Guide to the Papers of John Farquharson

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MS 10254

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Farquharson, John Mayo, 1929-2016
Title
Papers of John Farquharson
Date Range
1956 - 2013
Collection Number
MS 10254
Extent
1.50 metres (9 ms boxes + 28 sound/av carriers)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Special Collections (Manuscripts)

Introduction

Scope and Contents

Papers relating to Farquharson's long career as a journalist and also to his work as a parliamentary staffer, an oral history interviewer and a writer of obituaries. Included are copies of many of his newspaper articles; correspondence; research material on the history of The Canberra Times; papers and emphemera from official overseas visits; research for and drafts of obituaries on a number of notable public figures; research files for subjects of oral history interviews; papers relating to his employment with Liberal politician, Wal Fife; and a CD of an interview of Farqhuarson recorded in 2003.

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions.

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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Farquharson, National Library of Australia, MS 10254, [class/series/file/items number(s)]'

Provenance

The papers were acquired from John Farquharson in 2014.

John Farquharson interviewed by Mark Cranfield , 1982

John Farquharson interviewed by Jon Ritchie in the Australians in Papua New Guinea (PNG) 1942-1975 oral history project, 2008

John Farquharson interviewed by Barry York, 2003

A large number of interviews of notable people were conducted by John Farquharson on behalf of the National Library. Details are available via searching the Library's catalogue using the search limiter 'Audio'

Biographical / Historical

Journalist John Farquharson joined Australian United Press in Sydney in 1951, covering state politics and industrial rounds, and then moved to Canberra in 1953 to work in the Press Gallery as a parliamentary reporter. Significant political events he covered include the Petrov Affair (1954), the Fitzpatrick and Browne corruption case (1955), and the HMAS Voyager disaster (1964). From 1965-1966 Farquharson edited the South Pacific Post in Port Moresby, PNG.

Farquharson moved to Canberra in 1966 where he held several positions with The Canberra Times including News Editor, Deputy Editor and Editorial Manager. He left journalism to work as a research officer from 1988-1992 for Liberal Party minister Wal Fife.

From the mid-1990s Farquharson wrote obituaries on many prominent Australians which were published in national newspapers including The Canberra Times, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. A collection of his obituaries was published by the National Centre of Biography as part of the pilot stage of the Obituaries Australia project. During the same period, he also conducted interviews for the National Library of Australia's oral history program, and wrote entries for the Australian Dictionary of Biography.

John Farquharson died on 29 June 2016.

Item Descriptions

Series 1. Obituaries, 1966 - 2013

From the mid-1990s Farquharson wrote obituaries on many notable Australians. Included in this series are published obituaries (Canberra Times, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age); typescript versions and occasional copies of source materials, including eulogies, funeral orders of service, and death notices.

Obituaries A-B, 1966-2010 (File 1) - Box 1

Beadman, William James, lifesaver, bus driver; Beazley, Kim Edward (Snr), politician; Bickel, Leonard Herbert, journalist; Black, Henry Preston, polar pioneer; Bland, Sir Henry Armand, public servant; Bomford, Anthony Gerald, surveyor; Borthwick, Alexander Hay, diplomat; Brooks, Wal, journalist; Brown, Sir Allen, public servant

Obituaries C, 1996-2013 (File 2) - Box 1

Chaney, Sir Frederick Charles, politician; Clark, Bob, Scottish country dancer; Clarke, Hugh Vincent, writer and public servant; Cleland, Dame Rachel, conservationist; Coffey, William Henry, architect; Cole, Richard Neville ('Dick'), newspaper executive;Craig, Hazel Lorna, private secretary; Crocker, Sir Walter Russell, diplomat; Currie, Sir Neil Smith, diplomat

Obituaries D, 1995-2007 (File 3) - Box 1

Daly, Fred, politican; Daly, Lieut-General Sir Thomas Daley; Davies, Val, newspaper advertising manager; Dix, Alexander Thomas, businessman; Dixon, Freda Annie, farmer and gardener; Douglas, Annie Laurie, public servant; Dowling, Bess, nurse

Obituaries F, 1987-2010 (File 4) - Box 1

Fairbairn, David Eric, politician; Fairhall, Allen, politician; Flanagan, Noel, War Memorial Director; Fleming, Allan Percy, public servant; Freeth, Sir Gordon, politician

Obituaries G, 1995-2002 (File 5) - Box 1

Gorton, John Grey, Prime Minister (not published); Griffith, Allan, foreign policy advisor; Gullett, Henry Baynton Somer ('Jo'), politician; Gullett, Ruth Mary, gardener

Obituaries H-I, 2002-2009 (File 6) - Box 2

Harvey, Francis Harrie, master printer; Hay, Sir David, diplomat; Hay, Lady Alison Marion Parker, wife of diplomat, conserver of heritage; Herde, Kenneth Howard, public servant; Hobson, Phillip, war photographer; Hope, Justice Robert Marsden; Howse, John Brooke, federal Minister; Ingram, Kenneth Ross, Canberra Times reporter

Obituaries J-L, 2000-2012 (File 7) - Box 2

Johnson, (Flora) Dulcie, PNG mentor and friend; Johnson, Sir Leslie Wilson, Administrator of PNG; Jones, John Mervyn Hamilton, cinema operator; Killen, Sir James, politician; Kingsland, Sir Richard, pilot, public servant; Lee, Robert George, compositor; Loof, Rupert Harry Colin, former Clerk of the Senate

Obituaries M, 1996-2010 (File 8) - Box 2

McAlary, Frank Stratton, barrister, pastoralist, 'dancing man'; Macdonald, Brigadier Donald; McKeown, Paul John, headmaster; McLachlan, Angus Henry, journalist; McNicoll, David Ramsay, journalist; McFarlane, Archibald Bertram ('Tich') public servant; Melville, Sir Leslie Galfreid, economist; Mills, Sir Frank Harland, heart surgeon; Moodie, Colin Troup, diplomat; Moserova-Davidova, Jara, surgeon, politician, Ambassador

Obituaries N-R, 1994-2009 (File 9) - Box 2

Perkins, Dr Charles Nelson, activist for Indigenous rights; Petersilka, Augustin ('Gus'), cafe proprietor; Porter, William Erasmus, media ethicist; Rattigan, Alf, free-trade advocate; Refshauge, Major-General Sir William Dudley Duncan, medical administrator

Obituaries S, 1999-2008 (File 10) - Box 2

Salisbury, George Alan, public servant; Serong, Brigadier Ted, military tactician; Shakespeare, Heather Gladys, newspaper identity; Smith, George Warwick, public servant; Starke, Joseph Gabriel, League of Nations staff member; Swartz, Sir Reginald, soldier, politician; Synnot, Admiral Sir Anthony Monckton

Obituaries T, 1996-2005 (File 11) - Box 3

Taylor, Vice-Admiral Rodney Graham; Thwaites, Michael Rayner, poet, public servant; Tucker, Margaret (Lilardia), Indigenous activist

Obituaries U-Z, 1992-2009 (File 12) - Box 3

Ward, Leonard, journalist; Warin, Oliver Noel, geologist; Warren, Robert George, architect; Weeks, Alan Burford, peacemaker; Westerman, Sir Alan, public servant; Wheeler, Sir Frederick, public servant; White, Sir Harold, librarian; Whitrod, Raymond, Police Commissioner; Wilson, Sir Roland, public servant; Winch Ron, book seller; Yeend, Sir Geoffrey, public servant

Obituaries - Other (File 13) - Box 3

Access closed until 2037

Series 2. Political staffer for Wal Fife MP, 1991-2008

In 1988, Farqharson commenced work as a staffer for Liberal politician, Wal Fife.

Correspondence and papers (File 14-17) - Box 4

Correspondence from Wal and Marcia Fife and to Wal from John Farquharson 1993-2005. Writings by Wal Fife, including eulogy for John Jackson, Wagga Daily Advertiser; draft foreword for Carmelite cook book; Parliament and the People, March 1992; media statement on Fife's resignation 22 May 1992; Strategy, Tactics and Question Time Meetings 13 March 1991; Industry Statement 12 March 1991; office contact lists. There are also drafts of Fife's autobiography:Wal Fife: a country liberal, 2008

Typescipt drafts (File 18) - Box 4

Typescript drafts which appear to be from a book by Sir Clarrie Harders 'Government in the 1970s: a Public Service perspective'.

Series 3. National Library of Australia Oral History interviews, 1997-2007

For several years from the mid-1990s, Farquharson was engaged by the National Library of Australia to record oral history interviews.

Interview files, 1998-2006 (File 19) - Box 4

Research materials, correspondence from interviewees: Joseph Starke, Judith Harley, Jill Ker Conway, Gavin Souter, Pierre Hutton, Dr Frank Mills, Peter Ryan, Tom Hughes, Lloyd Waddy, Graham Freudenberg, Patricia and Claude Prance, Stewart Cockburn, Eva Duldig, John Hatton, Richard Kingsland, Tony Ayers, Bill Gray, Diane Langmore.

Series 4. Correspondence and papers, 1982-2013

Personal correspondence, 1958-2013 (File 20) - Box 5

Includes letters from Kim Beazley Snr, Kim C. Beazley, Stuart Braga, Fredy Bodmer, Sananda Datta-Ray, John Farquharson, jr, Nancy Flannery, Robert A I Grant , Ken Humphreys, Jacqueline Kent, Jonathan McKeown, Allan Marshall, John Mills, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Bill Porter, Grace Richardson, Peter Ryan, Sir Michael Somare, Michael Thwaites (include typescript of poem: 'Song for the Cedars' and ALS of 'Christmas Trees')

Correspondence re Oral History interview with Farquharson, 2003 (File 21) - Box 5

Two interviewee copy CDs of an interview of Farquharson recorded by Michael Richards for Old Parliament House. Also included are two CDs from Old Parliament House 'Night Sitting' event on the Petrov Affair, with John Farquharson, David McKnight and Michael Thwaites.

ADB research on Ian Fitchett, 2006 (File 22) - Box 5

Autobiographical material (File 23) - Box 5

Series 5. Newspaper articles and other writings, 1956 - 2007

News clippings of Sun Herald articles by Farquharson, writing as "The Sun Herald Political Correspondent", 1968-1969 (File 24) - Box 6

Typescripts and newspaper clippings of book reviews and by Farquarhson other writings on Australian subjects, 1956-2007 (File 25-28) - Box 6

Includes the release of the Menzies papers in the National Library; social history of Canberra, writing obituaries and a eulogy for Reverend Hector Harrison, including military history; typescripts and newspaper clippings

Series 6. The Canberra Times, 1959 - 1988

Farquharson worked for The Canberra Times from 1966-1998 during which time he held the positions of News Editor, Deputy Editor and Editorial Manager

Papers (File 29-36) - Box 7

Articles, photographs, news clippings on the history of The Canberra Times and the Shakespeare family, written for the 50th (in 1976), 60th and 70th anniversaries of the paper; internal memos; copies of the staff magazine 'Times Xpress'. 1975 International Women's Year Status of Women conference and 'invasion' of Canberra Times offices. Four unsigned cartoons - possibly of Farquharson.

Personal correspondence John Farquharson and The Canberra Times, 1959-1993 (File 37-38) - Box 7

The Canberra Times personal byline file, 1963-1988 (File 39) - Box 7

Contains photocopies and newsclippings, including book reviews and articles, bylined by Farquharson and also whilst writing as "an AUP Special Correspondent"

Series 7. Overseas visits, 1974-1986

Trip to Japan by Australian and New Zealand journalists, 1974 (File 40) - Box 8

Includes itinerary; English language press clippings on Japanese politics; Japanese words for simple communication; currency conversion; "Facts about Japan"; questions submitted to Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Finance and International Trade and Marketing; a letter from John Farquharson to Japanese Embassy in Australia outlining subjects for interview with Prime Minister Tanaka; other interview requests; questions submitted to Mr Tanaka by the journalists' delegation; letters of introduction from "Jim" to Hideo Nakajima and Renzo Yanagisawa. Aerogramme letters from Celia, John, James and Andrew Farquharson

Asian Development Bank sponsored press tour, 1979 (File 41) - Box 8

Farquarhson was a participant on the tour and papers include a list of participants; itinerary and program; and arrangements for a meeting with President Marcos. There are also papers relating to the Bali Irrigation Project.

Qantas Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) inaugural flight China visit, 1984 (File 42-43) - Box 8

"The Friendship Delegation": tourist ephemera, including from the Great Wall Hotel; programme; welcome letter from Ambassador Dennis Argall; China basic brief; briefing notes on Guandong province and Peking; Australian Embassy Officers List; hotel room listing (including Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Mr & Mrs Beazley); VIP itinerary for Guandong; bio on Senior Vice President Wan Li.

Trip to India, 1986 (File 44) - Box 8

Correspondence, research clippings, and notes on Punjab situation

Series 8. Papua New Guinea, 1961-1992

In 1961, Farquharson travelled with Paul Hasluck​, Minister for Territories, to look at two colonial administrations – in Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, now Jayapura, Indonesia, and in what is now Papua New Guinea, which had been run by German, British and Australian administrations. From 1965-1966 he worked in Port Moresby editing the South Pacific Post.

Newspaper articles by John Farquharson, 1961-1996 (File 45) - Box 9

Included are clippings, telexes, typescripts, photocopies, and handwritten drafts

Correspondence and papers, 1967- 1992 (File 46) - Box 9

Correspondence re visits, visas, letters of introduction and interview requests; circulars including from Father John Momis to Paul Quodling, Bougainville Copper May 1987; to PM Rabbie Namiliu from Cecil Abel and others August 1988; Papua New Guinea Moral Rearmament Group; Amos Rorima to Alan Weeks, October 1992; research paper by Nigel Cooper:Bougainville reconsidered: the role of Moral Rearmament in the Bougainville Copper Land Crisis of 1969.

Moral Rearmament visit to PNG by Farquharson and Alan Weeks, September 1993 (File 47) - Box 9

Papers, 1994 (File 48) - Box 9

Moral Rearmament; material related to August Peace Education and Rehabilitation training workshop, Maisua, North Solomons, including speech by Ignatius Namake and Interim Report November 1994; Kwato Church of PNG AGM report

Papers, 1995-1998 (File 49) - Box 9

Circulars on Moral Rearmament Community Trust Building Project; ANU conference The Bougainville Crisis: the search for peace and rehabilitation, June 1995; reports by Alan Weeks of the five day meeting in Cairns hosted by the Australian Government, bringing together representatives of the Bougainville Transitional Government, the Bougainville Interim Government and Bougainville MPs. Prefabricated timber village housing, including colour photographs and drawings by Ken Schulz (1996). Australian Council for Overseas Aid Peace Building in Bougainville seminar, May 28 1998

Series 9. Audio cassette recordings, 1995 - 1997

The Canberra Times history, 1995-1997 (File 50-51)

Twenty-four cassette tapes of interviews with: John Allan, editor; George Barlin; Jenny Bell, promotions manager; David Bowman, editor; Dick Cole, Board member; Dennis Corsini, letterpress machinist; Alan Davies, compositor; Val Davies, advertising representative; John B. Fairfax; John Farquharson, deputy editor; Neil Fotheringham, manager; Bill Hoffman, music critic; Bernie Hourigan, operations manager; Bob Lee, compositor; Ian Mathews, editor; Ian Meikle, managing director; John Pringle, editor; Heather Shakespeare; Jack Waterford; and Graham Wilkinson, general manager.

Interview Heather Shakespeare, widow of A.T. Shakespeare by Frank Cranston of CT, Canberra 8/11/1995, 8/11/1995 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012679) - Cassette-Box 667
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape

Canberra Times Archives

Heather Shakespeare 8/11/1995, 8/11/1995 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012680) - Cassette-Box 667
1 item, Sony 100, Compact cassette tape
Interview with John Pringle-Editor Canberra Times 1964-65, Sydney, 12/12/1995, 12/12/1995 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012681) - Cassette-Box 667
1 item, Sony 100, Compact cassette tape

One side only. More detailed information on casing.

Interview with Ian Maekle(managing Director) Canberra 12/05/1997, 12/05/1997 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012682) - Cassette-Box 667
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape

Canberra Times Archives

Interview with David Bowman, former editor The Caberra Times, 18/11/1995, 18/11/1995 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012683) - Cassette-Box 667
1 item, TDK AD100, Compact cassette tape

1 hour 23 minutes

Interview with Dick Cole-Manager Canberra Times 1964-1976, Board Member 1975-1983, Canberra 10/01/1996, 10/01/1996 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012684) - Cassette-Box 667
1 item, Sony 100, Compact cassette tape
Canberra Times 70th anniversary interview with John Allan-Editor 1969-1972, Canberra 15/01/1996, 15/01/1996 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012685) - Cassette-Box 667
1 item, TDK AD100, Compact cassette tape
Interview with George Barlin, Canberra 28/3/1996. Tape 1, 28/03/1996 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012686) - Cassette-Box 667
1 item, Sony HF60, Compact cassette tape
Interview with George Barlin, Canberra 28/3/1996. Tape 2, 28/03/1996 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012687) - Cassette-Box 667
1 item, Sony HF60, Compact cassette tape
Interview with Jenny Bell-former Canberra Times Promotions Manager 17/06/1997, 17/06/1997 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012688) - Cassette-Box 667
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape
Interview with Bill Hoffman(music critic) Canberra 7/08/ 1997, 7/08/1997 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012689) - Cassette-Box 667
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape

Canberra Times Archives

Maggie jones and Colin Webb-Preservation Services National Library (Item NLA.MS-SAV012690) - Cassette-Box 667
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape
Interview with JB Fairfax, Sydney 12/12/1995, 12/12/1995 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012691) - Cassette-Box 668
1 item, Sony 100, Compact cassette tape
Interview with Bob Lee, Compositor 1953-1988 at CT, Canberra 11/01/1996, 11/01/1996 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012692) - Cassette-Box 668
1 item, Sony 100, Compact cassette tape

More information on cassette case.

Interview with Graham Wilkinson former general manager at CT from 1979-1987, Canberra 17/01/1996, 17/01/1996 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012693) - Cassette-Box 668
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape
Interview with Ian Mathews, former editior, Canberra Times, Canberra 23/01/1996, 23/01/1996 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012694) - Cassette-Box 668
1 item, TDK AD100, Compact cassette tape
Interview with Val Davies, former advertising representative Canberra Times, canberra 30/01/1996, 30/01/1996 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012695) - Cassette-Box 668
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape
Interview with Alan Davies, former compositor CT, Canberra 30/01/1996, 30/01/1996 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012696) - Cassette-Box 668
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape
Interview with Neil Fotheringham- advertising manager, CT 1979-1982, Canberra 22/02/1996, 22/02/1996 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012697) - Cassette-Box 668
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape
Interview with Bernie Hourigan-operations manager, CT 2/04/1996, 2/04/1996 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012698) - Cassette-Box 668
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape
Interview with John Farquharson (deputy editor, Canberra 26/11/1996, 26/11/1996 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012699) - Cassette-Box 668
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape

Canberra Times Archives

Interview with John Farquharson (deputy editor, Canberra 26/10/1996, 26/11/1996 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012700) - Cassette-Box 668
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape

Canberra Times Archives

Interview with denis Corsini, letter press machinist, CT, Canberra 10/04/1997, 10/04/1997 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012701) - Cassette-Box 668
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape
Jack Waterford (Item NLA.MS-SAV012702) - Cassette-Box 668
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape

Other recordings, c. 1996 (File)

Four cassette tapes of interviews with: Kath Hamilton; Ken Ingram parliamentary reporter, Old Parliament House; Martin Lewis and Michael Medved, speaking at Caux Switzerland, July 1996; and Gordon Todd

Ken Ingram 3/04/1996, 3/04/1996 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012703) - Cassette-Box 669
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape

Oral History Interview at Old Parliament House. 1 hour.

Martyn Lewis and Michael Medved speaking at Caux, Switzerland 23/07/1996, 23/07/1996 (Item NLA.MS-SAV012704) - Cassette-Box 669
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape
Kath Hamilton (Item NLA.MS-SAV012705) - Cassette-Box 669
1 item, Sony HF 90, Compact cassette tape
Gordon Todd (Item NLA.MS-SAV012706) - Cassette-Box 669
1 item, Sony HF 90, Compact cassette tape

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