Sir Edmund Barton papers, 1868-1919, together with Barton family papers, 1832-1867

MLMSS 249

fonds

1832 - 1919

422375

Microfilm : Index to correspondents); CY 1063, frames 1-233 (MLMSS 249/2: Correspondence, 1832-1867, of William Barton, the elder & younger); CY 2450, frames 17-383 (MLMSS 249/3-4: Correspondence, 1887-1919); CY 2534, frames 1-205 (MLMSS 249/5: Misc. papers, 1868-1902)

5 volumes of textual material

William Barton, the elder, came to Australia from London in 1824 as the first resident secretary and accountant of the Australian Agricultural Company. He resigned in 1832 and became a financial agent and sharebroker. William's wife, Mary Louisa, nee Whydah, ran a school for girls in Sydney in the 1860's.
William Barton, the younger, represented the firm of Sheppard and Alger at Major's Creek, a gold mining centre.
Edmund Barton (1849-1920), barrister, parliamentarian and Prime Minister, was born at Sydney, the third son and youngest of nine children of William and Mary Louisa Barton. He was educated at Fort Street Model School, Sydney Grammar School and the University of Sydney where he graduated Bachelor of Arts (1868) and Master of Arts (1870). He was admitted as a barrister in 1871. Edmund Barton was elected member of the NSW Legislative Assembly in the seats of University of Sydney (1879), Wellington (1880-1882), East Sydney (1882-1887, 1891-1894), The Hastings and The Macleay (1898-1900). He was elected a member of the NSW Legislative Council from 1887 to 1891 and from 1897-1898. Barton was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (1883-1887) and Attorney General (1889, 1891-1893). After many years of involvement with the federation movement Edmund Barton was elected a member of the House of Representatives in the first Australian Parliament and the first Prime Minister of Australia.

Index to correspondents compiled in the Mitchell Library. [Click on link below to view index to correspondents.] (Call No.: MLMSS 249/1)

I. William Barton, the elder
1832-1845; Letters received concerning land, share dealings and mortgages (Call No.: MLMSS 249/2)

II. William Barton, the younger
1852-1867; Correspondence mainly concerning his work at Major's Creek, N.S.W. for Sheppard and Alger, 1852-1853 (Call No.: MLMSS 249/2)

III. Sir Edmund Barton
1887-1919; Correspondence mainly concerning political matters in NSW, 1887-1901, the federation movement, legal affairs, 1903-1919, and personal matters. Correspondents include Sir Henry Parkes, 1887-1895, and Sir George Richard Dibbs, 1892 (Call No.: MLMSS 249/3)
1901-1919; Correspondence, being mainly personal correspondence along with some correspondence concerning legal matters (Call No.: MLMSS 249/4)
1868-1902; Miscellaneous papers including legal opinions, notes concerning federation and newscuttings concerning political matters (Call No.: MLMSS 249/5)

Click here to view index to correspondents - acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2007/D00007/mss249.pdf

Information upgraded from Manuscripts Leaf Catalogue No. 1 (1-188C) as part of the eRecords Project, 2010-2011

This collection was listed in 2004 as part of the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in NSW 1856-2006 Project.