters.

Letters from James Plimsoll (father), 1948-62 (File 1) - Box 5

Letters from James Plimsoll (father), 1963 (File 2) - Box 5

Letters from James Plimsoll (father), 1964-65 (File 3) - Box 5

Letters from John Plimsoll, 1960-76 (Restricted) (File 4) - Box 5

Letters from John Plimsoll, 1982-86 (Restricted) (File 5) - Box 5

Letters from Pat Plimsoll and Plimsoll's nieces, 1970-86 (Restricted) (File 6) - Box 5

Miscellaneous family letters, 1954-87 (File 7) - Box 5

Photographs (File 8) - Box 6, Piece Series 2/ File 8

Family history (File 9) - Box 6, Piece Series 2/ File 9

Series 3. Diaries, 1945-87

Although the long sequence of diaries starts in 1947, there are two notebooks at the end of the series containing diary notes for 1945-46. Over a period of 42 years the format of the diaries hardly changed. They record Plimsoll's daily activities, official, social and personal, usually down to the hour and sometimes to the minute. They do not, however, record the content of conversations or discussions, nor do they record his thoughts, impressions and feelings on any subject.

Some of the diaries contain lists of letters sent or books read. Similar lists can be found in Series 4.

Apart from some correspondence in Series 1, the diaries are the only papers affected by the fire in the Australian Embassy in Moscow in 1977. Nearly all the pre-1977 diaries are fire-damaged, but fortunately very little text has been lost. The worst eight diaries have been photocopied and the originals may not be used.

1947 (Item 1) - Box 6

1948 (Item 2) - Box 6

1949 (Item 3) - Box 6

1950 (Item 4) - Box 6

1951 (Item 5) - Box 6

1952 (Item 6) - Box 6

1953 (Item 7) - Box 7

1954 (Item 8) - Box 7

1955 (Item 9) - Box 7

1956 (photocopied) (Item 10) - Box 7

1957 (Item 11) - Box 7

1958 (Item 12) - Box 7

1959 (Item 13) - Box 7

1960 (photocopied) (Item 14) - Box 8

1961 (photocopied) (Item 15) - Box 8

1962 (photocopied) (Item 16) - Box 8

1963 (photocopied) (Item 17) - Box 9

1964 (photocopied) (Item 18) - Box 9

1967 (Item 19) - Box 9

1968 (Item 20) - Box 9

1969 (Item 21) - Box 9

1970 (Item 22) - Box 10

1971 (Item 23) - Box 10

1972 (Item 24) - Box 10

1973 (Item 25) - Box 10

1974 (photocopied) (Item 26) - Box 10

1975 (Item 27) - Box 11

1976 (photocopied) (Item 28) - Box 11

1977 (Item 29) - Box 11

1978 (Item 30) - Box 11

1979 (Item 31) - Box 11

1980 (Item 32) - Box 12

1981 (Item 33) - Box 12

1982 (Item 34) - Box 12

1983 (Item 35) - Box 12

1984 (Item 36) - Box 12

1985 (Item 37) - Box 12

1986 (Item 38) - Box 12

1987 (Item 39) - Box 12

1964 pocket diary (Item 40) - Box 13

1983 appointment diary (Item 41) - Box 13

1984 appointment diary (Item 42) - Box 13

1985 appointment diary (Item 43) - Box 13

1986 appointment diary (Item 44) - Box 13

1987 appointment diary (Item 45) - Box 13

Notebook containing diary entries, 15 Feb.-25 Dec. 1945 (Item 46) - Box 13

Notebook containing diary entries, 25 Dec. 1945-31 Dec. 1946 (Item 47) - Box 13

Series 4. Notes, lists and biographical material

Plimsoll frequently made notes based on his reading or travels and some of these notebooks, loose sheets and short essays are preserved in this series. He was also an inveterate compiler of lists, including lists of books read, opera performances, places visited, knighthoods and deaths. The handwritten translations of Russian plays and operas were presumably written while Plimsoll was Ambassador to the Soviet Union. The final file contains photocopies of extracts from historical works referring to Plimsoll, especially his involvement in the Korean War. Copies of newspaper articles about Plimsoll can be found in Series 7. Series 4 also contains a few personal documents, such as the citation for his knighthood and a copy of his will.

Notebooks (File 1) - Box 14

Notebooks and manuscripts (File 2) - Box 14

Lists (File 3) - Box 14

Russian translations (File 4_5) - Box 14

References to Plimsoll in published works (File 6) - Box 14

Series 5. Speeches, 1962-86

This very small series contains printed and typescript copies of a few speeches that Plimsoll made as High Commissioner to India, Secretary of the Department of External Affairs and Governor of Tasmania. Speeches may also be found in other series, such as 15 (Secretary, Department of External Affairs) and 21 (Governor of Tasmania).

Speeches, 1962-68 (File 1) - Box 14, Piece Series 5/ file 1

Speeches, 1983-86 (File 2) - Box 14, Piece Series 5/ File 2

Series 6. Financial papers, 1948-86

Apart from the income tax returns, and to a lesser extent the income tax papers, the financial papers were not in any order and were dispersed throughout the collection. They are far from complete and many of them are chance survivals from Plimsoll's desk drawers in different parts of the world. Apart from tax returns and supporting documents, there is some correspondence, receipts, bank statements, pay slips, cheque butts and related material. There are some letters on financial and investment matters in Series 1, as well as the letters of John Plimsoll in Series 2.

Income tax returns, 1948-57 (File 1) - Box 15

Income tax returns, 1959-72 (File 2) - Box 15

Income tax papers, 1967-68 (File 3) - Box 15

Income tax papers, 1976-77 (File 4) - Box 15

Income tax papers, 1981-82 (File 5) - Box 15

Income tax papers, 1982-83 (File 6) - Box 15

Income tax papers, 1983-84 (File 7) - Box 15

Income tax papers, 1984-85 (File 8) - Box 15

Income tax papers, 1985-86 (File 9) - Box 15

Salary, 1981-82 (File 10) - Box 16

Bank statements, 1952-66 (File 11) - Box 16

Bank statements, 1968-71 (File 12) - Box 16

Miscellaneous papers, 1951-61 (File 13) - Box 16

Miscellaneous papers, 1963-66 (File 14) - Box 16

Miscellaneous papers, 1967 (File 15) - Box 16

Miscellaneous papers, 1970-73 (File 16) - Box 16

Miscellaneous papers, 1981-82 (File 17_18) - Box 16

Series 7. Newspaper cuttings, 1950-87

Throughout his diplomatic career Plimsoll cut reviews and articles from newspapers on subjects that interested him. The bulk of cuttings in this series do not refer to Plimsoll, but reflect his interests, especially his wide cultural interests. Book reviews and articles and reviews of musical performances, plays, ballet, art exhibitions, films and sound recordings make up the largest category of cuttings. In addition, there are obituaries, biographical articles, and articles about international relations, politics and history. There are far fewer cuttings dating from his Tasmanian years and they are of a more general nature.

There are two files containing articles about Plimsoll. The first comprises photocopies supplied to him by the National Library from its biographical files, while the other contains original cuttings. Other cuttings can be found in Series 2 (attached to letters from his father), 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 20.

1950, 1958 (File 1) - Box 17

1959 (File 2) - Box 17

1960 (File 3) - Box 17

1961 (File 4) - Box 17

1962 (File 5) - Box 17

1963 (File 6) - Box 17

1964 (File 7) - Box 17

1965 (File 8) - Box 17

1966 (File 9) - Box 17

1967 (File 10_11) - Box 18

1968 (File 12_13) - Box 18

1969 (File 14_15) - Box 18

1970 (File 16_18) - Box 18, Piece Files 16-17, Box 19, Piece Files 18

1971 (File 19_21) - Box 19

1972 (File 22_24) - Box 19

1973 (File 25_28) - Box 19, Piece File 25, Box 20, Piece Files 26-28

1974 (File 29_30) - Box 20

1975 (File 31_34) - Box 20, Piece Files 31-33, Box 21, Piece Files 34

1976 (File 35_38) - Box 21

1977 (File 39_41) - Box 21

1978 (File 42_45) - Box 22

1979 (File 46_50) - Box 22, Piece Files 46-48, Box 23, Piece Files 49-50

1980 (File 51_53) - Box 23

1982 (File 54_55) - Box 23

1983 (File 56) - Box 23

1984 (File 57) - Box 23

1985-87 (File 58) - Box 24

'Classics revisited', Saturday Review, 1965-69 (File 59) - Box 24

Biographical cuttings, 1950-82 (photocopies) (File 60) - Box 24

Biographical cuttings, 1961-84 (File 61) - Box 24

Series 8. Photographs, 1945-85

All the series relating to diplomatic postings and also Series 21, concerning the Governorship of Tasmania, contain photographs. The residue have been filed in this series. Most of them are unidentified and undated. The earliest date from 1945 and depict Plimsoll and other members of the Far Eastern Advisory Committee and Plimsoll meeting Eleanor Roosevelt. There are a number of photographic portraits of Plimsoll taken in the 1950s. The non-personal photographs include photographs of Plimsoll's collection of Indian works of art.

Early photographs (File 1_2) - Box 24, Piece Series 8/ File 1-2

Later photographs (File 3) - Box 24, Piece Series 8/ File 3

Non-personal photographs (File 4) - Box 24, Piece Series 8/ File 4

Miscellaneous photographs (File 5) - Box 25, Piece Series 8/ File 5

Series 9. Christmas cards, 1959-86

The great bulk of the Christmas cards date from 1982-86, when Plimsoll was Governor of Tasmania. Only small numbers date from earlier years, apart from 1980 when he was in London, and for some years there are no cards at all. Some of the cards contain lengthy messages or have letters attached, so they complement the personal letters in Series 1. Among the senders of cards were the Queen and other members of the Royal Family, the Governor-General and other governors, Prime Ministers and other politicians, former diplomatic colleagues, and a large cross-section of Tasmanian society.

The cards have been arranged chronologically. The 1982-86 cards were in bundles, so although most of them are not dated it is reasonably certain that they were received in the year in which they have been filed. There may, however, be some strays. Cards which cannot be dated have been placed in file 61.

1959 (File 1) - Box 25

1960 (File 2) - Box 25

1961 (File 3) - Box 25

1962 (File 4) - Box 25

1963 (File 5) - Box 25

1964-66 (File 6) - Box 25

1969 (File 7) - Box 25

1970 (File 8) - Box 25

1971 (File 9_10) - Box 26

1972-73 (File 11) - Box 26

1977 (File 12) - Box 26

1978 (File 13) - Box 26

1979 (File 14) - Box 26

1980 (File 15_16) - Box 26

1981 (File 17) - Box 26

1982 (File 18_24) - Box 27

1983 (File 25_31) - Box 27, Piece File 25, Box 28, Piece Files 26-31

1984 (File 32_40) - Box 29

1985 (File 41_49) - Box 29, Piece Files 41-42, Box 30, Piece Files 43-49

1986 (File 50_60) - Box 31, Piece Files 50-58, Box 32, Piece Files 59-60

Undated (File 61) - Box 32

Christmas card list, 1983 (File 62) - Box 32

Christmas card list, 1984 (File 63) - Box 32

Christmas card list, 1985 (File 64) - Box 32

Series 10. Early papers, 1928-47

This small series contains a variety of documents dating from Plimsoll's adolescence and early working life. They include his reports from Bondi Commercial School (1928) and Sydney Boys' High School (1929-33), a report submitted to his father by the Australian Institute of Industrial Psychology in 1934, an essay he wrote on the Australian monetary system while an undergraduate at the University of Sydney in 1937, the degree ceremonies in 1938 and 1941, a short article on Sir George Gipps published in the Economic Record in June 1939, the report of the Secretary General of the Far Eastern Commission for 1946-47, and a list of books read by Plimsoll in 1939-44.

1928-41 (File 1) - Box 32, Piece Series 10/ File 1

1939-47 (File 2) - Box 32, Piece Series 10/ File 2

Series 11. Korea, 1950-80

Plimsoll was the Australian delegate to the United Nations Commission for the Unification and Rehabilitation of Korea. There are only a few items in his papers documenting his involvement in the Commission. The series, however, contains a number of photographs, both official and non-official, and an extensive correspondence with Robert O'Neill, the author of Australia in the Korean War 1950-53.

Papers, 1950-52 (File 1) - Box 33

Photographs (File 2_3) - Box 33

Historical writings (File 4) - Box 33

Official War History, 1978-80 (File 5) - Box 33

Series 12. Department of External Affairs, 1953-59

From January 1953 to June 1959 Plimsoll was based in Canberra as an Assistant Secretary in the Department of External Affairs. This small series contains some documents on the organisation of the Department, a photograph of R.G. Casey and the heads of Australian diplomatic missions in Europe in 1957, photographs of Plimsoll in Vietnam in March 1956 and a few letters and invitations. There are also itineraries, programs and photographs of the visit by the Prime Minister, R.G. Menzies, and Dame Pattie Menzies, accompanied by Plimsoll, to Japan, Thailand, the Philippines and New Guinea in April 1957.

Papers (File 1) - Box 33, Piece Series 12/ File 1

Prime Minister's Asian tour, 1957 (File 2) - Box 33, Piece Series 12/ File 2

Series 13. United Nations, 1959-63

Plimsoll took up his post as Australian Permanent Representative at the United Nations in New York in July 1959. The series contains a small number of official documents and a larger number of photographs, cuttings, invitations and programs documenting many of his social and cultural activities. As well as a group of letters on miscellaneous subjects, there are programs, invitations, tourist literature and other items collected during his visits to West Africa in May 1962 and East Africa in May-June 1962, and his attendance at the Inauguration of Chung Hee Park as President of South Korea in December 1963. The correspondents include Adlai Stevenson, Sir Hugh Foot, Rohan Rivett, Harry Belafonte, and William Sebald. Among the large number of official photographs are several showing Plimsoll addressing the General Assembly and the Disarmament Commission, meetings with other diplomats and Australian parliamentary delegations, and some photographs of Sir Garfield Barwick. A number of the printed items relate to the death of the United Nations Secretary-General, Dag Hammarskjold, in September 1961.

Correspondence (File 1) - Box 33, Piece Series 13/ File 1

Financial papers (File 2) - Box 33, Piece Series 13/ File 2

Newspaper cuttings (File 3) - Box 34

Printed items (File 4_5) - Box 34

West Africa, 1959 (File 6) - Box 34

East Africa, 1962 (File 7) - Box 34

Korea, 1963 (File 8) - Box 34

Invitations and menus (File 9) - Box 34

Photographs (File 10_11) - Box 34, Piece File 10, Box 35, Piece File 11

Programs (File 12) - Box 35, Piece Series 13/ File 12

Theatre and concert programs (File 13) - Box 35, Piece Series 13/ File 13

Series 14. India, 1963-65

Plimsoll was appointed High Commissioner to India and Ambassador to Nepal in February 1963. Apart from a large number of photographs, the series contains very little relating to Plimsoll's official duties. There are a few letters and cuttings, some invitations and menus, and a quantity of publications documenting his travels around India and his strong interest in Indian art, music and dance.

Correspondence and itineraries (File 1) - Box 35

Invitations and menus (File 2) - Box 35

Official programs (File 3) - Box 35

Newspaper cuttings (File 4) - Box 35

India International Centre publications (File 5) - Box 35

Printed items (File 6_7) - Box 35, Piece File 7, Box 36, Piece File 7

Photographs (File 8_10) - Box 36

Photograph album (File 11) - Box 36

Photograph album, Lakshmi Mills, Paladam, Madras, 1965 (File 12) - Box 37

Dance and theatre programs (File 13) - Box 37

Art exhibition catalogues (File 14_16) - Box 37

Tourist publications (File 17_18) - Box 38, Piece Series 14/ File 17-18

Series 15. Secretary, Department of External Affairs, 1965-70

Plimsoll succeeded Sir Arthur Tange as Secretary of the Department of External Affairs in April 1965 and remained in the position for five years. His personal papers contain very little documentation of his work as Secretary, which would mostly be recorded on official files, but there are official programs, speeches and menus and invitations which record many of the functions that he was required to attend. The programs include visits to Laos in December 1965, Israel in April 1966, the United States in November 1966, the United States in April 1967, Vietnam in October 1967, the Philippines, Malaysia and Ceylon in June 1968, Canada in September 1968, the United States in May 1969 and the Philippines in December 1969. The Vietnam papers relate to the inauguration of Nguyen Van Thieu as President in October 1967. Many of the photographs depict Sir Paul Hasluck, the Minister for External Affairs in 1964-69.

Letters (File 1) - Box 38

Official programs (File 2_3) - Box 38

Official publications (File 4) - Box 38

Speeches and lectures (File 5) - Box 38

Menus and seating lists (File 6_9) - Box 38, Piece Files 6-7, Box 39, Piece Files 8-9

Invitations (File 10) - Box 39

Visit to Vietnam, Oct. 1967 (File 11) - Box 39

Visit to Canada, Sept. 1968 (File 12) - Box 39

Conferences and meetings (File 13) - Box 39

Newspaper cuttings (File 14) - Box 39

Photographs (File 15_16) - Box 39

Articles and reprints (File 17) - Box 39

Theatre programs (File 18) - Box 40

Art exhibition catalogues (File 19) - Box 40

Ballet programs (File 20) - Box 40

Concert and opera programs (File 21_22) - Box 40

Miscellaneous papers (File 23_24) - Box 40

Series 16. United States of America, 1970-74

Plimsoll took up the post of Ambassador to the United States in June 1970, succeeding Sir Keith Waller. He had hoped to have a reasonably lengthy term in Washington, as had been the case with earlier Ambassadors, but the Whitlam Government decided that he should be replaced by Sir Patrick Shaw. Plimsoll left Washington in early February 1974.

This series contains a somewhat larger correspondence than the other diplomatic series, including letters from Spiro Agnew, General William Westmoreland, Chester Bowles, William Sebald, Ed Clark, E.G. Whitlam, Sir Keith Waller, L.J. Lawrey, John Buchan and M.G.M. Bourchier. Of particular note are some letters and cables of August-September 1973 concerning the Government's decision to transfer Plimsoll from Washington to Moscow. There is also material on Australia's challenge for the America's Cup at Newport, Rhode Island, in September 1970, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment at Uppsala, Sweden, in June 1972 and the inauguration of Richard Nixon as President and Spiro Agnew as Vice-President in January 1973. Most of the photographs are not unidentified, but among the subjects are Richard Nixon, Spiro Agnew, William Rogers, Hubert Humphrey, Ed Clark, George Wallace, William McMahon, Gough Whitlam and Lionel Murphy. The series documents Plimsoll's travels in the United States and his attendance at a great many art exhibitions, concerts, opera performances, plays and other cultural events.

Correspondence, 1970 (File 1) - Box 40, Piece Series 16/ File 1

Correspondence, 1971 (File 2) - Box 40, Piece Series 16/ File 2

Correspondence, 1972-73 (File 3) - Box 41

Correspondence, 1974 and undated (File 4) - Box 41

Certificates (File 5) - Box 41

Menus and guest lists (File 6_7) - Box 41

Invitations (File 8) - Box 41

Church services (File 9) - Box 41

U.N. Conference on Human Environment, 1972 (File 10) - Box 41

Inauguration of President Nixon, 1973 (File 11) - Box 42

America's Cup, 1970 (File 12) - Box 42

Newspaper cuttings (File 13) - Box 42

Photographs (File 14_17) - Box 42

Miscellaneous papers (File 18) - Box 42

Official publications (File 19) - Box 42

Miscellaneous publications (File 20) - Box 43

Theatre programs (File 21) - Box 43

Ballet programs (File 22) - Box 43

Opera and concert programs (File 23_25) - Box 43

Film programs (File 26) - Box 43

Art exhibition catalogues (File 27_29) - Box 43, Piece Files 27-28, Box 44, Piece Series 16/File 29

Series 17. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, 1974-77

The bulk of the material in this series consists of Russian publications, including theatre, ballet and opera programs, historical publications and a great quantity of tourist literature. In addition, there are a few letters and cuttings, a speech and a large number of photographs. Most of the photographs are unidentified, but there are a number depicting the visit of Gough Whitlam to Moscow in 1975.

Correspondence about Plimsoll's appointment to Moscow, including a letter from his predecessor L.J. Lawrey, can be found in Series 16, file 3.

Correspondence, 1975 (File 1) - Box 44

Russian vocabularies (File 2) - Box 44

Newspaper cuttings (File 3) - Box 44

Photographs (File 4_5) - Box 44

Miscellaneous papers (File 6) - Box 44

Russian language publications (2 boxes) (File [unnumbered]) - Box 45, Piece Files unnumbered, Box 46, Piece Files unnumbered

Series 18. Belgium and the European Economic Community, 1977-80

In August 1977 Plimsoll was appointed Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Economic Community. This is the smallest of the diplomatic series. There are a small number of letters, programs, menus, invitations and papers of the Committee on Disarmament. The photographs are mostly unidentified, but include several of Plimsoll and Roy Jenkins, the President of the European Economic Commission. The remaining papers mostly consist of programs and exhibition catalogues, including productions in Brussels, Ghent, Strasbourg and London.

Papers (File 1) - Box 47

Photographs (File 2) - Box 47

Theatre programs (File 3) - Box 47

Ballet programs (File 4) - Box 47

Opera and concert programs (File 5_11) - Box 47, Piece Files 5-6, Box 48, Piece Files 7-11

Art exhibition catalogues (File 12) - Box 48

Tourist publications (File 13_14) - Box 48

Series 19. United Kingdom, 1980-81

Plimsoll was appointed Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in February 1980. Although the High Commission had been in existence for seventy years, he was the first career diplomat to hold the office. Apart from Sir John Bunting, all previous High Commissioners had been politicians. Plimsoll greatly enjoyed living in London, but his stay there was unexpectedly brief. In December 1980 the Government announced that, following a Cabinet reshuffle, Victor Garland, the former Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, would replace Plimsoll as High Commissioner. Plimsoll left London in March 1981.

The series resembles the other diplomatic series in containing quite a lot of papers on Plimsoll's social and cultural activities, but very little on his official work. Most of the correspondence relates to his admission as a Liveryman of the Tallow Chandlers Company. There is also a letter from the former English cricket captain, Colin Cowdrey. The programs include the unveiling of the Australian Settlers' Memorial at Old Portsmouth by Queen Elizabeth on 11 July 1980. The photograph album was presented to Plimsoll and depicts a number of English places he visited and events in which he was involved, including his inspection of a bust of his forebear Samuel Plimsoll.

Correspondence (File 1) - Box 49

Official programs (File 2) - Box 49

Church services (File 3) - Box 49

Invitations (File 4) - Box 49

Menus and guest lists (File 5_7) - Box 49

Theatre and ballet programs (File 8) - Box 50

Film programs (File 9) - Box 50

Opera and concert programs (File 10_11) - Box 50

Art catalogues (File 12) - Box 50

Photographs (File 13) - Box 50

Photograph album (File 14) - Box 50

Printed items (File 15) - Box 51, Piece Series 19/ File 15

Series 20. Japan, 1981-82

Plimsoll was appointed Ambassador to Japan in January 1981 and arrived in Tokyo in March. He was 64 and it was not expected that he would serve a lengthy term. In fact, within eight months it was announced that he would be the next Governor of Tasmania. He continued, however, as Ambassador until September 1982.

The correspondence is a little more extensive than in the previous series and includes letters from diplomatic colleagues, Australian businesmen, academics and expatriates, and Japanese officials and acquaintances. Among the correspondents are Peter Henderson, H.C. Coombs, Peter Nixon, Ted Pocock, Hiroshi Sakamoto, Sir Ian McLennan, Harold Stewart and Lady Price. There are a very large number of photographs, mostly unidentified and of varying quality. Most of them were sent to Plimsoll to commemorate a meeting or social function. Among the miscellaneous papers is a report by Jane Anthony, the daughter of Doug Anthony, the Deputy Prime Minister, who attended Ichijo High School for six months in 1978. There are a large number of Japanese publications, including exhibition catalogues, concert programs and tourist brochures.

Correspondence (File 1_2) - Box 51

Official papers (File 3) - Box 51

Official publications (File 4) - Box 51

Inventory (File 5) - Box 51

Invitations (File 6) - Box 51

Newspaper cuttings (File 7) - Box 51

Photographs (File 8_14) - Box 51, Piece File 8, Box 52, Piece Files 9-14

Programs and catalogues (File 15_16) - Box 52

Miscellaneous papers (File 17_18) - Box 53

Japanese language publications (2 boxes) (File [unnumbered]) - Box 53, Piece Files unnumbered, Box 54, Piece Files unnumbered

Series 21. Governor of Tasmania, 1982-87

In November 1981 it was announced that Plimsoll would succeed Sir Stanley Burbury as Governor of Tasmania. He had visited Tasmania on a number of occasions, but he had no personal or family links with it. He returned from Japan in September 1982 and was sworn in as Governor in Franklin Square, Hobart, on 1 October 1982. In October 1986 Queen Elizabeth agreed to the extension of his term for a further three years.

This is by far the largest series within the Plimsoll Papers and comprises both personal and semi-official papers documenting Plimsoll's work as the Governor and his cultural, literary and historical interests. The major part of the series consists of two sequences of files maintained by Plimsoll's secretary. The subject files (files 1-80) contain letters, notes for speeches, cuttings, minutes, agenda papers, newsletters and other material. The following date files (files 81-97) mostly contain letters, but occasionally they have printed attachments or photographs. In addition to these files, there was a large quantity of unfiled letters, mainly dating from 1984-87. They have been sorted roughly into years (files 98-122).

The correspondence is very extensive and ranges from personal letters from old friends, former diplomatic colleagues and other governors, correspondence on current political affairs, correspondence with academics and others on historical and biographical subjects, letters from people who had stayed or dined at Government House, and letters from a wide range of Tasmanian organisations, families and individuals. Many of the letters are purely personal, but because they were filed with semi-official letters they have been retained in their original files rather than being placed in Series 1. Some of the letters were addressed to Plimsoll's secretary, David Pitchford. There are copies of some of Plimsoll's own letters.

Among the more prolific or important correspondents are Max Angus, Jan Arriens, Colonel R.P. Beesley, Allan Behm, Sir John Bunting, Jim Burns, Clyde Cameron, Edmund Capon, Philip Chandler, Sir Charles Court, Sir Zelman Cowen, Sir Walter Crocker, Professor David Cubbin, Sir Neil Currie, Sir Harold Cuthbertson, Sir Roden Cutler, Rawdon Dalrymple, Don Dobison, Ruth Dobson, Alexander Downer, Lady Downer, Dorothy Downes, Sir Edward Dunlop, Nick Evers, Graham Feakes, W.N. Fisher, Sir Harry Gibbs, Hugh Gilchrist, Lady Gore-Booth, Bruce Grant, Robin Gray, Sir Guy Green, Ron Green, D.R. Gregg, Stuart Harris, Sir David Hay, J.V. R. Hearder, Heather Henderson, Peter Henderson, R.A. Herr, Sir William Heseltine, Michael Hodgman, Ross Hohnen, Brigadier Garth Hughes, Sir Gordon Jackson, Sir John Kerr, Justice Michael Kirby, Hendrik Kolenberg, Richard Krygier, Sir Peter Lawler, Professor Alec Lazenby, Sir John Leahy, Marie Louise Loridan, Max Loveday, Davis McCaughey, Patrick McCaughey, Gavan McCormack, Lady Macintyre, Dame Pattie Menzies, James Mollison, Sir Brian Murray, Justice Kemeri Murray, Ken Myer, Bishop Phillip Newell, Marion O'Dea, John Oldham, Brian Page, A.R. Parsons, Ted Pocock, Lady Price, Warren Reed, Professor Gordon Reid, Alan Rix, Professor Michael Roe, J.R. Rowland, Sir James Rowland, Sir Ninian Stephen, Harold Stewart, Sir Arthur Tange, G.N. Upton, Nancy Bird Walton, Ken Ward, Sir Alan Watt, Brenton Whitford, Richard Woolcott.

The remainder of the series contains the wide variety of papers that can be found in some of the diplomatic series, including invitations, guest lists, speeches, photographs, exhibition catalogues, programs and publications. The miscellaneous papers include a paper by David Pitchford, dated 18 September 1985, on the legal and administrative arrangements necessary in Tasmania following the passage of legislation to remove legislative links with the United Kingdom. The photographs were mostly taken by guests at Government House, but there are also some good quality portraits. There is a photograph of Plimsoll with premier Robin Gray and his Cabinet. The programs cover sports events, military parades and agricultural shows, as well as a variety of cultural events, and provide a good record of Plimsoll's activities as Governor.

Subseries [unnumbered]. Filed papers: Subject files

Art (File 1_2) - Box 55
Art Foundation of Australia, 1984-86 (File 3) - Box 55
Asian Studies Association, 1985-86 (File 4) - Box 55
Asiatic Society of Japan, 1982-87 (File 5) - Box 55
ABC radio and television, 1985 (File 6) - Box 55
Bicentennial, 1983-87 (File 7) - Box 55
Britain-Australia Society, 1984-86 (File 8) - Box 55
Burnie Art Gallery, 1984 (File 9) - Box 55
Clyde Cameron, 1983-86 (File 10) - Box 56
China, 1985 (File 11) - Box 56
Commonwealth Club, 1983-87 (File 12) - Box 56
Committee for Economic Development of Australia, 1984 (File 13) - Box 56
Sir Charles Court, 1984-86 (File 14) - Box 56
Curricula vitae (File 15) - Box 56
Design, 1983-85 (File 16) - Box 56
Economics, 1984 (File 17) - Box 56
Economic Conference, Hobart, Aug.-Sept. 1983 (File 18) - Box 56
1986 election (File 19) - Box 57
Finance, 1987 (File 20) - Box 57
Governor-General's visits, 1983 (File 21) - Box 57
Sir Guy Green, 1983 (File 22) - Box 57
R.J. Grigg, 1986-87 (File 23) - Box 57
Peter Henderson, 1983-85 (File 24) - Box 57
G. Heywood Hill, 1982-86 (File 25) - Box 57
Honours, 1983-85 (File 26_27) - Box 57
Honours, Jan. 1986 (File 28) - Box 58
Honours, Queen's Birthday, 1986 (File 29) - Box 58
India, 1984-86 (File 30) - Box 58
Japan, 1982-84 (File 31) - Box 58
Japan, 1985-87 (File 32) - Box 58
Japan - Kimi Coaldrake and Alan Rix, 1984 (File 33) - Box 58
Japan Studies Association of Australia, 1983 (File 34) - Box 58
Launceston Art Foundation, 1986 (File 35) - Box 58
Legal, 1983 (File 36) - Box 59
Lions, 1983 (File 37) - Box 59
Davis McCaughey, 1986 (File 38) - Box 59
Menzies Foundation, 1987 (File 39) - Box 59
Military, 1983 (File 40) - Box 59
Sir Brian Murray, 1983-84 (File 41) - Box 59
Music (File 42) - Box 59
Ken Myer, 1983-85 (File 43) - Box 59
Y. Nakasone visit, 1985 (File 44) - Box 59
National Gallery of Australia, 1983-85 (File 45) - Box 60
National Gallery of Victoria, 1982-84 (File 46) - Box 60
Operation Raleigh, 1984 (File 47) - Box 60
Order of Australia - speech (File 48) - Box 60
Order of the British Empire, 1981-86 (File 49) - Box 60
Order of St John, 1982 (File 50) - Box 60
Order of St John, 1983-86 (File 51) - Box 60
Parks and World Heritage (File 52) - Box 60
Parliament, 1983-87 (File 53) - Box 61
J.S. Prout exhibition, 1986 (File 54) - Box 61
Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery Friends (File 55) - Box 61
Referees' reports, 1982-84 (File 56) - Box 61
Rhodes Scholars, 1983-86 (File 57) - Box 61
Royal Society of Tasmania, 1983-87 (File 58) - Box 61
Scouts, 1983-86 (File 59) - Box 61
Sir Ninian Stephen visit, 1985 (File 60) - Box 61
Tallow Chandlers Company, 1984-86 (File 61) - Box 61
Tasmanian Economic Report,1983-84 (File 62) - Box 62
Tasmanian Art Gallery Friends, 1983-85 (File 63) - Box 62
Tasmanian Art Gallery - general, 1984-86 (File 64) - Box 62
Tasmanian Art Gallery - speech, 1983 (File 65) - Box 62
Thank you letters, 1982-86 (File 66_68) - Box 62
Thank you letters, 1985 (File 69_70) - Box 62
Thank you letters, 1987 (File 71) - Box 63
Theatre Royal, Hobart (File 72) - Box 63
Theatre Royal Restoration Fund, 1985 (File 73) - Box 63
United Services Institute, 1983-86 (File 74) - Box 63
University of Sydney - honorary doctorate, 1984 (File 75) - Box 63
University of Sydney Union (File 76) - Box 63
Visits - coming, 1987 (File 77) - Box 63
Visits - past, 1983-85 (File 78) - Box 63
Who's Who, 1984-86 (File 79) - Box 63
Yencken Lectures, 1983 (File 80) - Box 64

Subseries [unnumbered]. Filed papers: Correspondence arranged by date

Oct. 1982 - Jan. 1983 (File 81) - Box 64
Jan. - June 1983 (File 82_83) - Box 64
June - Dec. 1983 (File 84_85) - Box 64
Jan. - Feb. 1984 (File 86) - Box 64
March - June 1984 (File 87) - Box 65
July - Dec. 1984 (File 88) - Box 65
Jan. - June 1985 (File 89_90) - Box 65
July - Dec. 1985 (File 91_92) - Box 65
Jan. - June 1986 (File 93_94) - Box 66
Sept. - Dec. 1986 (File 95) - Box 66
Nov. 1986 (File 96) - Box 66
Jan. - May 1987 (File 97) - Box 66

Subseries [unnumbered]. Unfiled letters

1982-83 (File 98) - Box 66
1983 (File 99) - Box 66
1984 (File 100_3) - Box 67
1985 (File 104_10) - Box 67, Piece Files 104-108, Box 68, Piece Files 109-110
1986 (File 111_19) - Box 68, Piece Files 111-117, Box 69, Piece Files 118-119
1987 (File 120_21) - Box 69
Undated (File 122) - Box 69
Programs and itineraries, 1983-87 (File 123) - Box 69
Speeches (File 124) - Box 69
Guest lists (File 125) - Box 69
Exhibition notices and invitations (File 126) - Box 69
Miscellaneous papers (File 127_31) - Box 70
Photographs (File 132_36) - Box 70, Piece Files 132-135, Box 71, Piece File 136
Church services (File 137) - Box 71
Music programs (File 138_41) - Box 71
Ballet programs (File 142) - Box 71
Theatre programs (File 143) - Box 71
Art exhibition catalogues (File 144) - Box 71
Sports programs (File 145) - Box 72
Miscellaneous programs (File 146) - Box 72
Tasmanian publications (3 boxes) (File [unnumbered]) - Box 72

Series 22. Art exhibition catalogues, 1965-84 - Box 75

Most of the catalogues of the numerous art exhibitions that Plimsoll visited have been filed in Series 14-21, as they help to document his cultural activities as Ambassador, High Commissioner and Governor of Tasmania. The remainder have been placed in this series. The majority date from 1965-73 and relate to exhibitions in Australia, but there are also a few for overseas exhibitions. (6 files)

Files relating to the National Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria, galleries in Tasmania and Plimsoll's own art collection can be found in Series 1 and 21.

Series 23. Music, ballet and theatre programs, 1965-81

As with the art exhibition catalogues, the programs of concerts, operas, musicals, ballets and plays attended by Plimsoll have generally been filed in Series 13-21. The programs in this series mostly date from 1965-70, when Plimsoll was living in Canberra, and the majority of them are of Australian productions.

Music, ballet and theatre programs (File 1_4) - Box 76

Series 24. General publications - Box 76

A great many publications which did not refer to Plimsoll or document any of his activities accompanied the papers. Many of them were newspapers, periodicals or official publications held in most large libraries and they were therefore discarded. A small selection of the less common publications have been retained in the collection.

Series 25. Miscellaneous material - Box 78

This small series contains Plimsoll's certificate as a Doctor of Laws, a medal commemorating the inauguration of Ferdinand Marcos as the President of the Philippines in December 1969, and a few sound recordings. The latter consist of a radio program entitled 'A jurist in politics: Dr H.V. Evatt' (3 tape recordings), a tape recording of the launching ceremony of USS Harold Holt on 26 March 1971, a tape recording entitled 'A musical holiday in Australia' (1973), a 45rpm recording entitled 'Introduction to Winston S. Churchill', and a 45rpm recording of poems of Jack Davis read by Leonard Teale.

A Jurist in Politics' - Dr H V Evatt. Tape 1 of 3 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012731) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-045

1 item, BASF 7", Magnetic tape reel (any size)

Radio Programme Release by the Australian Information Service

A Jurist in Politics' - Dr H V Evatt. Tape 2 of 3 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012732) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-045

1 item, BASF 7", Magnetic tape reel (any size)

Radio Programme Release by the Australian Information Service

A Jurist in Politics' - Dr H V Evatt. Tape 3 of 3 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012733) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-045

1 item, BASF 7", Magnetic tape reel (any size)

Radio Programme Release by the Australian Information Service

Commissioning Ceremony of USS Harold E Holt (DE-1074), 23/04/1971 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012734) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-045

1 item, RCA 7", Magnetic tape reel (any size)

A Musical Holiday in Australia' 18/04/1973, 18/04/1973 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012735) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-045

1 item, Unbranded 7", Magnetic tape reel (any size)

"The First-Born" and other poems by Jack Davis', read by Leonard Teale (Item NLA.MS-SAV012736) - Shelf-Tall OH2-9-012

1 item, 45rpm, Vinyl discs

Commercial production. Notes on record cover. Sponsored by the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs for the Aborigines' Advancement League, Victoria

Introduction to "Winston S Churchill"' (Item NLA.MS-SAV012737) - Shelf-Tall OH2-9-012

1 item, Decca 45rpm, Vinyl discs

Not for Sale


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