Guide to the Papers of John Christian Watson
MS 451
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Watson, John Christian, 1867-1941
- Title
- Papers of John Christian Watson
- Date Range
- 1900-1941
- Collection Number
- MS 451
- Extent
- 0.3 metres (2 boxes)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- National Library of Australia
Introduction
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, speeches, articles, notes, press cuttings, receipts, income tax returns, electoral returns, an account book, leaflets, a 1900 pocket diary and photographs. The correspondence includes material on political and trade union matters, most of which falls within the period of Watson's term in Federal Parliament from 1901 to 1910. Subjects include the choice of a site for a federal capital, progressive land tax, conscription, and Watson's retirement from the position of leader of the Labour Party in 1907. Correspondents include Sir Edmund Barton, Sir John Langdon Bonython, Alfred Deakin, Henry Bournes Higgins, Sir Isaac Isaacs, Sir George Houston Reid, Thomas Price, William Morris Hughes, George Beeby, J.S. Collings, Sir Joseph Carruthers, William Dyson, Lord Novar, B.R. Wise, J. Ramsay MacDonald, S.M. Mowle, R. Jebb, J.W. Gregory, and J.M. Toomey. Also included are various speeches, articles and notes relating mainly to Watson's political career, press cuttings (mainly relating to Watson's retirement), receipts, income tax returns, electoral returns, an account book, leaflets, a pocket diary for 1900, and photographs.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is available for reference.
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 John Christian Watson, National Library of Australia, MS 451, [series and/or item number]'.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were donated to the Library by Watson's daughter.
Related Materials
In addition to the Watson Papers the Library holds a video and other manuscript collections (including microfilm copies) which contain letters or other materials relating to Watson. These are described in the subject guide Special collections relating to John Christian Watson in the National Library of Australia.
Arrangement
The collection has been divided into series by type of material. The correspondence has been further divided into subject groups. Where the title of the subject group does not adequately convey the character and scope of the papers involved, a list of items has been included.
Biographical Note
John Christian Watson was born in Valparaiso, Chile on 9 April, 1867. He was educated in New Zealand and made his way to Australia in the 1880s where he worked as a compositor.
In 1893 he was elected President of the Trades and Labour Federation and President of the Australian Labour Federation. In July 1894 he entered the Legislative Assembly as the member for Young. In 1901 he was elect to the Commonwealth House of Representatives for Bland, and was chosen as Labor Leader in the House. In April 1904 he became the first Labour Prime Minister of Australia. He resigned as Prime Minister in August 1904.
In 1907, owing to ill health, he resigned the leadership of the Labour Party and in 1910 he retired from politics. In 1916 his advocacy of conscription led to his being expelled from the political Labor League.
He was married twice, firstly (1889) to Ada Jane Low, and secondly (1925) to Antonia Lane. He died in Sydney on 18 November, 1941.
Item Descriptions
Series 1. Correspondence, 1903-1941
Subseries 1-1. Correspondence with leading political figures, April 1901-May 1929
Comprises Items 1-19. Correspondents include Edmund Barton, John Langdon Bonython, Alfred Deakin, Henry Bournes Higgins, Isaac Issaacs, George Houston Reid, Thomas Price, William Morris Hughes and George Beeby.
Subseries 1-2. Miscellaneous letters, 1901-1941
Comprises Items 20-76.
Letter from J.W. Gregory concerning collection of water samples for meteorological service in Australia, 16 October 1904 (Item 23-24)
Letter from George Walters regarding Watson's speech on Christian Socialism, 17 November 1904 (Item 25)
26-28 Letter from E.W. Knox, General Manager of the Colonial Sugar Refinery Goy, concerning new sugar process, 11 November 1905 (Item 26-28)
Letter from Andrew Inglis Clark, Judge of the Supreme Court of Tasmania, 18 September 1905 (Item 31)
Letter from J.G. Jenkins requesting Watson to write an article for the Encyclopaedia Americana, 19 October 1905 (Item 33-35)
Letters from J.G. Jenkins regarding Watson's article on 'The Labour Party' for the Encyclopaedia Americana, 12 January 1906 (Item 38-39)
Letter from J.C. Watson concerning Easter encampment for the Field Artillery, 9 February 1906 (Item 54-55)
Letter from Samuel Pethebridge to T.T. Ewing re Easter encampment for Field Artillery, 22 February 1906 (Item 56)
Telegram from J.F. Andrew, Acting Secretary to the New Zealand Cabinet to J.C. Watson, 11 July? 1906 (Item 58)
Letter from Kenneth Binns regarding donation of private papers to the National Library, 31 July 1941 (Item 70)
Subseries 1-3. Comprises Items 77-126. Correspondence on political matters, mainly relating to the Labor Party, 1903-1915
Letter of congratulation on the results of the Federal elections from J. Grant, 21 December 1903 (Item 77)
Letter of congratulation on the results of the Federal elections from S. Ford, Secretary of Amalgamated Miners Association of Victoria, Zeehan Branch, 29 December 1903 (Item 78)
Letter of congratulation on the results of the Federal elections from A. Cooper, Secretary of Wellington Trade and Labour Council, 14 January 1904 (Item 79)
Letter from F. Sexton, Secretary of Boulder P.LP. regarding the introduction of Chinese labour into South Africa, 22 January 1904 (Item 80)
Letter from A. Cooper concerning the introduction of Chinese labour into South Africa, 26 January 1904 (Item 81)
Letter from Sam Smith regarding Labor's policy on Protection and free trade, 13 May 1905 (Item 86-93)
Carbon copy of an open letter from J.C. Watson to the Members of the Federal Labor Party concerning resolutions passed by the Inter-State Conference, 2 August 1905 (Item 94-96)
Letter from W. Crowley, Manager of City Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited, regarding Life Assurance Legislation, 10 October 1905 (Item 102-103)
Letter from G. Edwards regarding recording of Edwards vote on various issues during his absence, 12 February 1906 (Item 111)
Letter from J. Ramsay MacDonald concerning circular issued by Cobden Club addressed to the Electors of Australia. It also discusses arrangements for a visit to Australia, 5 July 1906 (Item 112-113)
Letter from Albert Hinchliffe concerning Senator Dawson's withdrawal from the Senate contest, 6 October 1906 (Item 116)
Letter from Ed. L. Bailey regarding Labor Party's definition of socialism, and draft of reply, 17 September 1907 (Item 120)
Subseries 1-4. Letters relating to trade union matters, 1904-1908
Comprises Items 127-155.
Letter from Will Dyson (endorsed by 117 others) to Watson concerning Joseph Chamberlain's fiscal proposals, 20 October 1904 (Item 127-132)
Watson's letter to J. Ramsay MacDonald regarding Chamberlain's fiscal proposals, 16 November 1904 (Item 133-138)
Carbon copy of Watson's letter to the Editor of The Age regarding union label law in America, 8 August 1905 (Item 144)
Letter from E. Harrison Hurley, Secretary of the New South Wales Typographical Association, concerning printing of postage stamps, 6 November 1905 (Item 145)
Letter from James Stewart concerning dispute in connection with Railway and Tramway Association, 18 May 1908 (Item 152-153)
Subseries 1-5. Applications for position of Chief Electoral Officer of the Commonwealth, February 1906
Comprises Items 156-163.
Subseries 1-6. Correspondence relating to progressive land tax, April-June 1906
Comprises Items 164-165. Challenge to J.C. Watson to a debate on the land tax issues from the Sydney Single Tax League; letter (incomplete) to Mr Canter re land tax
Subseries 1-7. Letters relating to the choice a site for the Federal Capital, June-September 1906
Comprises Items 166-170. Correspondents are J.M. Carruthers and S.M. Mowle
Subseries 1-8. Correspondence relating to Major Lenehan's case n.d.
Comprises Items 171-174. The correspondents are Lord Jersey and R. Lenehan.
Subseries 1-9. Correspondence relating to Watson's retirement from the position of leader of the Labor Party, October 1907
Comprises Items 175-198. Including letters of regret at Watson's retirement from various trade unions and Labor Party organizations, as well as private individuals.
Subseries 1-10. Correspondence relating to conscription, November 1916
Comprises Items 190-191. Letters from the Political Labor League Executive of New South Wales declaring Watson's position as member of the Executive vacant; letter from Watson to the Paddington Political Labor League regarding his expulsion.
Series 2. Speeches, notes, articles and other papers, n.d.
This series includes drafts of articles, speeches and notes on the labour movement, Australian politics, preference, the choice of a capital site, and the tobacco trust. There is also an appointment diary for 1900.
Series 3. Miscellaneous Items, n.d.
This series includes the secretary's report of the proceedings of the Sydney Troward Society, a copy of an enquiry into the dispute over control of the Amalgamated Railway and Tramway Service Association, a copy of evidence of the Public Service Board enquiry into the working of the State Clothing factory, duties of the honorary organizer of the Federal War Committee in connection with the scheme for the employment by Lucien Cosmo, the minutes of a meeting of the trustees of the General Cemetery, extract from a report of an interview with the Rev. John Ferguson, notes on the zone system, poem by Rev. J.K. Hinshelwood on a rumour of J.C. Watson's retirement, poem (unsigned), an acrostic by Rab Scott, a diagram of Richardson's patent Exchange value, statistics on vion compiled by foots and an autographed Australian flag.
Series 4. Financial papers, 1898-1907
The series includes receipts, income tax returns and cheque butts.
Series 6. Cards and invitations, 1906-1938
This series consists mainly of official cards and invitations.
Series 8. Photographs
The photographs are housed in the Library's Pictures Collection.
They comprise photographs of W.G. Spence (1912), J.C. Watson, John Gale, (journalist, 1924), W.C. Hill (holding a copy of the first paper printed in Canberra with John Gale), A.K. Murray (Editor) and one unidentified photograph.