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Papers of Reverend Douglas Arthur Trathen, 1939-1972
Bib ID 8554171
Format ManuscriptManuscript [text, volume]
Author
Trathen, Douglas Arthur, 1916-1998
 
Access Conditions Available for research. Not for loan. 
Description [between 1939 and 1972] 
0.60 m (4 boxes) 
Summary

The collection comprises papers of Reverend Douglas Arthur Trathen, predominately relating to his opposition to Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War and conscription and includes correspondence, notebooks, newspaper and media articles. Reverend Trathen, a Methodist minister and headmaster of Newington College in Sydney, was found guilty of breaching the Crimes Act, after calling on 20 year-olds to defy the National Service Act in a letter published in the Sydney Morning Herald in June 1970. The correspondence in the collection represents the divisive nature of the conscription debate and his personal notes and writings provide details about the background and aftermath of the charge. Also included in the collection is a bond of good behaviour, four draft typed chapters of a proposed book and correspondence with publisher Ure Smith, plus hand written recollections of Owen Dudley, from his time as Deputy Principal of Newington College, written in early 1972 with further news clippings and letters.

Biography/History

Douglas Arthur Trathen (1 February 1916 – 19 September 1998) was an Australian Methodist minister and the Headmaster of Newington College (Stanmore, NSW) and is known for his opposition to the Vietnam War and conscription. He served part-time as the chaplain of RAAF Station Canberra (now known as Fairbairn, Canberra) before being called up for full-time service in July 1943, becoming chaplain with No. 8 Squadron RAAF, and served in Queensland and New Guinea until May 1944. In 1963 he became Headmaster of Newington College, and publicly advocated non-violent civil disobedience during the Conscription debate during the Vietnam War. Sydney Morning Herald published a letter written by Trathen, calling on 20 year-olds to defy the National Service Act. He was charged found guilty in December of breaching the Crimes Act.

Notes

Manuscript reference number: MS 10546.

Subjects Trathen, Douglas Arthur, 1916-1998 -- Archives.  |  Methodist Church -- Australia -- Clergy -- Archives.  |  Newington College -- Professional staff -- Archives.  |  Clergy -- Australia -- Archives.  |  School principals -- Australia -- Archives.  |  Civil disobedience -- Australia.  |  Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Australia -- Moral and ethical aspects.  |  Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Australia -- Public opinion.  |  Draft -- Australia -- Moral and ethical aspects.  |  Draft -- Australia -- Public opinion.
Time Coverage 1939-1972 
Occupation Clergy.  |  School principals.
Terms of Use Copying of rights holder’s copyright material is permitted for research purposes. 

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