VPRS 5173 Outward Letter Books (Clerk of the Legislative Assembly 1905-1910, Clerk of the Parliaments 1910-1914)

This series consists of various outward letter books, containing copies of unregistered outward correspondence letters created by Mr Thomas Watson, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly from 1902-1910, Clerk of the Legislative Council and Clerk of the Parliaments 1910-1912, and continued by his successor Mr R.McCall 1912-1914. Letter books were the means by which copies of correspondence despatched from the office were retained for future reference.The letter books that make up this series were originally registered by PROV as 3 separate series:VPRS 5173 Interstate Conferences Letter Book now VPRS 5173/P0 and P1VPRS 5174 Outward Letter Book from the Gillies Monument Sub-Committee now VPRS 5173/P3VPRS 5176 Outward Letter Books from Clerk of Legislative Assembly now VPRS 5173/P2In 1999, the records in the above 3 series were brought together to form VPRS 5173.It would seem that Mr Watsons recordkeeping system for outward correspondence involved the use of several letter books simultaneously for letters relating to different subject matter. (Watson also arranged his letter books by subject when he was Clerk of the Parliaments see VPRS 5181 Outward Letter Books). Thus, several units in this series cover the same date range.As at 1999, the letter books of Mr Watson are the only records in custody from this series.A brief description of the subject matter of the contents of each unit follows:5173/P0 Units 1 & 5173/P1 Unit 1 (Interstate Conferences)This unit contains the outward letters created in the Clerks capacity as the Secretary to the Interstate Conferences. Most of the correspondence is directed to the Ministers and Officers attending, concerning issues such as the program of events. It appears to be fairly routine organisational and administrative correspondence. Some items of correspondence are letters from the President of the Conference and the Chairman of the Reception Committee of the Cabinet. Two conferences appear to be covered in Unit 2. One session runs from August to September 1909 and the second from March to May 1914.5173/P2 Units 1 & 2 (includes personal correspondence)As well as routine correspondence created in the course of his duties as Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, the P2 consignment units 1 and 2 include items that are marked personal or confidential, and are not strictly connected to his duties as officer of the parliament (eg letters to colleagues overseas, cover letters accompanying the gift of his brochure about the first 50 years of responsible government in Victoria).5173/P3 (Gillies Monument)This was previously registered with the series title Outward Letter Book from the Gillies Monument Sub-Committee. Indeed, much of the correspondence in the P3 consignment in the period 1905-1907 relates to this Committee (for which Watson was Honorary Secretary) and the Gillies Memorial Fund. (Duncan Gillies died 14 September 1903, when Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.)