NRS-4542 | Subject bundles [Governor]

These bundles mainly consist of files containing correspondence from individuals and organisations, despatches from the Secretary of State, copies of replies from both the Governor's Private and Official Secretaries, and copies of correspondence and despatches to the Secretary of State, other Governors and officials. The papers dated 1953 to 1981 relate to the administration of the Governors Lieutenant-General Sir Eric Winslow Woodward, KCMG, CB, CBE, DSO, KVCO (1 August 1957-31 July 1965) and Sir Arthur Roden Cutler, VC, AK, KCMG, KCVO, CBE, KStJ (20 January 1966-19 January 1981), the majority being from Sir Roden Cutler's administration. Three of Sir Roden Cutler's bundles contain material from Sir Eric Woodward's term and three of Sir Eric Woodward's bundles contain material from the term of his predecessor, General Sir John Northcott, KCMG, KCVO, CB, K St J (1 August 1946-31 July 1957). (1) These papers are arranged alphabetically by subject or correspondent's name. Within each file, the correspondence is arranged in roughly chronological order, and is unregistered. The outwards correspondence in the papers is from the Governor’s Private Secretary, and some of the earlier inwards correspondence is date and time stamped with PS (Private Secretary). The Private Secretary attended to all of the Governor’s correspondence (excepting personal or private correspondence unless requested to by the Governor). All of the official correspondence was attended to by the Governor's Official Secretary. (2) The papers deal with such matters as invitations to the Governor to attend events and functions including: acceptance or refusal of invitations, correspondence, programmes, speech notes, briefing notes, protocol information, menus and diagrams of seating arrangements; requests for the Governor to extend his patronage to organisations; requests for interviews with the Governor; minutes of the Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee; correspondence with the Governor-General; royal visits' programmes and expenditure; and details of country tours. The papers dated 1910 to 1975 are generally arranged chronologically but with major subjects, such as Royal Visits maintained separately. (3) The correspondence within the files and papers is arranged chronologically, and some of the correspondence has been registered with an annual single number. The outwards correspondence is generally from the Governor's Official Secretary. Some of the inwards correspondence has been recorded in the Registers of despatches from other Governors, and letters from Consuls and Diplomats, officials and private persons (NRS 4540). The papers cover a variety of subjects such as: Sir Dudley de Chair and the Constitutional Crisis of 1926; imperial service medals and honours, Sir Eric Woodward's speech notes; garden parties; opening of Parliament; Government House Christmas cards, samples of table plans and invitation cards; departmental manuals and reports; protocol, and procedural matters; awards, distinguished visitors, constitutional matters, country tours, and war contingency plans. The papers also contain copies of Australian newspapers which are dated August and September 1930. The newspapers are arranged in a roughly chronological order, and contain articles and editorials regarding the visit in 1930 of Sir Otto Niemeyer, from the Bank of England to Australia. This visit was a significant event in the political and administrative history of New South Wales, particularly in regards to the dismissal of the Honourable Jack T. Lang, M.L.A, the Premier of New South Wales, by His Excellency, Sir Phillip Game, Governor of New South Wales, in May 1932. The complex events preceding the dismissal have been documented in the literature, and also in the Governor's papers such as NRS 4545.The series also includes a set of photographic slides of functions held at Government House, probably from the mid-1960s. The slides appear to be of a garden party, and of military bands on the lawn outside Government House. Endnotes 1. Alexander, J. A (Ed.) "Who's Who in Australia" 1965, XVIII edition, Melbourne, Herald and Weekly Times, 1935-1988 pp. 643 and 921; Herd M (Ed.), “Who’s Who in Australia “ 2002, XXXVIII edition, Crown Content Pty Ltd, Melbourne, 2001, p.519; Concise Guide to the State Archives (Courts of Requests - G): Governor, G, Correspondence with other Governors, Officials and Private Persons 2. Governor: Subject Bundles: Various copies, statements relating to functions, protocols, procedural matters (1944-1975): Undated documents stating the duties of the Private Secretary, and the Official Secretary to the Governor, SRNSW ref 12/2063.1, [NRS 4542] 3. Op. cit. Concise Guide to the State Archives (Courts of Requests - G): Governor, G, Correspondence with other Governors, Officials and Private Persons.ReferencesCain, F Jack Lang: and the Great Depression, Australian Scholarly Publishing Pty Ltd, Melbourne, 2005.Clune, D and Turner, K (Eds.) The Governors of New South Wales 1788-2010, The Federation Press, Annandale, 2009.Clune, D and Turner, K (Eds.) The Premiers of New South Wales 1865-2005, Volume 2, 1901-2005, The Federation Press, Leichhardt, 2005.Governor: Papers regarding differences between the Governor, Sir Phillip Game, and the Premier J.T. Lang; the financial crises, the proposed abolition of the Legislative Council; and the dismissal of the Lang Ministry, 1930 - 1932: SRNSW Ref 2/8206, Reel 2785, [NRS 4545].Nairn, B (Ed.) Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vols. 7 - 10, 1891-1939, University of Melbourne Press, Carlton, 1966-2000.Radi, H and Spearritt, P (Eds.) Jack Lang, Hale and Ironmonger Pty Ltd, Neutral Bay, 1977.Thompson, S Objects through time: Statement of significance: Starvation Debenture c.1932, Migration Heritage Centre at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, 2007 from the Powerhouse Museum website http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibition/objectsthroughtime/starvation (cited 23 July 2010).