Guide to the Papers of Arthur B. Deacon (as filmed by the AJCP)
M2520 - M2521
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 2018
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Deacon, Arthur Bernard
- Title
- Papers of Arthur B. Deacon (as filmed by the AJCP)
- Date Range
- 1907 - 1935
- Collection Number
- M2520 - M2521
- Extent
- 39 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
Correspondence, biographical notes, cuttings, notes on Malekula and linguistics, and other papers relating to Deacon's fieldwork in the New Hebrides and posthumous publication of Malekula. Correspondents include Camilla Wedgwood, A.C. Haddon and A.R. Radcliffe-Brown.
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 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)
Archival History
Material selectively filmed as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project, 1991 (AJCP Reels: M2520-M2521). Original microfilm digitised as part of the AJCP Online Delivery Project, 2017-2020.
Existence and Location of Originals
Cambridge University Library, Cambridge, England. For more information see Arthur B. Deacon at Cambridge University Library (https://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0012%2FMS%20Add.9715).
Existence and Location of Copies
The original AJCP microfilm of the records filmed from this collection is available at the National Library of Australia [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2304300] as well as other institutions holding AJCP microfilm.
Finding-aid Notes
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
Anthropologists; Deacon, Arthur B.; Haddon, A.C.; New Hebrides: life and customs; Malekula, New Hebrides; Vocabularies: New Hebrides; Radcliffe-Brown, A.R., Prof.; Wedgwood, Camilla
Bibliography
Originally cited in Australian Joint Copying Project Handbook. Part 8: Miscellaneous (M) Series. Third Edition, published 1998. Entry 125, pp45-46.
Biographical / Historical
Arthur Bernard Deacon (1903-27) was born in South Russia where his father was a partner in a shipping firm. He studied Natural Science at Cambridge, and came under the influence of Haddon, who persuaded him to study for a diploma in Anthropology. Haddon suggested he make an ethnographical study of Malekula, Northern New Hebrides. He left for Australia in October 1925 and arrived at South West Bay, Malekula, on 21 January 1926. He travelled extensively, visiting Bushman's Bay, Atchin, Big Nambas Territory, and Ambrym. Before he could leave the island to take up an appointment under Radcliffe Brown at University of Sydney, he caught blackwater fever and died.
His work on Malekula was edited by Camilla Wedgwood and published by Routledge in 1934.
The Deacon papers form part of the Haddon papers at Cambridge University Library. The Haddon papers have been listed separately and should be consulted for further material relating to Deacon. In particular see Box 8: 25/2 File 2 for further correspondence with Ewan Corlette (New Hebrides) and AR Radcliffe-Brown (Sydney).
Item Descriptions
Series 16000. Biographical notes, correspondence and press cuttings re Deacon and the publication of Malekula: a vanishing people in New Hebrides (c. 143p.), 29 September 1926 - September 1932
7 items
Haddon (Cambridge) to AB Deacon (Malekula) commenting on Deacon's work on Malekula and at Bushman's Bay; Ambrym class system etc., October 1926 - January 1927 (File (a))
Camilla Wedgwood (Cambridge) to Deacon (Malekula) re burial customs, 29 September 1926 (File (b))
Although described individually, this letter was originally microfilmed with a page from another letter. The last page of the letter described can be found at the beginning of nla.obj-761682491.
Camilla Wedgwood (London, and on board SS Ceramic) to Haddon re Deacon's character; editing Deacon's book on Malekula, March 1927 - September 1932 (File (c))
Although described individually, this letter was originally microfilmed with a page from another letter. The last page of the letter described can be found at the beginning of nla.obj-761682515.
Miscellaneous correspondence to Haddon re Deacon (File (d))
Correspondents include: Ewan Corlette (Malekula); Emily Deacon (Blyth); Haddon to Macmillan re publishing Deacon's work on Malekula; WE Armstrong (Horsham). 1927-1934.
Although described individually, this letter was originally microfilmed with a page from another letter. The last page of the letter described can be found at the beginning of nla.obj-761682531.
Series 16001. Correspondence (c. 118p.), 1907 - 1932
6 items
Copies by Haddon of Deacon's notes and letters from Malekula to Haddon, his mother, AR Radcliffe Brown and Broinowski (Melbourne Library), 1926 - 1927 (File (a))
Although described individually, this letter was originally microfilmed with a page from another letter. The last page of the letter described can be found at the beginning of nla.obj-761682638.
Deacon (Cambridge, Melbourne, Vila, Ambrym, South West Bay) to Haddon, 1925 - 1927 (File (b))
Subjects include: grant for research trip; information from Rev. RP Wilson of Melanesian Mission; visit to Resident Commission at Vila; future plans; social organisation at Ambrym and other field work.
Although described individually, this letter was originally microfilmed with a page from another letter. The last page of the letter described can be found at the beginning of nla.obj-761682651.
Correspondence between Haddon and A Radcliffe Brown (Sydney University), 1927 - 1931 (File (c))
Subjects include: death of Deacon; offer of lectureship at Sydney Univ. to Deacon; funding of research by Australian National Research Council; Deacon's work on Malekula; leaving Sydney for Univ of Chicago; future of anthropological study in Australia retrieving Deacon's papers from Malekula.
Camilla Wedgwood (London) to Haddon re her editorship of Deacon's work; offer of research fellowship from ANRC, 9 January 1932 - 18 May 1932 (File (d))
Although described individually, this letter was originally microfilmed with a page from another letter. The last page of the letter described can be found at the beginning of nla.obj-761682695.
Series 16002. Notes and correspondence
Comprises: correspondence (1925-34) to Haddon, press cuttings and miscellaneous notes re Deacon's death and work in Malekula, shipping his papers and effects back to England and publishing his book.
Correspondents include: Margaret Gardiner (London, one incomplete); Bernard Deacon (SS Ormonde and South West Bay [copy to his mother]); AR Radcliffe Brown (Sydney Univ.); Haddon to Brown (copy); Clifford Francis (Vila); Brenda Seligman (Oxford); G Elliot Smith (London); John Layard (London); Felix Speiser (Basel); Camilla Wedgwood (London); Lucy Cheesman (London); Emily Deacon (Worksop); Arthur Deacon (Galatz); Routledge & Sons Ltd. (London).
Miscellaneous notes include: Bank statements re AB Deacon Fund; photograph of map of Malekula; draft obituaries of Deacon by ACH; Deacon's notes re people to meet in Sydney, equipment to take to Malekula.
(c. 133p.).
Series 16003. Correspondence (c. 200p.), 1925 - 1935
4 items
Correspondence from Mr and Mrs Deacon (Blyth, London, Galatz) to Haddon, 1925 - 1934 (File (a))
Subjects include: death of Bernard Deacon; his estate; AB Deacon Fund; Margaret Gardiner's engagement to Deacon; publishing Deacon's book on Malekula.
(Some incomplete).
Although described individually, this letter was originally microfilmed with a page from another letter. The last page of the letter described can be found at the beginning of nla.obj-761682794.
Draft letters from AC Haddon (Cambridge) to Mrs Deacon, 21 March 1927 - 27 March 1927 (File (b))
Re death of Deacon.
Although described individually, this letter was originally microfilmed with a page from another letter. The last page of the letter described can be found at the beginning of nla.obj-761682811.
Miscellaneous correspondence to Haddon re death of Deacon and business correspondence re publishing his book, 1927 - 1935 (File (c))
Correspondents include: Mrs Boyd (South West Bay) re illness of Deacon; Margaret Gardiner (London); GS Turpin (Monkton Combe); Clifford Francis (Vila); Robert Boyd (S.W. Bay); Ewan Corlette (Bushman's Bay); Manager Westminster Bank (Cambridge); John Myres (Royal Anthropological Institute, London); RA Broniowski (Canberra); Routledge & Sons Ltd. (London).
Includes: telegram announcing death.
Series 16004. Malekula vocabulary
Comprises 5 notebooks (J,N,P,O,X) with notes on Lagalag and Lambumba language, word lists. 'J' notebook includes notes on instruction of children by parents, festivals, cannibalism, and other anthropological topics.
(Some faint pencil, c. 200p.).
Series 16005. Malekula - original notes by Deacon (c. 186p.), 2 April 1926 - 1934
5 items
Ms. notes by Deacon on Malekula (File (a))
Subjects include: ceremonies, language, relationships, genealogies.
Although described individually, this letter was originally microfilmed with a page from another letter. The last page of the letter described can be found at the beginning of nla.obj-761682912.
Typed copies of notes from manuscript of ABD (File (b))
Although described individually, this letter was originally microfilmed with a page from another letter. The last page of the letter described can be found at the beginning of nla.obj-761682957.
Series 16006. Notes by Haddon
Comprises: notes by Haddon and Camilla Wedgwood from fieldwork notes and letters of Deacon.
Subjects include: Big Nambas; Taro cultivation; astronomy; ceremonies; fishing nets; drums; musical bow; incision; death; social organisation; ownership of land.
Includes: Oct 1926. Deacon (Lambumbu) to Haddon re depopulation in New Hebrides, death rate from flu; consumption of alcohol by natives; comments on French government; fieldwork.
(c. 130p.).
Series 16007. Proofs of illustrations for Malekula
Although listed, this material was not filmed by the AJCP.
Series 16008. Malekula
Comprises: notes by Haddon from Deacon's notes and letters.
Subjects include: social organisation and relationships; ceremonies; decoration; drums.
(Box 136, 53p.)
Series 16009. Further notes
Comprises: notes by Haddon from Deacon's notes and letters.
Subjects include: language; the Ambat; religion; burials; pottery.
Includes: 16 January 1926. Deacon (SS Makatoa) to Haddon re stay in Vila; grade system; monoliths; strong French influence; Chinese brought in by the French.
(77p.)
Series 16010. Malekula linguistics
Comprises: notes by Deacon, Haddon and Wedgwood on Malekula languages.
Includes: 30 November 1927. SH Ray (Thorpe Bay) to Haddon with comments on linguistics in Deacon's ms.
(Some faint pencil).
(118p.)
Series 16011. Malekula
Comprises: notes by Deacon on social anthropology, vocabulary, legends of the Ambat.
(64p.)
Series 16012. Correspondence re Malekula (65p.), 20 June 1932 - 25 April 1934
3 items
Correspondence between Haddon and George Routledge & Sons Ltd. (London), 20 June 1932 - 25 April 1934 (File (a))
Re publication of Malekula - costs, plates, maps, reading proofs, publication date, John Layard's suggested corrections.
Although described individually, this letter was originally microfilmed with a page from another letter. The last page of the letter described can be found at the beginning of nla.obj-761683218.
Correspondence between John Layard (Welwyn Garden City) and Haddon (File (b))
Re misrepresentation of John Layard's work and influence on Deacon by Camilla Wedgwood in Malekula. Includes: copy of Supplementary Preface by J.L. and 13 March 1934, J Layard to Routledge re corrections that should be made. 20 Feb-3 May 1934.
Although described individually, this letter was originally microfilmed with a page from another letter. The last page of the letter described can be found at the beginning of nla.obj-761683239.
Series 16014. Notes by Haddon
Comprises: notes by Haddon on works by Deacon, Rivers and others on Melanesia and New Hebrides.
Subjects include: Boomerang in Melanesia; social groupings; Ambrym ceremonies; games.
Also includes:
Eastern Melanesia: summary of Prof. Speiser's lectures.
AB Deacon (Bushman's Bay) to Pere Tattevin (Pentecoste) re social organisation in Ambrym, n.d.
(see also 16005) (Copy).
Effigies: draft paper on life-sized effigies of Malekula.
D Mahony (National Museum, Melbourne) to Haddon re effigies from Malekula in the Museum, 1932-03-23
2 sketches of life-sized figures.
(113p.)
Series 160015. Correspondence (9p.)
4 items
H Hall (Liverpool) to Haddon re Deacon, 30 July 1926 (File)
Includes letter from H Hall (Edinburgh) to Deacon requesting him to collect ethnological objects from New Hebrides for University Museum, Philadelphia, 1926-08-05.
Although described individually, this letter was originally microfilmed with a page from another letter. The last page of the letter described can be found at the beginning of nla.obj-761683353.