James Alexander Holden family papers, 1801-1975

MLMSS 3799

fonds

1801-1975

913304

5 folders of textual material (1 box) - photocopies

James Alexander Holden, 1835-1887, was born in England, the son of Edward Holden. He left home at the age of sixteen, eventually arriving in South Australia in 1852. In 1856 he set up a leather business in Adelaide, South Australia, J. A. Holden and Company, which made mainly saddles and harnesses. In the same year he married Mary Phillips, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Phillips. James' eldest son, Henry James, joined the firm in 1885 at a time when the firm was in difficulties so that Henry was obliged to take on a partner, Henry Frost and from 1885-1925 the firm became Holden and Frost. In 1905, when Henry's son Edward Wheewall Holden joined the company they began to go into the motor vehicle industry. Initially they made hoods and side curtains for cars but soon extended into making custom built bodies for cars of foreign manufacture. In 1920 a new company, Holden's Motor Body Builders, was formed, which in 1923 signed an agreement with General Motors to make bodies only for them at Holden's new plant at Woodville, South Australia. In 1931 these two firms amalgamated to form General Motors-Holdens Pty. Ltd. In 1948 this firm produced the first Holden motor car

Series 01: James Alexander Holden, 1856-1887
FOLDER 1
a. Diaries, 1856, 1863

FOLDER 2
b. Papers relating to the estate of Edward Holden, 1857-1863 with power of attorney to F. B. Oerton to act for John Alexander Holden in the settlement of the estates of Edward Holden, 1863

FOLDER 3
c. Man compared to Lower Animals and a parable, ca. 1856
d. Letters received, 1872-1879
e. Address to John Alexander Holden from his employees, 1870
f. Copy of will, 1886, registerd for probate, 1887

Series 02: Mary Elizabeth Holden, Mrs James Alexander, nee Phillips, 1863-1914
a. Letters received, 1863-1878, from her husband
b. Will, 1914

FOLDER 4
Series 03: Edward Holden, 1846
Will and codicil, 1846

Series 04: Hubert William Holden, 1901
Testimonials, 1901

Series 05: Annie Maria Holden, Mrs Hubert William, nee Turner, 1903-1935
Letters received, 1903-1935

Series 06: Ellen Turner Holden, 1903-1963
Letters received, 1903-1963

Series 07: Thomas Phillips, 1801
Diary, April-June, 1801

Series 08: Sarah Anne Phillips, Mrs Thomas, nee Thompson, ca. 1865
a. Address from ladies of Norwood Baptist Church, South Australia, no date
b. Fragment of letter received, ca. 1865

Series 09: Miscellaneous Material, 1905-1975
FOLDER 5
a. Papers relating to the company including patent specifications, 1905-1919, printed reports and statistics, 1957-1961, cheque and share certificate of General Motors Pty. Ltd. purchase of Holden's shares, 1931 and taxation receipt, 1951
b. Articles relating to Holden family and business, 1913-1975

Information transferred from Manuscripts Leaf Catalogue No. 1 (1-320C) as part of the eRecords Project, 2010-2011