Guide to the Papers of Patrick McMahon Glynn

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MS 4653

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Glynn, Patrick McMahon
Patrick McMahon Glynn
Title
Papers of Patrick McMahon Glynn
Date Range
1874-1931
Collection Number
MS 4653
Extent
4 metres (24 boxes + 3 folio items)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
National Library of Australia

Introduction

Scope and Content

The papers consist of diaries, notebooks, correspondence, opinion books, newspaper cuttings, notes, photographs and printed material.

The papers date from 1874, the earliest items being the letters that Glynn wrote to various members of his family while he was still in Dublin. The diaries record in detail his life and thoughts from 1880, when he left Dublin, until 1927, four years before his death.

The other material in the collection provides information on Glynn's law practice, his years as a Member of the House of Representatives and as a Federal Minister and contains information on the political events and issues of the time, including Federation, the Murray Waters question and World War I.

Glynn had a deep interest in Classical and English literature, especially the work of Shakespeare, and the papers include many literary essays and lectures.

Access conditions

Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn333142).

Copying and publishing conditions

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Patrick McMahon Glynn, National Library of Australia, MS 4653, [box number and series and/or folder number]'.

Provenance

The Glynn papers were received between 1958 and 1973 from Mrs J. O'Collins, Father G. O'Collins and Mrs J.S. Peters of Melbourne and Mr Aiden McMahon Glynn of Ireland. The marriage proposal from Glynn to Abigal Dynon was presented by Professor Maev O'Collins and Moira Peters in 1996.

Biographical Note

Patrick McMahon Glynn was born on 25 August 1855 in Gort, County Galway, Ireland and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated as a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws. He was an excellent scholar and orator and became oratory medallist for Ireland in 1880.

Glynn emigrated to Australia in 1880 and after a short time in Melbourne, settled in Kapunda, South Australia. He practised law in both Adelaide and Kapunda with the firm of Hardy and Davis and in April 1883 became editor of the Kapunda Herald, a position he occupied for eight years. On 21 July 1883 he was called to the Bar in South Australia.

In 1887 Glynn was elected Member for Light in the South Australian Assembly. From 1895 to 1901 he was the Member for North Adelaide. He was one of the leaders of the Federation movement in South Australia, and was a delegate at the 1897-98 Convention. He was a member of its judicial committee. In December 1899 he became South Australian Attorney-General in the Solomon Ministry, which lasted for one week.

Glynn was elected a representative of South Australia in the first Federal Parliament in 1901 and in 1903 became the Member for Angas. He retained this seat until December 1919, being the last member of the Federal Convention to remain in the Federal Parliament. In the early years of the Federal Parliament Glynn was associated with the Free Trade party. He was Attorney-General in the 1909-10 Deakin Ministry and Minister for Home and Territories in the Hughes Ministry of 1917-20. In 1919 he was defeated in the general elections and Alexander Poynton became Minister for Home and Territories. Glynn then retired from politics.

Besides politics, Glynn was interested in constitutional law and literary subjects, particularly Shakespeare. In 1897 he married Abigail Dynon and they had two sons and four daughters. They settled in Adelaide at Glynneath, Mill Terrace. His wife died in 1929 and Glynn died from pneumonia on 28 October 1931, at the age of 76.

Reference: O'Collins, Gerald, Patrick McMahon Glynn: a founder of Australian Federation. Melbourne, Melbourne University Press, 1965.

Item Descriptions

Series 1. Family correspondence, 1874-1927

The letters in this series are mainly from Glynn to members of his family - his parents, brothers, sisters and nephew. There are a few letters written to Glynn from his aunt, sister and nephew. The first letter is dated 1874 when Glynn was still in Dublin and the last was written in 1927. As well as personal matters, the topics include late nineteenth century Irish politics, Glynn's early life in Melbourne, South Australian and Federal elections, Glynn's 1916 overseas tour, conscription referenda, and religion. Glynn's letter of proposal of marriage (added to his papers in 1996) is at 1/263-5 in Box 24.

All correspondence in this collection has been indexed in the name index to correspondence.

Series 2. General correspondence

Glynn kept much of his business and personal correspondence, particularly in his later years. There are letters sent to Glynn and also copies of Glynn's outward correspondence. The subject of the letters are Irish politics, legal matters, the Empire and Federation, electorate matters, requests for assistance, tariff duties, the Double Income Tax question, congratulatory telegrams, letters from G.H. Knibbs relating to the 1919 Imperial Statistical Conference, Glynn's requests for publications, a donation of essays written by Glynn to the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery of South Australia, biographies of Glynn to be included in Who's who and other biographical publications. Some photocopies exist alongside the originals.

All correspondence in this collection has been indexed in the name index to correspondence.

Series 3. Diaries, 1880-1927

The 46 diaries kept by Glynn began on 4 September 1880 and finish on 21 December 1927. Although there are not daily entries, the diaries provide a detailed picture of Glynn's thoughts, ideas and political, religious and literary interests. He often commented on contemporary events, both in Australia and overseas. The diaries tend to be more detailed in the earlier years. Some poetry of Glynn's is included and often newspaper clippings are found attached to the inside covers.

There are also typescript copies of the diaries up till 1918 and from 1918-1927 there are photocopies of the originals. There are also three reels of microfilm copies of the diaries from 1918-1926 located at mfm G 2541-G 2543.

The diaries are arranged chronologically and the inclusive dates for each volume is shown below. Items 1-9 are typed transcribed copies of the diaries, items 10-18 are photocopies, and items 19-64 are originals.

4 September 1880 - 22 June 1886 (Item 1)

2 July 1882 - 8 March 1883 (Item 2)

2 July 1882 - 8 March 1883 (Item 3)

28 February 1892 - 21 March 1903 (Item 4)

17 May 1903 - 25 December 1906 (Item 5)

1 January 1907 - 24 May 1910 (Item 6)

20 June 1910 - 19 December 1914 (Item 7)

25 December 1914 - 8 January 1916 (Item 8)

8 January 1916 - 1 January 1919 (Item 9)

7 January 1918 - 11 May 1918 (Item 10)

8 January 1919 - 19 June 1919 (Item 11)

28 June 1919 - 26 September 1919 (Item 12)

15 November 1919 - 9 February 1920 (Item 13)

7 March 1920 - 10 November 1920 (Item 14)

7 May 1921 - 21 December 1921 (Item 15)

27 December 1921 - 31 December 1922 (Item 16)

1 January 1923 - 2 January 1924 (Item 17)

31 December 1924 - 21 February 1926 (Item 18)

4 September 1880 - 12 October 1880 (Item 19)

14 October 1880 - 11 November 1881 (Item 20)

18 August 1882 - 8 March 1883 (Item 21)

13 March 1883 - 1 June 1885 (Item 22)

15 June 1885 - 30 December 1896 (Item 23)

2 September 1897 - 19 November 1898 (Item 24)

27 November 1898 - 25 December 1900 (Item 25)

4 January 1901 - 21 March 1903 (Item 26)

17 May 1903 - 25 December 1904 (Item 27)

1 January 1905 - 30 December 1905 (Item 28)

1 January 1906 - 28 December 1906 (Item 29)

1 January 1907 - 28 July 1907 (Item 30)

4 August 1907 - 9 February 1908 (Item 31)

14 March 1908 - 21 November 1908 (Item 32)

14 December 1908 - 15 August 1909 (Item 33)

18 September 1909 - June 1910 (Item 34)

20 June 1910 - 7 April 1911 (Item 35)

8 June 1911 - 11 February 1912 (Item 36)

14 February 1912 - 13 February 1913 (Item 37)

15 February 1913 - 20 July 1914 (Item 38)

2 August 1914 - 19 December 1914 (Item 39)

25 December 1914 - 12 April 1915 (Item 40)

17 April 1915 - 18 July 1915 (Item 41)

18 July 1915 - 28 October 1915 (Item 42)

31 October 1915 - 8 January 1916 (Item 43)

8 January 1916 - 16 March 1916 (Item 44)

20 March 1916 - 15 June 1916 (Item 45)

16 June 1916 - 21 July 1916 (Item 46)

23 July 1916 - 20 September 1916 (Item 47)

25 September 1916 - 31 December 1916 (Item 48)

1 January 1917 - 22 July 1917 (Item 49)

29 July 1917 - 6 January 1918 (Item 50)

7 January 1918 - 11 May 1918 (Item 51)

18 May 1918 - 1 January 1919 (Item 52)

8 January 1919 - 19 June 1919 (Item 53)

28 June 1919 - 27 September 1919 (Item 54)

15 November 1919 - 5 February 1920 (Item 55)

7 March 1920 - 10 November 1920 (Item 56)

14 November 1920 - 17 April 1921 (Item 57)

7 May 1921 - 24 December 1921 (Item 58)

27 December 1921 - 31 December 1922 (Item 59)

1 January 1923 - 2 January 1924 (Item 60)

6 January 1924 - 25 December 1924 (Item 61)

31 December 1924 - 21 February 1926 (Item 62)

1 March 1926 - 27 December 1927 (Item 63)

2 January 1927 - 21 December 1927 (Item 64)

Series 4. Notebooks, 1875-1925

This series of 41 notebooks covers aspects of Glynn's life and career from 1875 to 1925. They include notes from books, journals, and newspapers. There are notes on the following subjects: literature, religion, Ireland, politics, law, finance, taxation, war, peace, defence, industrial matters, insurance, conciliation and arbitration, tariffs, Land Tax assessment, trade marks, banking and currency, elections (State and Commonwealth), proportional representation, the Constitution, the Federal Conventions, Commonwealth Parliament, State and Federal rights, the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Bill, land nationalization, Murray Waters question, quarantine, water conservation, navigation, oil, Imperialism, White Australia, the Immigration Restriction Act, League of Nations, mandatory systems, Australia and the territories, the Magna Charta Association, the English Speaking Union, British elections and Edmund Burke.

Series 5. Newspaper cuttings

A series of sixteen books containing clippings from newspapers such as the Age, Argus, Register, Sydney Morning Herald and Times Weekly. Most of the cuttings are pasted on the pages, but some are loose. The cuttings relate to Federation, defence, free trade, Ireland (with reference to Charles Parnell), the Murray Waters question, Federal and State elections and politics, Federal territories and the Empire. The date range is from 1893 to 1921. Most of the books are indexed. Two books are folio size.

There are other books of newspaper cuttings in Series 11, 12, 15, 16, 17 and 19.

Series 6. Photographs, 1868-1924

The series consist of twelve photographs and two caricatures. The photos are of Glynn as a boy (1868), as a young man (1875, 1880), two portraits of his mother, one of his father, one of Glynn with a client and an acquaintance (1883), a group photo taken at Gumeracha, SA (1895), three portraits of Glynn (1895, 1909, 1916), and one of John McMahon Glynn (Glynn's eldest child who died in infancy in 1899). The caricature is a cartoon that appeared in the Bulletin on 20 November 1913, and the other appeared in the Adelaide News on 19 February 1924.

Series 7. Printed material

A small series consisting mainly pamphlets on Imperial taxation, science and race prejudice, the Western Union Railway, British Science Guild and the South Australian Friendly Societies Association. There is one small anonymous music manuscript, and an address to the Millions Club, Sydney, by H.B. Higgins in 1917 on the topic of employer/employee relations. A postcard map of the Commonwealth of Australia is also included. Most of Glynn's own writings are housed in the Library's main book collection.

Series 8. Literary works

Glynn read widely in the field of English and Classical literature and was a popular speaker at literary society meetings. His speeches at such meetings showed his love for the classics, a knowledge of French and German writers, and a great interest in English literature, particularly Shakespeare.

He was President of the South Australian Literary Societies Union in 1895. The series contains many of Glynn's essays, speeches and lectures. There are handwritten drafts, typescript copies and published works. Most of the works have Shakespearian themes (King Lear, Some of Shakespeare's women, The disposition of Shakespeare, Some thoughts on Shakespeare). Other topics are Dante, Sincerity in literature, and Taste and Time. There is also an announcement of a speech given by Glynn at the Lothian Club, some poems in Glynn's handwriting and eight notebooks containing drafts of essays, poems and other literary works.

Series 9. Financial papers

Private papers relating to Glynn's finances are contained within this series - letters, statements for both Glynn and his wife, and material connected with the Commonwealth General Assurance Corporations Limited (of which Glynn was a shareholder and chairman of the South Australian Board of Directors.) There is correspondence from the Central State Worsted Ltd, the State Petrol Oil Company, and the National Bank; mortgages held by Glynn; an extract from his Income Tax return (1920); letters regarding the finances of clients while Glynn was practising law; a list of salaries of Ministers; National War Bonds; ledger balances (1924); receipts; and the Insurance Companies Act (1924).

Series 10. Irish politics

Glynn never lost his interest in Irish politics and he collected much material on the subject. It was also the theme of a good many of his essays and speeches which are to be found in this series, either as handwritten drafts, typescript copies, or published pamphlets. There are also some loose newspaper cuttings and a notebook. Topics include Home Rule, Sinn Fein, self-determination for Ireland, the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic, conscription in Ireland, the German-Irish plot and United Irish League.

Series 11. Legal material

Glynn was called to the Irish Bar in 1879 and began to practise in Adelaide and Kapunda in 1882, with the firm of Hardy and Davis. In 1886 Glynn bought the Kapunda practice and in 1888 he opened an office in Gladstone Chambers, Adelaide, as well as continuing his Kapunda office. He soon built up a successful practice in Adelaide.

The material in this series includes fifteen notebooks; three of Glynn's opinion books; five books of newspaper cuttings on court cases; notes on the Constitution Alteration Bill; some opinions on constitutional matters; some cases heard in the High Court; papers relating to the Inter-State Conference (1909); an essay on the protection of Australian industries and the repression of destructive monopolies; and the Australian Industries Preservation Act (1910), presented while Glynn was Federal Attorney-General.

Series 12. Kapunda Herald, 1887-1914

Soon after Glynn arrived in Kapunda to set up a branch office for Hardy and Davis, he became editor of the Kapunda Herald. He held this position from April 1883 to October 1891 and became widely known for his editorials on South Australian politics. Many were republished in the Adelaide Register.

The series contains five books of clippings on Glynn's editorials. The clippings date from April 1887 to October 1891. A cutting for October 1914, commemorating the Jubilee of the Kapunda Herald, is also included.

Series 13. Election and political material

Glynn stood for elections from 1887 to 1919 at state and federal levels. He was Member for Light (1887-1889); North Adelaide (1895-1899); a member of the South Australian Delegation to the Commonwealth Constitutional Convention (1897-1898); South Australian representative in the first Federal Parliament (1901 - November 1903) and Federal Member for Angas (December 1903 - December 1919).

This series consist of Glynn's handwritten and typescript notes and speeches on elections, printed pamphlets and booklets, draft bills, letters, certificates, some newspaper cuttings and various other political and electoral material collected while Glynn was a Member of Parliament. They concern political parties, mainly the Liberal Party, election candidates and figures, electoral reform, absentee voting, proportional representation (including a draft bill relating to preferential voting of members of the House of Representatives in 1909), the Electoral Amendment Bill of 1914, and some issues of Representation, the journal of the Proportional Representation Society.

Series 14. Political speeches and notes

Glynn collected numerous papers in the course of his political career and many of these are to be found here, together with his political speeches (handwritten, typescript and printed). There is a suggestion for the preamble of the Constitution, in Glynn's handwriting. The topics include defence, the tariff, federation, immigration (extracts from debates on the Immigration Restriction Bill 1901), railway rates, taxation, referenda, legislation, the Judiciary Bill, the Commonwealth Salaries Bill, preferential trade, water conservation, industrial arbitration, war, internationalism, peace treaties, and Australian territories. There are also two pamphlets, The Principles of Democracy and Kinship and Relations in World Politics, both of which were written by Glynn.

Series 15. Federation

The Australian Federation movement was of great interest to Glynn and he was a member of the Conventions which framed the Commonwealth Constitution in 1897-98, as well as being a member of the first Federal Parliament.

In this series are two books of newspaper cuttings, the majority of which concern aspects of Federation such as the Federal Conventions; the Commonwealth Bill, the Premiers' Conference; the Commonwealth Constitution; and Federal electoral laws. One book also contains information on the North Adelaide elections of 1895-96. Other material on Federation is to be found in Series 2, 3, 4, 5, 11.

Series 16. Minister for External Affairs, 1913-1914

Glynn was Minister for External Affairs from June 1913 to September 1914 and the papers in this series relate to that period of office. There are five notebooks, typescript speeches made by Glynn while a Minister, memoranda, notes on the rearrangement of Departments, reports on the Australian Territories, newspapers clippings, maps of Papua, correspondence between Glynn and Dr J. Gilruth, the Administrator of the Northern Territory, and with J.H.P. Murray, Lieutenant-Governor of Papua, material on the Immigration Act 1901-1912, notes on defence and trusts, private correspondence relating to applications for positions, policy notes, Customs Tariff 1914, war cables regarding vessels detained at South Africa and a book of newspaper cuttings on Papua.

Series 17. World War I

Although not in office during the early war years, Glynn was kept busy giving speeches and visiting England at the invitation of the Empire Parliamentary Association in 1916. He also took the opportunity to tour New Zealand, Fiji, Honolulu, North America, Canada, France, Scotland and Ireland.

The papers relate to the Business Conference 1916; London Exhibition, 1916; Anglo-Japanese Alliance; Lord Jellicoe's reports; racial discrimination in Japan; National defence; the Australian War Museum Committee; the Netherlands and East Indies; immigration; a speech given by Glynn in Dublin; publications of the Empire Parliamentary Association concerning the War; wartime statutory rules, amendments to the War Precautions Act; Dr Mannix's statements regarding the Conscription Referendum; and material on returned soldiers. There is also a book of newspaper cuttings on the Peace Conference.

Series 18. Minister for Home and Territories, 1917-1920

Subseries 18.1. General papers

The topics include food and drugs legislation; reports on the Territories; trade; returned soldiers; the War Precautions Act; the Inter-State Commission; defence; Public Service administration; recruiting; Federal control of the liquor trade; elections; the Constitution Alteration Act 1906-1919; the Supply Bill; the Naturalization Act 1903-1917; Glynn's account of negotiations between the Liberals and W.M. Hughes in February 1917; the Report of the Royal Commission on Navy and Defence administration; judicial powers; and Cabinet memoranda. There are seven notebooks compiled by Glynn while he was Minister for Home and Territories and a book of newspaper cuttings, as well as loose newspaper cuttings, telegrams and photocopies of Northern Territory memoranda.

Subseries 18.2. The Case of Father Charles Jerger, 1918-1920

Father Charles Jerger, O.P. was interned by the Defence Department after making allegedly disloyal statements in a sermon in November 1916. Glynn assisted the efforts of the Catholic Federation of New South Wales, Archbishop Kelly and prominent Catholics to prevent the priest from being deported and to secure his release. Father Jerger was not deported and was released in 1920. Correspondence between Pearce, Glynn, Father Jerger's superior and others is included in this series, together with some newspaper clippings and other relevant documents.

Series 19. Murray Waters question

This issue concerned Glynn for more than 25 years and a considerable amount of correspondence and printed material relating to it was collected by him. The question concerned the control and use of Australia's inland rivers. Glynn was a member of the South Australian Royal Commission on the Murray Waters which was appointed in 1887 and dissolved in 1891 and he initiated a motion which advocated an interstate conference to decide on a joint system of locking and conservation. In May 1902, an interstate Royal Commission was appointed to examine the use of the Murray and its tributaries for irrigation, navigation and water supply. Glynn took part in a number of debates on the question and prepared numerous notes stating his case. Finally, an agreement was reached in 1914 and Glynn was chairman of the committee which drafted it.

The series contains five notebooks, letters, telegrams, notes, printed material, draft bills, newspaper clippings and the Commonwealth River Murray Waters Act, 1915.

A further collection of papers were added in January 2006 (Acc06/4). These include an extensive 'Case for Opinion' on The Murray and ts tributaries by Glynn, a copy of the Opinion by Isaac Isaacs, speeches by Glynn 1904 and 1923, pamphlets by others, 1904-1908 and 1924 (including a 1904 paper on the Murrumbidgee Water Supply by John Monash) and the 1911 Report on the Interstate Conference on Murray River Waters.

Series 20. Magna Charta Day Association and English Speaking World

Glynn was approached by these organisations and agreed to publicise their activities.

The Magna Charta Association was an international movement which aimed at the recognition by English speaking nations of a special day which would commemorate the signing of the Magna Charta as an "outstanding event in human liberty". Much of the correspondence is between J.W. Hamilton, the founder of the Magna Charta Day Association, and Glynn.

The English Speaking World was a magazine published in London. Ernest Bennett, the Managing Director, asked Glynn to promote the magazine in Australia and Glynn also contributed occasional articles to it.

The series contains correspondence and printed material. The correspondence concerns articles which Glynn contributed to English Speaking World and circulars which were sent to him. Glynn's notebooks (Series 4) also contain references to both these topics.


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