University Archives

On 3 May 1954 Senate approved the appointment of Mr David Macmillan, a Scotsman, as University Archivist. The appointment was a new one and unique in Australian universities; the Archives was established with Macmillan's appointment in 1954. Within the structure of the University the Archives was part of the Administration. By 1976 it had become part of the Registrar's Office.In 2000 it became part of Archives & Records Management Services (ARMS) within the Secretariat and Corporate Information Unit and the University Archivist Tim Robinson became Manager, Archives and Records Management Services. Having been part of the Office of the Registrar, Division of Administrative Support Services, Secretariat and Corporate Information Unit, the Unit became part of the Office of General Counsel (OGC). In 2019 OGC was responsible for the provision of legal services to the University. It provided legal advice to Senate, the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, senior executives and other officers and coordinated any external legal services provided to the University.Macmillan made good contacts with academic and administrative staff and successfully developed the Archives gathering valuable material relating to the early days of the University and its development. [Letter by M. Telfer 13/1/1960, G3/187 Macmillan]. In 1960 Macmillan compiled a report 'The Records of the University of Sydney, 1949-1960' on a records survey he undertook at the University. The report provides a good overview of the basis of the Archives and the state of recordkeeping at the University at that time. [G231, Box 189]. Macmillan's resigned in 1968 to accept an appointment as Associate Professor of History at Trent University, Ontario. He was succeeded by Gerald Fischer (1968-1980), Ken Smith (1980 -1997), Tim Robinson (1997-2020) and, Dr Kate Cumming (2020-).The amalgamation with other tertiary institutions, resulting from the Dawkins reforms in 1990, expanded the Archives and enriched the holdings.