Marjorie Jacobs Australian History Research Files (Series 1785)

Australian History research files. Marjorie Jacobs (MGJ) had an interest in certain aspects of Australian history, especially early administrative history. Her Australian research was prompted by the state of the NSW archives in the early 1950s when the lack of guides and of knowledge of the structure of the archives made it difficult to access the records for research. 

MGJ surveyed the archives listing sources and resources regarding Australian History and transcribing extracts of key points relating to the administrative history of the NSW government.

These research papers included many extracts taken from NSW official government records like Hansard, Treasury records, Governor's Despatches etc. These handwritten papers were dusty, partly mouldy and heavily affected by rust left by pins and paperclips, many not easy to read and the arrangement mostly by original source, meant the information the papers contained was not easily accessible. These papers have been disposed of as today all these sources used and listed by MGJ are indexed, their full text is available online and easily accessible. Based on her research MGJ wrote a paper entitled 'Public Servants and the Governments in Early New South Wales'.

The files in this series include:

1) Survey of Sources of Australia History, 1952; 2) Plans of my survey of Public Records held in Mitchell, 1952-54; 3) The Treasury and its records; 4) Land Grants; 5) Denison Papers, incl. correspondence with Ken Cable; 6) Police; 7) NSW and Police Establishment, 1822-1857; 8) Developmental School Board, ca. 1848-1855; 9) Board of National Education, 1788-1949; 10) The Departmental Arrangements, role of ministries etc 1856 etc.; 11) The Departmental Arrangements, role of ministries etc; 12) Publications on Brucedale, Peel via Bathurst, property of the Suttor Family and Dabee, Rylstone, property of Mr RF Evans; 13) Alexander Macleay (McLeay), research for ADB entry; a copy of Public Administration June 1955 with article by MGJ on Public Administration; copy of Report by Committee on Departmental Records, London 1954.