Other resources

The National Library of Australia has over 300 print items on the subject of the League of Nations. Library material on the history of the League and its legacy can be found by searching the Catalogue.

You can conduct a basic search to find material regarding the League of Nations by entering your search terms or key words into the text box. Once you run your search, you can narrow the results using the filters listed on the right hand side of the page. 

You can also find material regarding the League of Nations by searching subject headings. To do this, visit the catalogue and change the drop down menu to subjects. As you begin typing in the text box, the catalogue should suggest some relevant subject headings. 

Individual items will also include links. When you click on a subject heading, it will open a list of every item in the catalogue with that heading.

The Treaty of Versailles included the planned formation of the League of Nations as part of the text. Selected works on the Treaty and the Paris Peace Conference include:

• Peacemaking, 1919 by Harold Nicolson (1944) Nicolson was the private secretary to Eric Drummond, the first secretary-general of the League of Nations.
• Peacemakers : the Paris Conference of 1919 and its attempt to end war (2001) by Margaret MacMillan, professor of international history at Oxford University. Incudes Maps and portraits

Subject headings for the League of Nations include:

• League of Nations -- History
• League of Nations -- Australia

Selected Print Resources

• The League Of Nations
  
  by Ruth Henig (2010) Examines the League and its legacy today
• The splendid adventure: a review of empire relations within and without the Commonwealth of Britannic nations
  
  W.M. Hughes (1929)
• Australia and the League of Nations
  
  W.J. Hudson (1980)
• The aims, methods and activity of the League of Nations
  
  (1938). Includes a copy of the Covenant of the League of Nations
• A history of the League of Nations
  
  by F.P. Walters, 2 vols. (1952). The author served in various capacities during the creation and functioning of the League.
• Historical dictionary of the League of Nations
  
  by Anique H.M. van Ginneken (2006). The historical background is described in the introduction and plotted year by year in the chronology. Includes bibliography.
• A history of Australian defence and foreign policy 1901-23. Volume 2, Australia and World crisis, 1914-1923
  
  by Neville Meaney (2009) Chapters 13 & 14 cover the Making of the Treaty of Versailles, and Australia’s involvement.

In our Manuscript Collection

Detail from Tenth assembly League of Nations in Hall of the Reformation, Geneva, 1929 [picture]: Australian delegation on Lq/t front. From the Papers of Henrietta Drake-Brockman, 1882-1975 [manuscript], MS 1634

The Library holds several manuscript collections related to the League of Nations. These can be requested through the Catalogue and viewed in the Special Collections Reading Room. Papers include:

• Hall Collection
  
  Hessel Duncan Hall (1891–1976) joined the League of Nations Secretariat in Geneva in 1927. In 1935 he was given responsibility within the Secretariat for the British dominions. The collection contains extensive papers relating to the League, including a scrapbook of letters and clippings on the League of Nations

• Groom Collection
  
  Sir Littleton Ernest Groom (1867–1936) led the Australian delegation at the Assembly of the League of Nations in Geneva in 1924. Series 6 and 7 of the Papers of Sir Littleton and Lady Jessie Groom, circa 1867-1962 contain material, including addresses and notes, on the League of Nations. Information can be found in the online finding aid.

• Latham Collection
  
  Sir John Greig Latham (1877–1964) wrote papers in support of the League of Nations and attended the League of Nations General Assembly in 1926. The Papers of Sir John Latham include minutes of meetings and diaries dealing with the League of Nations; see the online finding aid.

• Hughes Collection
  
  William Morris Hughes (1862-1952) played a conspicuous part at the Paris Peace Conference, particularly on the questions of reparations, the former German colonies in the Pacific, and the covenant of the League of Nations. Series 35, 16, 24, and 42 of the Papers of William Morris Hughes relate to the League of Nations.

• Robert Garran
  
  Sir Robert Garran (1867-1957) accompanied W. M. Hughes to the Peace Conference of 1918-1919. Series 11 of the Family papers of Robert Garran contains memoranda, reports and correspondence dealing with the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, 1925 and 1930 meetings of the League of Nations, and the Australian delegation at the 11th Assembly.

• Papers of Joe Starke, 1928-2000
  
  Joseph Gabriel (Joe) Starke (1911-2006) became a member of the Secretariat of the League of Nations in Geneva in 1935, in the League secretariat's drug section dealing with the opium trade. The Acc04.227 and Acc06.078 instalments of the papers deal with the League of Nations. See also Obituaries Australia.