Parkes family papers primarily relating to Cobden Parkes and Sir Henry Parkes, 1844-1973

MLMSS 8622/Boxes 1-2
MLMSS 8622/Box 3X

fonds

1844-1973

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Clippings, Ephemera, Photographs

447129

0.88 metres of textual material (2 boxes and 1 outsize box)

Sir Henry Parkes (1815-1896), journalist and parliamentarian, was born at Warwickshire, England, youngest child of Thomas Parks and his wife Martha, nee Faulconbridge. After limited formal education, Parkes was apprenticed as a bone and ivory turner. In 1836 he married Clarinda Varney and after his business failed Parkes and his wife departed England for Australia in 1839.

Parkes took up various manual positions before establishing a business in 1845 as an ivory turner and importer of fancy goods. This business expanded and was in financial difficulty by 1850. He became involved in literary and political activities in Sydney and contributed articles to journals and newspapers, sometimes under the pseudonym 'Faulconbridge'. In 1850 he was involved in the establishment of the Empire newspaper and was editor-proprietor until 1958 when he was again in financial difficulty and was made bankrupt.

In 1861 Parkes travelled to England as an Emigration Commissioner for which he was paid by the government. On his return in 1863 he became an importer but was again made bankrupt in 1870. He wrote and published a number of works and was extremely active in various political organisations. He was appointed a member of the old Legislative Council (1854-1856) and was elected a member of the NSW Legislative Assembly in the first parliament after responsible government in 1856.

Parkes was active in the anti-transportation movement, established the Australian League (1850) and was prominent in the movement for Federation. Parkes was appointed K.C.M.G. in 1877 and G.C.M.G. in 1888. Parkes first wife Clarinda died in 1888 and in 1889 he married secondly Eleanor Dixon. After her death in 1895 he married thirdly Julia Lynch.

Cobden Parkes (1892-1978), architect, public servant and soldier, was born on 2 August 1892 at Hampton Villa, Balmain, Sydney, youngest of five children of Sir Henry Parkes and Eleanor. Cobden was educated at Fort Street Model School and Rockdale College. He entered the Department of Public Works in 1909 as a cadet in the office of the government architect W. L. Vernon and studied at night at Sydney Technical College.

Enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force on 27 August 1914, Cobden embarked for Egypt with the 1st Battalion. At Gallipoli, he was promoted lance sergeant in June 1915 and commissioned two months later. After serving in the Militia, he gained a new commission in the A.I.F. in February 1918. Sailing via Egypt to England, he joined the 34th Battalion on the Western Front in October.

Parkes rejoined the Department of Public Works in 1920 and had extended periods in country offices. On 19 November 1921 he married Victoria Lenore Lillyman at St Philip's Anglican Church, Sydney. He succeeded Edwin Evan Smith on 4 October 1935 as government architect.

Parkes retired on 1 August 1958 and was appointed (full-time) officer-in-charge of building, planning and development at the University of New South Wales, and a member of the planning and co-ordination committees of the Prince of Wales and Prince Henry hospitals.

References:
Martin, A. W., 'Parkes, Sir Henry (1815–1896)', Australian Dictionary of Biography Online http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/parkes-sir-henry-4366/text7099 (accessed 27 July 2012)

Reynolds, Peter, 'Parkes, Cobden (1892–1978)', Australian Dictionary of Biography Online http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/parkes-cobden-11342/text20257 (accessed 27 July 2012)

BOX 1
Photocopies of handwritten pages, possibly unpublished autobiography of Cobden Parkes beginning, "This brief outline of the principal events of my life is written with a sense of joy and certain satisfaction", 1973

'Report of inquiries made into health and hospital administration during a visit to the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, and the United States of America 1938-1940' / H. P. Fitzsimons, Minister for Health. Stamped in gold on front "Cobden Parkes Esq. / Govt. Architect N.S.W."; inscribed, "To Cobden Parkes Esq. A reminder of many happy and interesting days, H.P. Fitzsimons", 1940

2 handmade mocked up flags on metal frames, presumably to be displayed on vehicles while touring. One flag has the Nazi Swastika, the other has the Union Jack in the top left corner and NSW in the middle right; in envelope from Dresden addressed to 'Herr Minister Fitz Simons', ca. 1938-1940

'House architecture' in 2 volumes / J. J. Stevenson; inscribed, "Varney Parkes Esq. [Cobden's elder brother] with James Bosnet's best regards. Colonial Architects' Office. Sydney, 31st May 1880", 1880

'The Illustrated birthday text book with quotations from Shakespeare', with some dates completed in individuals' own hand, ca. 1887-1895

'Our coffee-room' / Elizabeth R. Cotton; inscribed, "To Henry Parkes, the successful founder of New South Wales Education, Florence Nightingale ventures to offer this account of a small but successful attempt at Education for maturer years by the daughter of her friend Sir Arthur Cotton, London: Sept: 1876", 1876

Notebook containing annotated clippings, notes, Latin vocabulary, and copies of two letters by Henry Parkes, ca. 1844-1983

BOX 2
Folder 1
Clippings concerning the Sydney Opera House, 1957, 1973

Folder 2
Papers, letters, and ephemera including menus, invitations, programs,and birth certificate of Cobden Parkes, 1892-1962

Folders 3-4, loose photographs
Black and white photographs of Henry Parkes, Cobden Parkes, and Parkes family members; covering childhood, family, school, World War I, and business, etc., ca. 1890-1973

BOX 3X
Large scrapbook of annotated clippings from Australian and English newspapers and journals, mainly concerning Henry Parkes, Cobden Parkes, and the Parkes family in general, 1894-1964

Black and white photograph of the ANZAC House Trust Board of Management, 1947

Black and white photograph of the 34th Battalion A.I.F., taken in France (Somme), October 1918

Black and white photograph of 29 army officers with Cobden Parkes identified, ca. 1918

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners
Approval for reproduction required:
Out of copyright: Photographs created before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2012-2013