George Lambert and Lambert family, papers and pictorial material, ca. 1874-1942

MLMSS 97
MLMSS 97/Volume 7X
MLMSS 97/Box 14X

fonds

1874-1942

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Drawings, Paintings

422965

Partially MicrofilmedRefer to Contents for location numbers

8 volumes, 1 outsize volume, 5 boxes and 1 outsize box of textual material

George Washington Lambert (1873-1930), artist, was born on 13 September 1873 at St Petersburg. The family decided to migrate and George, reaching Sydney with his mother and three sisters in the 'Bengal' on 20 January 1887, soon went to Eurobla, near Warren, a sheep-station owned by his great-uncle Robert Firth. These experiences of bush life gave him an enduring love for horses and rural themes. He was educated in England and later in Australia where he won the first Travelling Scholarship awarded by the Society of Artists in 1899. Of his commissions, the most important were of Sir George Reid and an equestrian portrait of King Edward VII.

On the outbreak of World War I Lambert, was unable to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force in London. In December 1917 he was appointed an official war artist, A.I.F., with the honorary rank of lieutenant, and commissioned to execute twenty-five sketches and to paint 'The Charge of the Light Horse at Beersheba' on 31 October 1917. Lambert also painted 'The Charge of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade at the Nek, 7th August 1915'. He arrived at Alexandria, Egypt, in January 1918. Despite contracting malaria, he embarked for Marseilles, France, in May with over 130 sketches, many of which were exhibited later that year at the Royal British Colonial Society of Artists' War and Peace Exhibition.

In January 1919, as honorary captain, he visited Gallipoli on the historical mission with C.E.W. Bean. Bean noted that Lambert 'was, I think, more sensitive than the rest of us to the tragedy - or at any rate the horror - of Anzac'. Lambert impressed on Bean that he wanted 'a clear military "operation order" setting out the work to be done'. After recovering from dysentery in Cairo he visited Palestine, returning to London in August. He returned to Australia in 1921 and died on 29 May 1930 at Cobbity, near Camden. He was buried in the Anglican section of South Head cemetery.

Reference:
Martin Terry, 'Lambert, George Washington (1873–1930)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lambert-george-washington-7014/text12197, published first in hardcopy 1983, accessed online 17 July 2020.

VOLUME 01
Index to correspondents complied in the Mitchell Library, 26 ff.

SERIES 01
George Washington Thomas Lambert, 1874-1930

VOLUME 02 (Request Microfilm: CY 2712, frames 1-336)
VOLUME 03 (Request Microfilm: CY 2712, frames 337-470)
A. Correspondence, 1902-1930, including Sir Daryl Lindsay, 1928-1930; Julian Ashton, 1902-1929; Sydney Ure Smith, 1928-1930; Sir Bertram Mackennal, 1913-1915; Sir William Orpen, 1925; Thea Proctor, 1929; Amy Lambert, 1930; Maurice Lambert, 1926-1929; Constant Lambert, 1929; Sir William Alison Russell, 1911; C.E.W. Bean, 1930; and Norman Carter, 1928-1929.

BOX 04 (Request Microfilm: CY 883, frames 1-268)
B. Papers re war service, 1915-1919.
Includes war diary, 1919.

VOLUME 05 (Request Microfilm: CY 3049, frames 1-232)
VOLUME 06 (Request Microfilm: CY 3049, frames 233-437)
C. Business papers, 1899-1930.
i. Correspondence, 1899-1930, including C.E.W. Bean, 1930; Sydney Ure Smith, 1928-1929.

VOLUME 07X
ii. Legal papers, 1917-1928

BOX 08/Item 01 (Request Microfilm: CY 3052)
iii. Financial statements, 1900-1930

BOX 08/Item 02-21
D. Miscellaneous papers, 1874-1930.
Include verse, lectures, autobiographical notes, an account of Gallipoli by C.E.W. Bean, c. 1919, poem by A.B. Paterson and catalogues of exhibitions.
(Items 01-04; 11-21 Request Microfilm: CY 3052, frames 1-275)
(Items 05-10 Request Microfilm: CY 883, frames 269 - 581)

BOX 09
E. Newscuttings, 1896-1930


SERIES 02
Amelia Beatrice Lambert, 1911-1942

VOLUME 10 (Request Microfilm: CY 3051, frames 1-410)
A. Letters received, 1911-1930, from George Washington Lambert
B. Correspondence, 1919-1942, including Julian Aston, 1931; Sydney Ure Smith, 1930; Sir William Orpen, 1930; Sir Philip Game, 1930, and Sir Alison Russell, 1931-1938.

VOLUME 11
C. Business papers, 1919-1942
i. Correspondence, 1919-1942

BOX 12/Item 01
ii. Financial statements, 1930-1933

BOX 12/Item 02-03
D. Miscellaneous papers, 1938.
Includes newscuttings and reviews


SERIES 03
Maurice Lambert, 1930-1931

BOX 13/Item 01
Correspondence, 1930-1931


SERIES 04
Leonard Constant Lambert, c.1924

BOX 13/Item 02
Letters received, c.1924, including George Washington Lambert


SERIES 05
Miscellaneous material, 1930-c.1939

BOX 14X/Item 01-16
Includes catalogues of exhibitions


SERIES 06
Incidental papers, 1911-c.1933

BOX 14X/Item 17
Include letter from Norman Carter to Sydney Ure Smith, 1928; letters to Sir Daryl Lindsay, 1928-1930; letter by William Moore, c.1933; correspondence of C.E.W. Bean, 1919-1928


SERIES 07
George Washington Lambert, paintings, drawings and sketchbooks, including photographs of him and his work, ca. 1895-1930

'George W. Lambert retrospective: heroes & icons' / Anne Gray

Information upgraded from Manuscripts Leaf Catalogue No. 1 (7-1127C) as part of the eRecords Project, 2010-2011