Guide to the Papers of Mervyn Austin

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MS 9098

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Mervyn Austin
Title
Papers of Mervyn Austin
Date Range
1981 - 1995
Collection Number
MS 9098
Extent
3.06 metres (14 boxes) + 1 carton + 2 A3 cartons + 2 folders.
Language of Materials
English
Repository
National Library of Australia

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The collection comprises a typescript manuscript of a partial autobiography 'A classical education',correspondence, speeches, speech notes, lectures, articles, drafts of writings, photographs, cuttings, diaries and publications.

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn3027707).

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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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

Biographical / Historical

Academic and classicist. Mervyn Neville Austin was Professor of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Western Australia from 1952 until 1978. After his retirement from the University, he was appointed Emeritus Professor and was the Warden of Convocation, 1980-1982. His publications include, The presence of the past (1952), and, An ignorant man thinking: essays and addresses (1961). Austin was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1981 in recognition of service to education.

Item Descriptions

Class MS 9098. Original Consignment

MS 9098 comprises a typescript manuscript of a partial autobiography "A classical education", describing Austin's experiences at Melbourne Grammar School and University of Melbourne; orders of service for memorial services for Austin; "John Wollaston: man of God" and "Certain persons of importance: citations and orations" by Mervyn Austin; and, copies of obituaries for Professor Lloyd Austin (Mervyn's brother), January 1995 (2 folders).

Class MS Acc99.075. Consignment Received 1999

The Acc99.075 instalment includes correspondence, speeches, speech notes, lectures, articles, drafts of writings, photographs, cuttings and publications (1 carton, 2 A3 cartons).

Class MS Acc11.039. Consignment Received 2011

The Acc11.039 instalment comprises extensive autobiographical and academic writings on subjects ranging between flying and theology. It contains diaries and drafts of books as well as university material. Of note are diaries relating to Austin's time serving in the Second World War with an Australian squadron of night fighters based in Britain and as a Rhodes scholar student at Oxford in the 1930s with observations on students such as Manning Clark (14 boxes).

Diaries. Official War History. N.E. Austin memoir: Oxford Diaries 2 vols abridged from originals, 1936-1939 (File) - Box 1 (MS Acc11.039) (MS Acc11.039)

Diaries. Official War History. N.E. Austin memoir: World War 2 Diaries, 1940-1944 (File) - Box 1 (MS Acc11.039)

Diaries. Official War History. N.E. Austin memoir: Official History of 456 Squadron by M.N. Austin, 1945 (File) - Box 1 (MS Acc11.039)

Diaries. Official War History. N.E. Austin memoir: N.E. Austin 'My Days at Melbourne Grammar School' 1921 -1980s, 1980s (File) - Box 1 (MS Acc11.039)

Diaries and reading lists: Academic and personal diaries, reading lists and quotations with personal commentary, 1949-1991 (File) - Box 2 (MS Acc11.039)

Lectures: Academic and university extension courses, 1952-1991 (File) - Box 3 (MS Acc11.039)

Autobiographical writings: Includes talk on WW2 experience 'Psychological Problems of the Air Observer', 1935 (File) - Box 4 (MS Acc11.039)

Theology, Church History, Biblical Studies: Lectures, talks, course plans, book plans, sermons (File) - Box 5 (MS Acc11.039)

Theology, Church History, Biblical Studies: Includes notes on pioneer clergyman in WA John Wollaston (File) - Box 5 (MS Acc11.039)

Theology, Church History, Biblical Studies: University of Adelaide Student Christian Movement Mission, 1963 (File) - Box 5 (MS Acc11.039)

Theology, Church History, Biblical Studies: Sermons (3 folders) includes: (File) - Box 5 (MS Acc11.039)

Theology, Church History, Biblical Studies: University of WA Chapel series 1991 (File) - Box 5 (MS Acc11.039)

Theology, Church History, Biblical Studies: University Sermon St George's Cathedral nd (File) - Box 5 (MS Acc11.039)

Theology, Church History, Biblical Studies: Anzac Day 1967 (File) - Box 5 (MS Acc11.039)

Theology, Church History, Biblical Studies: As headmaster of Newington College 1950 (File) - Box 5 (MS Acc11.039)

Theology, Church History, Biblical Studies: At St Oswald's Swanbourne 1991 (File) - Box 5 (MS Acc11.039)

Theology, Church History, Biblical Studies: At St Aidan's Claremont 1982 (File) - Box 5 (MS Acc11.039)

Theology, Church History, Biblical Studies: St George's College Chapel 1964,1987 (File) - Box 5 (MS Acc11.039)

Theology, Church History, Biblical Studies: Christ Church Claremont 1976 (File) - Box 5 (MS Acc11.039)

Theology, Church History, Biblical Studies: Claremont Baptist Church 1976 (File) - Box 5 (MS Acc11.039)

Theology, Church History, Biblical Studies: St Mary's Church of England Upper Yarr, 1931 (File) - Box 5 (MS Acc11.039)

Theology, Church History, Biblical Studies: Lectures and addresses (File) - Box 5 (MS Acc11.039)

Topics include Augustine, Aquinas, Newman, Biblical studies, modern theology, ethics.

Correspondence, Press clippings, Funeral papers: General and family correspondence, 1950-1991 (File) - Box 6 (MS Acc11.039)

Correspondence, Press clippings, Funeral papers: Press clippings on professional activities (File) - Box 6 (MS Acc11.039)

Correspondence - personal: Correspondence between M.N. Austin and R.B. Austin nee im Thurn, 1943-1991 (File) - Box 7 (MS Acc11.039)

Important WW2 correspondence. Some restriction required on correspondence from 1970 to 1991. [Post 1945 correspondence transferred to box 6 ]

Correspondence - personal: Includes correspondence during war service in UK, courtship and marriage, 1943-1945 (File) - Box 7 (MS Acc11.039)

Diaries: Personal diaries and jottings, 1950s-1970s (File) - Box 8 (MS Acc11.039)

Diaries: Diaries and jottings 1950s to 1980s, 1950-1980 (File) - Box 8 (MS Acc11.039)

Diaries: University extension lectures (File) - Box 9 (MS Acc11.039)

Diaries: Occasional talks (File) - Box 9 (MS Acc11.039)

Diaries: Samuel Johnson Research (File) - Box 9 (MS Acc11.039)

Diaries: Voyage Across the World' 1936 - account of sea voyage to Britain as Rhodes Scholar for Victoria, 1939 (File) - Box 11 (MS Acc11.039)

1936 account of sea voyage has historical interest (also refers to fellow traveller Rhodes Scholar for Tasmania Richard Gandy)

Theology. Biblical studies. Church History: Academic papers, talks and notes, 1950-1991 (File) - Box 10 (MS Acc11.039)

Correspondence. Press Clippings. Funeral: General family correspondence, 1950-1991 (File) - Box 12 (MS Acc11.039)

School days memorabilia: St Thomas Grammar School, Essendon, junior school certificates et al, 1920 (File) - Box 13 (MS Acc11.039)

M.N. Austin's Oxford diaries have considerable historical interest, details of other Australian scholars, including Manning Clark; hospitality scheme for Rhodes Scholars, sport, academic staff.

School days memorabilia: Oxford Diaries, 1936-1939 (File) - Box 13 (MS Acc11.039)

Lectures and academic papers. Correspondence. Photographs: Academic lectures and papers - misc, 1950-1991 (File) - Box 14 (MS Acc11.039)

Includes photograph of M.N. Austin sitting on the floor at Balga Primary School teaching children in an extension class during his retirement, also in UWA Convocation events.

Lectures and academic papers. Correspondence. Photographs: Academic correspondence (includes letters from Sir Harold Bailey), 1936-1945 (File) - Box 14 (MS Acc11.039)

Lectures and academic papers. Correspondence. Photographs: Photographs - several portrait photographs of M.N. Austin, as Rhodes Scholar and university professor, 1950-1990 (File) - Box 14 (MS Acc11.039)


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