Clan Forsyth Society Australia records, ca. 1923 - ca. 2001

MLMSS 8699/1-5
MLMSS 8699/6X

fonds

ca. 1923 - ca. 2001

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Prints

440360

1.2 metres of textual material (5 boxes, 1 oversize box)

The Clan Forsyth Society in Australia (formerly Forsyth Family Association) was formed in 1979. Clan Forsyth is one of Scotland's wealthiest clans and members can now be found all over the United Kingdom, in Canada, Wolfville Nova Scotia U.S.A, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, in fact there are now more Forsyths living in the Scottish Diaspora than those remaining in Scotland.
Archibald Forsyth (1826-1908), ropemaker and politician, was born on 10 March 1826 at Garmouth, Morayshire, Scotland. In 1848 he migrated to Sydney. In 1865 he founded Sydney's first 'rope and cordage' works on four acres (1.6 ha) at the corner of Bourke and Lachlan Streets, Waterloo. In 1868 he made his nephew John (1846-1915) a partner. Starting business at an expansive time in Australia's maritime enterprise, Forsyth had proved his product equal in quality and price to imported rope before free trade was established in New South Wales. By early 1875 the firm had a warehouse and offices in Kent Street and in 1876 A. Forsyth & Co. founded the Kangaroo Rope Works in East Brisbane. In 1894 A. Forsyth & Co. was turned into a private company with 65,000 £1 shares held by his relations. He was chairman of directors until 1897 when he visited Europe. In 1900 electricity and automatic spinners were installed in the Waterloo factory and production rose to over 1500 tons of rope and twine a year. A. Forsyth & Co. Pty Ltd was still on its original site in 1972.

References:
Rutledge, Martha, 'Forsyth, Archibald (1826–1908)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/forsyth-archibald-3555/text5493, (accessed 6 September 2012)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Forsyth (accessed 6 September 2012)

Clan Forsyth Society Australia records, together with papers of the Forsyth family and A. Forsyth & Co. Pty. Ltd. Sydney, ca. 1935 - ca. 1988

BOX 1
‘One Hundred Years of Ropemaking 1865-1965’ by David S. Macmillan, published A. Forsyth and Co. Pty Ltd, Sydney 1965, A. Forsyth & Co. Pty. Ltd. Corporate Planning Manual, 1970, A. Forsyth & Co. Pty. Ltd. Property Development Feasibility Study, 1970, A. Forsyth & Co. Pty. Ltd. Incentive Scheme for Sales Managers, 1969, Report for A. Forsyth & Co. Pty. Ltd. By Overmyer Industrial Brokers Pty. Ltd., ca. 1969, documents related to the development of Bourke & Lachlan Streets, Waterloo, ca. 1970, ‘Tales Old and New of Forsyths in Australia No. 1’, ca. 1975, ‘Reginald James Thomas Forsyth 1893-1918’, 1988, ‘The Book of the Forsyths in Australia, published A. Halberts S.A., 1985

BOX 2
Survey of A. Forsyth & Co. Pty. Ltd. Sydney, 1964, A. Forsyth & Co. Pty. Ltd. Third Progress Report on Company Planning, 1970, A. Forsyth & Co. Pty. Ltd. Annual General Meeting documents, 1968-1972, Report Hancock Woodward & Neill Chartered Accountants, 1968, Scotts Rope & Twine Co. documents, ca. 1969, Report on the affairs of A. Forsyth & Co. Pty. Ltd. by Hancock Woodward & Neill Chartered Accountants, 1967, A. Forsyth & Co. Pty. Ltd. Report on Proposal for Merger, 1968

BOX 3
Large note book containing Forsyth handwritten family biographies, folder labeled ‘U.S.A.’ containing research material on the Forsyth family in the USA. Folders labeled ‘Henry Russell’, ‘Other histories and families’, L.C. Forsyth correspondence and notebook, general correspondence file, Miscellaneous file including 1. Chatswood South Cemetery, 2. Bibliography – Clan Forsyth of America Inc., 3. Words of Scottish Songs, 4. Recipe for Haggis, Correspondence – Memorial Pews, Royal North Shore Hospital, The cemeteries.

BOX 4
Folders labeled: Forsyth Family Assoc. (previous to forming of Clan Forsyth Soc.), Clan Forsyth Society – correspondence with other actual or proposed branches etc., minutes 1979, Treasurers, Clan Forsyth Society correspondence with Chief Alistair, Clan Forsyth Society – Melbourne Vic., Clan Forsyth Society – Brisbane, Clan Forsyth Society – Adelaide branch, Clan Forsyth Society – Cootamundra, Riverina, Clan Forsyth Society – memos to all branches, Clan Forsyth Society – Sydney branch, Clan Forsyth Society – Hamilton Vic.

BOX 5
Folders labeled: Forsyth Family Assoc. - Cemeteries to be investigated, Forsyth Family Assoc. – Official Constitution, Inaugural Literature, Forsyth Family Assoc. – Attendances, Meetings Functions, Forsyth Family Assoc. – Correspondence, ca. 1980, Forsyth Family Assoc. – Inaugural Hilton Function, Tasmania, Sydney properties with Forsyth family associations, Clan Forsyth Society Sydney Branch – Minutes, Committee Meetings, 1979-2001, Photocopy of ‘Forsyth de Fronsac’ by Frederick G. Forsyth de Fronsac.

BOX 6X
Large mounted prints labeled, ‘Forsyth mills Waterloo’, ca. 1923, ‘A. Forsyth & Co. Pty. Ltd. Factory Lachlan St. Waterloo-Sydney’, ca. 1935, Large mounted colour photograph, ‘A. Forsyth & Co. Pty. Ltd. 302 Keilor Road – Nth. Essendon’, ca. 1975

Copyright status:: In copyright
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

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