'Information Update' - Newsletter 2 - June 1998

Contents:

From the Director's Desk
JCPML Opens its Doors
David Day Lecture
Welcome to David Black
History Seminar
Collection News
Digital Progress
Donors, Supporters & Visitors

From the Director's Desk

Welcome to this special commemorative edition of Information Update.The official opening of the JCPML permanent exhibition, John Curtin: A Man of Peace, A Time of War, is an occasion for celebration and a time for reflection-for opening the doors of Australia's first prime ministerial library is the culmination of many years of effort to turn the concept into a reality. It could not have been achieved without the substantial support and encouragement we received from corporations, governments and individuals. I am very pleased that representatives from all these sectors of the community were able to join with us on April 20 to launch the public face of the JCPML.April 20 also marks the launch of another significant endeavour. With the assistance of the Library & Information Service of the Curtin University of Technology, the JCPML is very pleased to have published Dr Geoffrey Serle's manuscript on John Curtin- For Australia and Labor-which we all hope will 'introduce a new generation to a great Australian prime minister.'In March we were honoured by a visit from another former prime minister, Gough Whitlam. I am pleased to report that we were able to extract a promise from him to be our special guest at the Inaugural John Curtin Anniversary function which will become an annual JCPML event to commemorate the anniversary of Curtin's death on July 5.Finally, I wish to thank all those visitors and well-wishers who have made our opening a great success. In particular, Dr David Day, the 1998 JCPML Visiting Scholar, who maintained the high quality of the JCPML Public Lectures set by Dr Serle last year by giving an insightful interpretation of the complexities that plagued John Curtin's early years.If you are unable to join us in person on April 20, we hope this special edition will help you be with us in spirit.

Vicki Williamson, JCPML Director

JCPML Opens its Doors

February 20, 1998 marked an important new phase for Australia's first prime ministerial library when the JCPML opened its doors for the first time. "The opening of the JCPML marks an important new dimension in preserving and providing access to Australia's cultural heritage," said Vicki Williamson, JCPML Director and University Librarian.The opening followed months of intense behind-the-scenes preparation by staff to fit-out the building, develop appropriate policies and procedures and provide access to the material in the collection. In its first week of opening the JCPML received applications from interstate researchers to use the JCPML collection-which includes personal papers, oral histories, photographs, film footage, copies of official records and other archival material. The reading room is open by appointment and facilities for authorised researchers include audiovisual and microform carrels, access to networked computer workstations and study rooms.To accommodate visitors to The John Curtin Centre, entry to the JCPML permanent exhibition, John Curtin: A Man of Peace, A Time of War, is free and a 30-minute guided tour of the exhibition is available. This dynamic and interactive exhibition focuses on the achievements and challenges of Curtin's period as wartime prime minister (1941-1945). In conjunction with the exhibition, the JCPML screens an educational video-compiled from newsreel footage of the era- on Prime Minister Curtin.

Public Lecture to Celebrate JCPML Opening

On February 23, the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library celebrated the opening of its reading room facilities with a public lecture by JCPML Visiting Scholar, Dr David Day.Dr Day, who has just been appointed as an ARC senior research fellow at LaTrobe University in Melbourne,is currently engaged in research on Curtin for his forthcoming biography. In his lecture, entitled "Gallipoli, embezzlement and a death in the bush: John Curtin's first war", he gave an interesting and engaging account of the events of 1915-a pivotal year in Curtin's life-and the long term consequences this had for him.The occasion was also marked with the presentation of the first JCPML readers' passes. Readers' passes will be issued to those people wishing to make use of the JCPML research facilities and it was fitting that the very first reader's pass was issued to Elsie Macleod, daughter of John Curtin. John Curtin's grandchildren, Barbara Davidson, John Curtin and Beverley Lane, were given subsequent passes.

David Black's Contribution Recognised

In recognition of his contribution to the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library, Associate Professor David Black has accepted the honorary position of JCPML Historical Consultant.David has spent many hours advising the JCPML staff in regard to historical issues, as well as helping to develop the permanent exhibition, John Curtin: A Man of Peace, A Time of War and acting as head of the editorial committee to bring to fruition Dr Serle's new book on John Curtin, For Australia and Labor.David is an Associate Professor in History and Politics at Curtin University of Technology and has lectured and written extensively on Australian and West Australian history and politics. He is a regular newspaper columnist and a radio and television commentator on electoral and current political affairs. In 1995 he published a book on Curtin's speeches and writings--In his Own Words.The JCPML welcomes the opportunity to thank David publicly for his generous assistance and support over the years. We look forward to continuing this very valuable association.

JCPML Hosts History Seminar

On March 7 the JCPML hosted the History Teachers Association of Western Australia (HTAWA) professional development seminar in its new premises. The theme of the event was discovering democracy and Keynote speaker, Dr Geoff Gallop, leader of the WA Labor Party, combined an intesting look into WA's constitution with an interpretation of Australian democracy under Prime Minister Curtin's leadership during World War Two.A number of workshops were held during the day and this gave the JCPML an opportunity to test-run its new educational program for Year 12 history students. Geraldine Ditchburn, who has been instrumental in developing the JCPML education program, presented two workshops and feedback from the history teachers was very encouraging. A number of constructive suggestions have now been incorporated into the education program for 1998. Several bookings have already been received for the program which will be launched in second term.In the afternoon participants were treated to a tour of the JCPML's exhibition, John Curtin: A Man of Peace, A time of War and a talk by Curtin's grandson about his grandfather. The concensus of opinion at the end of the day was that the seminar was a great success, not least of which because of the excellent facilities available at The John Curtin Centre.

New Material for Collection

The JCPML has now accessioned material and finding aids from the MacArthur Memorial Library and the Roosevelt Presidential Library in the US.Included in this material are copies of photographs, private correspondence, official correspondence and military reports relating to General Douglas MacArthur and his time in Australia (from 1942 to 1945); and photographs, miscellaneous correspondence and messages, both official and personal, between Roosevelt and Curtin.Enquiries regarding this material should be directed to the JCPML on +618 9266 4205.

Digital Progress Continues

In keeping with the JCPML's vision to provide an electronic archive and make accessible to a world-wide audience archival material held in its own collection, the JCPML has launched several new digital projects to coincide with its opening.The first project is the digitisation of the John Curtin Memorial Lecture Series. Featuring lectures by such well-known public figures as Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke, Jim Cairns and Bill Hayden, the digitised versions allow searching of individual lectures through hot links from a contents list as well as brief biographies and photographs for each of the contributors.A new link on the JCPML home page (at http://john.curtin.edu.au) now gives access to the Curtin Library and Information search engine in order to search the JCPML collection electronically. Keywords can be entered into a search field and entries matching those keywords will be returned in a list to provide such information as item descriptions and call numbers. Access is through the Collection Access link.And finally, as part of the revamping of the JCPML permanent exhibition, a multi- media CD-ROM entitled John Curtin: Australia's Wartime Prime Minister has been developed by the JCPML with support from Touchstone DDI. Two computer stations have been set up in the exhibition and users can choose to view different aspects of Curtin's life--from his childhood through to his death. The CD contains documentation, photographs, excerpts from oral history interviews and Curtin's own speeches, and some moving film footage which can be accessed interactively by users.

Contributions & Support since November 1997:

The Australiana Fund
Sir Charles Court
Dr David Day
Dr Ian Fairnie
Sir Lenox Hewitt
Mr (Morris) John Hughes
Sir Richard Kirby
Mr Frederick Mann
Mr Philip Pendal
Ms Vicki Williamson

Distinguished Visitors to the JCPML

Dr David Day, JCPML Visiting Scholar
Mr Gough Whitlam
Mr Alex Allan, British High Commissioner
Mrs Beverley Lane, granddaughter of John Curtin
Mr Tim Ryan, Acting Commissioner, Westrail
Associate Professor Michael Rowan, Director, Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre
Ms Rosemary Lake, University of SA
Mr Don McDonald, former CEO, Coburn Cement
Dr Yuji Kawajuchi and Dr Jeff Miller, World Health Organisation
Mr Barry McKinnon