Alison Sanchez interviewed by Susan Marsden [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 3291355
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Sanchez, Alison, 1921-2014, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2004
- 2 digital audio tapes (ca. 131 min.)
- Summary:
-
Alison Sanchez, talks about her family; her childhood memories of her father, Kenneth Binns work; visits to (Old) Parliament House and the Commonwealth Library and her impressions; her father's office, the library and employees; her education; the family home at Red Hill; the family's involvement in Canberra's developing social, cultural, religious life; his role as founder and leader of the Canberra Congregational Church; Harold White; the Commonwealth Library as a lending library; Canberra bookshops; her father's friends and colleagues; visitors from Sydney and Melbourne; visiting Congregational ministers; his views and debates; the financial constraints at the library; the impact of the Depression; public service pay cuts and Binns' views; the role of New Education Fellowship (NEF); his assessment of archival records; his interest in art; her childhood impressions of Canberra; their family friends, socializing with public servants and pastoral families; entertainment; the outbreak of World War II; Binns' overseas trips and library visits; his opinions of prime ministers, Joe Lyons, John Curtin, Robert Menzies; changes during the war; Mrs Roosevelt.
Sanchez discusses the wartime money controls and impact on library; her memories of the small Commonwealth Library building (Kings Avenue); her father's grander plan, his interest in architecture; the first reading room at library; visits by scholars; the role of his library; his role in developing library systems in New Guinea and Tasmania; his interest in Papau-New Guineans; his sense of the Australian (and Scots) identity; the acquisition of the Cook journal and the [Willem de] Vlamingh plaque; his contacts with Australian writers, acquiring their books; visiting writers from overseas; memories of early Canberra families; their frugal family life; his honours and awards, CBE, CMG; his support for League of Nations; his other formal roles and achievements; the Whitlam family; her final observations, the contrast between the Binns and White era at the library; her father as founder of the National Library of Australia.
- Biography/History:
-
Alison Sanchez is the younger daughter of the late, Kenneth Binns, who was in charge of what became the National Library of Australia. He was a Librarian and joined the staff of Commonwealth Parliamentary Library in 1911. He became Commonwealth Parliamentary Librarian, 1928-47 and was a Member of Commonwealth Literature Censorship Board, 1937-64.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on Oct. 12, 2004 in S. Aust.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia;
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (10 p.) and corrected transcript (typescript, 83 leaves)
- Subject:
-
- Sanchez, Alison, 1921-2014 -- Interviews
- Binns, Kenneth, 1882-1969 -- Anecdotes
- Commonwealth Parliament Library (Australia) -- History
- National Library of Australia -- History
- Librarians -- Australia -- History
- Libraries -- Australia -- History
- Canberra (A.C.T.) -- Social life and customs -- 20th century
- Canberra (A.C.T.) -- Social conditions -- 20th century
- Other authors/contributors:
- Marsden, Susan, 1952-, interviewer
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
Contact us for information about copying. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2074 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2004
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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