Guide to the Collection of James Somerville relating to the pacifist movement in Australia

 

Collection context

Summary

Collection number:
MS 10730
Creator:
Somerville, J. G.
Extent:
(1 folder in shared box)
Language:
English and English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of James Somerville relating to the pacifist movement in Australia, National Library of Australia, MS 10730, [class/series/file/item number(s)]'.

Background

Scope and content:
This collection comprises material collected by Somerville relating to individuals and organisations active in the pacifist movement in Australia in 1940-1974. There are circulars, pamphlets and newsletters printed by organisations such as the Christian Pacifist Movement of Victoria, the Central Committee of Conscientious Objectors, the Association for International Co-operation and Disarmament (NSW) and the Peace News Limited. Correspondence between Somerville and significant Australians like H. V. Evatt related to conscientious objectors such as Leslie Warren Hoey, Lloyd Butler and Bill Tarry.
Biographical / historical:
Conservationist, pacifist, economist, and environmentalist. James Graham (Jim) Somerville was born in Murwillumbah in 1915. In the late 1930s Jim joined the Coast and Mountain Walkers [CMW], bushwalking club where he shared his love of the bush with others. Somerville joined the Peace Pledge Union and War Resisters' International in the 1930s and when conscription was introduced for World War Two in 1939, he was refused registration as a conscientious objector. He later won an appeal to be registered as a Conscientious Objector in 1943, collecting papers from various pacifist groups. A major part of Jim's conservation efforts centred around the Colong Committee which he was involved with for 45 years, starting in 1968. In 1986 he was awarded the medal of the Order of Australia the AM for services to conservation. He also served as a commissioner on the State Pollution Control Commission, now the EPA, for 9 years. He died in 2014.

Access and use

Conditions governing access:
Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8843022).
Conditions governing use:
Conditions for copying and publishing of this collection may apply, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8843022).
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of James Somerville relating to the pacifist movement in Australia, National Library of Australia, MS 10730, [class/series/file/item number(s)]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact: