Papers of Various Research Bodies and Organisations [Tannatt William Edgeworth (TWE) David] (Series 1487)

This series contains records created/collated by TWE David in his capacity as member of the Australian National Research Council (ANRC), dated from 1919 to 1931 (quantity: 3cm). They include David's annotated copies of papers relating to the establishment of the Chair of Anthropology; see also Series 1494, Item 2.

The role of the ANRC in the establishment of the Chair of Anthropology at the University of Sydney is noted in the presidential address by Charles Anderson to the Royal Society of NSW in 1925 published in Volume LIX of the Journal of the Society. The proposal for a Chair of Anthropology in Australia was the outcome of a resolution passed by the Pan Pacific Science Congress held in Australia in 1923. The Australian Government "undertook to provide an annual sum of 1000 pounds sterling if the States would subscribe the necessary balance" (Page 14). In the presidential address to the Royal Society of NSW in 1926, Robert Watt cited as one of two notable achievements of the ANRC "securing of the necessary co-operation between the States to enable a Chair of Anthropology to be established in the University of Sydney" (Page 13). David was the first president of the ANRC. The ANRC was established in 1919 by representatives of the leading scientific societies in Australia in the form of a provisional council. This was in response to a request from the International Research Council which was founded as an outcome of a conference held in 1918 at the Royal Society in London. The first permanent ANR Council was elected by the Council of AAAS in 1921.

The documents pertaining to the Royal Society of NSW date from 1900 to 1932 and include notes for lectures. See also Series 1474.

The records pertaining to David's membership of the Great Barrier Reef Committee date from 1924 to 1933; they are mostly correspondence received; there are a few copies of letters sent, apparently, by David. According to the oldest letter received, the Great Barrier Reef Committee was inaugurated in 1922 by the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, Queensland. The other records document the Conference of Australian Universities 1920 meeting (quantity: 1cm), the Meteorological Conference 1907 and the Solar-Radiation Station Sydney 1921.