Guide to the Papers of Edward John Ward, 1914-1963
Collection context
Summary
- Collection number:
- MS 2396
- Creator:
- Edward John Ward
- Extent:
- 7.62 metres and (55 archives boxes + 1 medium folio box)
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
- Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Edward John Ward, National Library of Australia, MS 2396, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
- Availability:
- Available
- Access conditions:
- Available for reference. Not for loan.
Background
- Content Summary:
- The collection includes correspondence, diary, cuttings, programmes and invitations. There are also papers relating to his early life (before 1931), his position as Minister for Transport and External Territories (1943-1949), the Australian Labor Party, Brisbane Line Royal Commission, New Guinea Timber Royal Commission, as well as tributes received by Mrs Ward after her husband's death in 1963.
- Biographical Note:
-
Date Event 1899 Edward John Ward was born on 21 March in Sydney, one of the five children of Mary Anne Meagher and Edward James Ward. 1915-1931 He joined the Surry Hills Branch of the Australian Labor Party, and in 1930 was elected an Alderman of the Sydney City Council where he served until 1934 when he resigned to devote his time fully to his Parliamentary duties. 1924 On 27 September 1924 Ward married Edith Bishop and there were two children Dorothy (Mrs James Lawrie) and Edward. 1931 Elected Member of the House of Representatives for East Sydney at a by-election on 7 March. At the general election later that year he was defeated, but was re-elected in 1932 after the death of the sitting member. 1932-1941 He joined the Surry Hills Branch of the Australian Labor Party, and in 1930 was elected an Alderman of the Sydney City Council where he served until 1934 when he resigned to devote his time fully to his Parliamentary duties. 1932-1941 A member of the Non-Communist Labor Party (Lang-Labor), led in the Federal Parliament by J.A. Beasley, until March 1941, when it was united with the Australian Labor Party. 1941-1943 Minister for Labour and National Service in the Government of John Curtin. 1943 Brisbane Line Royal Commission. 1943-1949 Minister for Transport and External Territories in the Government of John Curtin (1943-1945) and J.B. Chifley (1945-1949) 1947 Travelled to Europe and U.S.A. on Parliamentary duties. 1949 New Guinea Timber Leases Royal Commission. 1949 Ward took his seat as a Member of the Opposition in the Liberal-Country Party Government of R.G. Menzies and A.W. Fadden after the General Election of December 1949. 1956-1959 Served on the Constitution Review Committee. 1958-1963 During this period Ward unsuccessfully sought leadership (1959) and deputy-leadership (1960) of the Parliamentary Labor Party. 1963 Ward died suddenly in Sydney on 31 July 1963 and was accorded a State Funeral. - Immediate Source of Acquisition:
-
The collection was donated to the Library by his widow, Edith Ward, in 1970.
- Arrangement:
-
The collection has been arranged into 16 series. All of the correspondence has been indexed.
Indexed terms
- Names:
- Edward John Ward
Access and use
- Conditions Governing Access:
- Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2282055).
- Conditions Governing Use:
- Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
- Preferred citation:
- Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Edward John Ward, National Library of Australia, MS 2396, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
- Location of this collection:
-
Parkes PlaceCanberra ACT 2600, Australia
- Contact: