Guide to the Guide to Papers of Sir Timothy Augustine Coghlan (as filmed by the AJCP)
M807-M814, M828
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 2018
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Coghlan, Timothy Augustine, Sir
- Title
- Papers of Sir Timothy Augustine Coghlan (as filmed by the AJCP)
- Date Range
- 1855 - 1969
- Collection Number
- M807-M814, M828
- Extent
- 106 items
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Australian Joint Copying Project
- Sponsor
- The Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) online portal was created with the assistance of the Australian Public Service Modernisation Fund, 2017-2020. The National Library of Australia gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the other foundation AJCP partners, the State Library of New South Wales and The National Archives of the UK, and all other organisations which supported the work of the AJCP, the world's most extensive collaborative copying project, operating from 1948 to 1997.
Introduction
Scope and Contents
1. Correspondence 1878-1929, including 18 letters 1905-08 from Alfred Deakin discussing Federal politics and legislation, letters 1887-1920 from Andrew Fisher, B.R. Wise, Sir Henry Parkes, Sir George Dibbs, R.E. O'Connor, and J. Le Gay Brereton; letters, telegrams and cards of congratulations on his knighthood in 1914, and miscellaneous correspondence in chronological order on private and official matters.
2. Letter-books 1906-15 containing copies of letters to 325 friends, business contacts, politicians and officials. They relate to official matters and to his activities as Agent-General for New South Wales, as well as to routine and domestic affairs. Principal correspondents include Sir Joseph Carruthers, Alfred Deakin, Sir Charles Dilke, Sir George Reid, J.W. Holliman, W.M. Hughes, N.C. Lockyer, William Macleod and D.C. McLachlan.
3. Invitations, programs and club membership documents 1888-1925.
4. Legal documents and printed material including notification of honours and letters of condolence on his death.
5. Family correspondence 1885-1926, containing mainly correspondence with his wife and children.
6. Newspaper cuttings 1885-1926 including references to his career in Sydney and London and his contributions to the Bulletin.
7. Photographs of family and of railway construction in Sydney 1922.
Conditions Governing Access
Available for access.
Conditions Governing Use
Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.
Preferred Citation
Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.
Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February-23 September 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-987654321)
Archival History
Filmed as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project, 1971-1972. (AJCP reel M807-814, M828). Original microfilm digitised as part of the NLA AJCP Online Delivery Project, 2017-2020.
Existence and Location of Originals
The original journal of Bowes Smyth is held by the National Library of Australia (Reference: MS 6335). The journal was acquired by the National Library of Australia in 1980.
For more information see: Journal of Arthur Bowes Smyth at the National Library of Australia (https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1856161).
Finding Aid Note
This finding aid is a revised online version of the original finding aid prepared by the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP), published by the National Library of Australia in 2018. The original AJCP finding aids were unpublished typescripts or photocopies available from libraries that held copies of the original microfilm.
Dates used in this finding aid refer to the date range of the records selected for filming rather than to the date range of the Series or Files.
Subjects
Australia: politics and government; Brereton, John Le Gay; Bulletin, newspaper; Carruthers, Sir Joseph H.; Coghlan Family; Coghlan, Sir Timothy A.; Crime and criminals; Deakin, Alfred; Dibbs, Sir George R.; Dilke, Sir Charles W., 2nd Baronet; Fisher, Andrew; Holliman, J.W.; Honours; Hughes, William M.; Lockyer, N.C.; London, England; Macleod, William; McLachlan, D.C.; New South Wales; New South Wales: politics and government; O'Connor, Richard E.; Parkes, Sir Henry; Photographs: New South Wales; Railways: New South Wales; Reid, Sir George H.; Sydney, New South Wales ; Wise, Bernhard R.
Bibliography
Originally cited in Australian Joint Copying Project Handbook. Part 8: Miscellaneous (M) Series. Third Edition, published 1998. Entry number 107, page 38.
Biographical / Historical
Sir Timothy Augustine Coghlan (1855-1926) was born in Sydney, the son of Irish immigrants. He attended the Cleveland Street Public School and Sydney Grammar School. In 1870 he became a pupil-teacher at Fort Street Public School and in 1873 he joined the Department of Public Works. Enjoying the statistical and mathematical aspects of the work, he rose rapidly and by 1884 he was an assistant engineer. He did not, however, aspire to be an engineer and in 1886 he successfully sought the new position of government statistician.
Coghlan held the post for nearly twenty years and was widely recognised as the leading statistician in Australia. He became a fellow of the Royal Statistical Society in 1893. He published the annual New South Wales Statistical Register and the Wealth and Progress of New South Wales. An ambitious man, he expanded the functions of his office and eagerly accepted commissions from the Government. He advised it on financial, electoral reform and local government matters, he was a member of the Public Service Board from 1896 onwards and was the Registrar of Friendly Societies from 1892 to 1905. He served on a number of royal commissions. He was the obvious choice for the position of Commonwealth Statistician, but he turned down the offer in 1906.
Coghlan visited England in 1897 and investigated the Agent-General's office on behalf of the Public Service Board. In 1905 he accepted the position of acting Agent-General and he lived in England for the rest of his life. He took a strong interest in loan transactions and other financial matters and in the early years was regarded as the general Australian representative in London. This role was taken over by the Australian High Commissioner in 1910 and Coghlan's position later became uncertain. Nevertheless, his appointment as Agent-General was renewed at various times up to 1925. He pursued private business interests and completed his magnum opus, the four volume history, Labour and industry in Australia (1918).
Coghlan was knighted in 1914 and created a KCMG in 1918. He married Helena Donnelly in 1897 and they had three children.
Item Descriptions
Series. Correspondence, 1878 - 1926
12 itemsApart from a few early letters, the correspondence dates from 1890 to 1926. It refers to Coghlan's contributions to the Bulletin, his appointment as New South Wales Statistician, statistical queries, the distribution of statistical publications, staff appointments, Coghlan's appointment to the Public Service Board (1896), the Federal Conventions, Federal revenue, the Imperial Service Order (1903), free trade and protection, Coghlan's appointment as Agent-General in London (1905), Australian literature, the appointment of the first Commonwealth statistician (1906), British immigration to Australia, New South Wales finances, Coghlan's contributions to journals and reference books, the transfer of State debts to the Commonwealth, the 1907 Imperial Conference, Coghlan's knighthood (1914), the 1916 conscription referendum, Coghlan's publications and his business interests. The correspondents include J.F. Archibald, Sir Henry Parkes, Emily Heron, Henry Hayter, George Dibbs, Sir Thomas McIlwraith, Henry Cargill, Lord Jersey, Sidney Webb, Michael Mulhall, Sir John Forrest, Rose Scott, Richard O'Connor, John See, Alfred Deakin, Lord Beauchamp, Sir Harry Rawson, John Le Gay Brereton, B.R. Wise, Sir Joseph Carruthers, Winston Churchill, William Macleod, Andrew Fisher, Sir Charles Dilke, F.W. Ward, T.W. Heney, Charles Wade, Robert Johnston and Sir George Reid.
Archival History
Originally filmed on AJCP reels M807-M808.
Series. Letterbooks, 1906 - 1915
3 itemsArchival History
Originally filmed on AJCP reels M808-M810.
Letterbook, 30 March 1906 - 30 October 1906 (File)
Official and private letters of Coghlan dealing with State debts, New South Wales finances, immigration, trade, Australian social services, the appointment of George Knibbs as Commonwealth Statistician, the 1907 Imperial Conference, the Peel River Company, industrial arbitration, exchange rates, public service appointments, introductions and social events. The recipients include Joseph Carruthers, Alfred Deakin, Sir John Forrest, Andrew fisher, Nicholas Lockyer, Lord jersey, Sir Horace Tozer, Sir Charles Dilke, Cecil Coghlan, Winston Churchill and J. Barling (255pp).
Letterbook, 18 December 1908 - 17 May 1911 (File)
Official and private letters of Coghlan dealing with Australian politics, loan transactions, the transfer of state debts, customs and excise, trade exhibitions, social services, the establishment of the Australian High Commission, the 1910 Federal election, the Pacific Cable Board, Australian literary magazines, and social events. The recipients include Sir Joseph Carruthers, William Macleod, Thomas Waddell, J.W. Holliman, Sir Charles Lucas, Andrew Fisher, Nicholas Lockyer, J.L. Williams, Sir Horace Tozer, Alfred Deakin, Sir Bernard Mallet, Sir George Reid, W. Preedy and D.C. McLachlan (510 pp).
Letterbook, 29 June 1911 - 17 June 1915 (File)
Official and private letters of Coghlan dealing with financial matters, the Pacific Cable Board, cable rates, negotiations with companies, public service appointments, the Commonwealth Bank, the International Institute of Statistics, Coghlan's knighthood, his future as Agent-General, the outbreak of war, and a proposal to send Belgian women and children to New South Wales. The correspondents include Sir John Forrest, J.W. Holliman, W. Preedy, T.W. Heney, Cecil Coghlan, Sir George Reid, H.S. Gullett, A. Griffith, Robert Johnston, J. Davis, Sir Charles Lucas, Capt. R.M. Collins, B.R. Wise, Louis Harcourt, Sir Robert Nivison, W.A. Holman, J. Leslie Williams and D.C. McLachlan. The writing in some pages of the letterbook is very faint (470 pp).
Series. Invitations and Programs, 1888 - 1925
4 itemsArchival History
Originally filmed on AJCP reel M810.
Series. Membership of Clubs and Societies
8 itemsArchival History
Originally filmed on AJCP reel M810.
Series. Congratulations on Knighthood, 1914
Letters and telegrams congratulating Coghlan on his knighthood, January-April 1914. The correspondents include Robert Johnston (Hobart) and G.A. McKay (Melbourne), but the great majority of letters are from individuals and organisations in the United Kingdom.
Archival History
Originally filmed on AJCP reel M811.
Series. Death of Coghlan, 1926
Letters and telegrams to Lady Coghlan concerning the death of her husband, April – May 1926. The correspondents include S.M. Bruce, Sir Joseph Cook and D.C. McLachlan (Melbourne), as well as some relatives and friends of Lady Coghlan in Australia. The majority of letters are from individuals in the United Kingdom.
Archival History
Originally filmed on AJCP reel M811.
Series. Miscellaneous papers, 1878 - 1922
24 itemsArchival History
Originally filmed on AJCP reels M811-M812.
Papers concerning a process for degreasing wool, including Coghlan's application for a patent (18 July 1921) and the Australian patent granted to Coghlan (20 July 1921) (File)
Patent application 18/07/1921 and patent granted 20/07/1921.
New South Wales Parliamentary Papers: correspondence between the Attorney-General and Coghlan and report by Coghlan on the management of the Agent-General's Department, 16 November 1899 - 29 November 1900 (File)
Parliamentary papers 4pp and report 3pp
Supplement to the New South Wales Government Gazette: electorates created under the 1904 Redistribution Act., 22 April 1904 (File)
Series. Coghlan Family Papers, 1905 - 1955
39 itemsArchival History
Originally filmed on AJCP reels M812-M814.
Letters from Coghlan to Helena (Lena) Coghlan, written from London and Matlock, 1910 - 1913 (File)
15 letters
Letters from Helen Coghlan to Coghlan, written from Romsey, Shawford (Hampshire) and Rome, 1905 (File)
45 letters
Letters from Helen Coghlan to Coghlan, written from London and Shawford, 1906 - 1909 (File)
37 letters
Letters from Helen Coghlan to Coghlan, written from London, Sandown (Isle of Wight), Loch Lomond, Eastbourne, Munich, Lake Como, Montreal and Adelaide, 1910 - 1913 (File)
51 letters
Letters from Lady Coghlan to Coghlan, written from London, Windermere and Dinard (France), 1914 - 1923 (File)
20 letters
Letters from Lady Coghlan to Coghlan, written from London, Bath, Sandown, Rome and Cannes, undated (File)
33 letters
Letters from Coghlan to his daughters Eden and Marjorie, written from London, Paris, Munich and Wildbad (Germany), 1909 - 1913 (File)
21 letters
Letters from Helen Coghlan to her daughters Eden and Marjorie, written from London, Folkestone, Paris, Munich and Sydney, 1910 - 1914 (File)
24 letters
Letters from Eden Coghlan (File)
Includes:
Letter from Eden Coghlan (Eastbourne) to Marjorie Coghlan, n.d.
Letter from Eden Coghlan (Shawford) to 'Auntie', n.d.
Letter from Eden Coghlan to Julia, n.d.
Letters from Eden Coghlan to her parents, written from London, Eastbourne, Sandown, Shawford, Loch Lomond , Paris and Limoges, 1905-21. (82 letters)
Letters from Marjorie Coghlan (File)
Comprises:
Letters from Marjorie Coghlan to her parents, written from London, Sandown, Eastbourne and Belgium, 1906-15. (37 letters)
Letter from Marjorie Coghlan (Exmouth) to Eden Coghlan, n.d.
Letters from Austin Coghlan, 1917 - 1955 (File)
Comprises:
Letters from Austin Coghlan to his parents, written from Downside School (Bath), Henley and Shanklin (Isle of Wight), 1917-20. (62 letters)
Letters from Austin Coghlan to his parents, written from Downside School, St Moritz and Dinard, 1921-24. (58 letters)
Letters from Austin Coghlan to his parents, written from Downside School, 1925-26. (37 letters)
Letters from Austin Coghlan to his parents, written from Downside School, Shanklin and Dinard, undated. (69 letters)
Letter from Austin Coghlan (Downside School) to Eden Coghlan, 8 Feb. 1918.
Letter from Austin Coghlan (Downside School) to Bill Carslake, 26 Feb. 1926.
Letters from Austin Coghlan (London) to Aunt Ruby, 1947-55. (3 letters)
Diary of Helen Coghlan on a visit to the United Kingdom, 1897 (File)
The diary commences on 12 June 1897 and describes her travels from Portsmouth to London, Aldershot, Chester, Edinburgh, Obam, Clasgow, Inverness and Loch Lomond.
Transcript of recollections of Sir Timothy Coghlan, recorded by his children Austin Coghlan and Eden Willats, 11 November 1969 (File)
19 school reports of Austin Coghlan, covering his time at 134 Sloane Street, London and Downside School, Bath, 1915 - 1923 (File)
Letters from R.S. Trafford (Downside School) to Coghlan and Lady Coghlan, 1922 - 1924 (File)
4 letters
Series. Newspaper Cuttings, 1855 - 1926
8 itemsThe earliest cuttings are mostly from Sydney newspapers, particularly the Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph, Bulletin, and Evening News. In general, however, the coverage is quite broad, including cuttings from the Argus (Melbourne), Age (Melbourne), Register (Adelaide), Advertiser (Adelaide), Morning Herald (Perth). After 1905 the cuttings are mostly from English newspapers, such as the Times, Morning Post, Daily Mail, Economist, Daily Chronicle, Daily Graphic, Pall Mall Gazette, Western Morning News (Plymouth) and the Statist. The cuttings include many references to Coghlan and reviews of his books and other publications, as well as articles on various subjects that interested him.
Archival History
Originally filmed on AJCP reel M814.
Series. Photographs, 1922 - 1925
3 itemsThirty photographs, including portraits of Coghlan, Lady Coghlan and other individuals and some group photographs. They are mostly unidentified, with the exception of the listed files.
Archival History
Originally filmed on AJCP reels M814; M828.
Photographs (File)
30 photographs, including portraits of Coghlan, Lady Coghlan and other individuals and some group photographs. They are mostly unidentified, with the exception of:
Photograph of a dinner in honour of Coghlan, Savoy Hotel, London, 10 March 1925.
Photographs (6) of the construction of the city railway, Sydney, at Belmore Park and Hyde Park, 24 April 1922.
Album of photographs of 54 criminals (File 3)
Born between 1833 and 1887, who were convicted in New South Wales, with details of their convictions extending to 1906. They include both men and women. There are two photographs for each individual, one a frontal view, the other a side view.
For most of the criminals the following details are given: aliases, place of birth, year of birth, trade, religion, education (literacy), height, colour of hair, colour of eyes, distinguishing features, convictions and sentences. (Several were executed.) In some cases, there are also notes about their behaviour and sanity.