Dr John Samuel Yu papers and photographs, ca. 1900-2019

MLMSS 10472

fonds

1900-2019

Textual Records, Photographs

9644203

1.44 metres of textual and graphic material (7 boxes)
17 electronic disks - CD, DVD

Dr John Samuel Yu, successful paediatrician and renowned collector of Asian fine arts.
Educated at Fort Street Boys High and Sydney University, Dr Yu had a distinguished career in medicine and community affairs. He was Chief Executive of the New Children's Hospital at Westmead from 1978 to 1997 and a staff physician at the Royal Alexandria Hospital from 1972 to 1997. As a chairman, patron and member Dr Yu has served on many management boards and charitable organisations including Musica Viva, Starlight Foundation and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. He was also Chairman of the Australian China Council of the Department of Foreign Affairs. He was named Australian of the Year in 1996, appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 as well as a Companion of the Order in 2001.
Reference: Library acquisition file

Correspondence, photographs, printed ephemera and publications relating to Dr John Yu's family history, life and profession, including his time as Australian of the Year in 1996. Early black and white photographs and photographic postcards date from the early 1900s, and include images of relatives in China, Hong Kong and Australia, including Rev J. Young Wai, and travel enroute to Australia in the 1930s. Photographs include images from schools Yu attended as a child in Sydney in the 1940s and a large quantity of black and white photographs from the 1950s and 1960s taken in suburban Sydney and from holiday destinations. A large quantity of photographs relate to Yu's professional life in childrens hospitals and at functions, concluding with his retirement in 2014. Printed material relates to the history of children’s health in Australia, Westmead Children’s Hospital, and Asian ceramics and textiles collecting in Australia. Includes a small amount of material relating to Dr Yu’s grandfather and the first Chinese Presbyterian Church, and material relating to Yu's time as Australian of the Year in 1996. Includes some correspondence with significant national and international figures related to Dr Yu’s involvement in Westmead Children’s Hospital and the community.

BOX 1
Photographs, including some reproductions of photographs, ca. 1900-ca. 1980s. Early black and white images of relatives in China and Hong Kong and enroute to Australia, including photographic postcards and a small framed photograph of a male relative outside a church. Also includes aunt’s Australian passport, ca. 1938 and associated documents.

BOX 2
Photographs ca. 1990s-ca. 2019, including mixed larger format photographs, ca. 1970s-ca. 2000s. Photographs of Australia Day, 1996 and Australian of the Year ceremonies, 1996, Dr Yu's retirement in 2014, and overseas travel.

B0XES 3
Correspondence, ca. 1960s-ca. 2000s, including letters, notes, greeting cards and invitations. Official correspondence from the Royal family, and celebrities, including aerograms and formal letters.
17 compact disks including television and radio interviews of Dr Yu, National Press Club speeches, University Graduation DVD, Radio Australia, 2004, Photographs from Tsinghua University Visit, 2002, 'Handle with care' Channel 7, Testimonial Dinner, 1997, The New Children's Hospital AGM 1995, Today Tonight, 1998, SBS Imagine, 1995, The New Children's Hospital Commemoration ceremony, 1995, University of Sydney, 1997, Royal Alexandria Hospital for Children Camperdown 1906-1995, The New Children's Hospital past present future, 'My own flesh and blood' The Children's Hospital Casualty documentary, 1995.

BOX 4-7
Mixed printed publications and ephemera, newspaper cuttings, photocopies and magazines relating to family history, career, personal interests and travel. Includes research material related to the Presbyterian Chinese Mission, Sydney, childrens hospitals and health including a folder housing medical publications, ca. 1960s-1980s. Includes material related to awards and speeches including Australian of the Year 1996, Australia China Council award, 2006, documents and photographs related to sculpture bust of Dr John Yu by Ah Xian, 2004.

Copyright holder:: Dr Yu has transferred any copyright that belongs to him to the Library. Copyright of all correspondence to Dr John Yu remains with the writers.
Copyright restrictions may apply: This material may be accessed for purposes of research and study in the Library. As Dr John Yu does not own copyright, he cannot authorize reproduction of the material. The Library, under the Copyright Act, is able to reproduce the material for preservation reasons. Copyright of any commercial photographs remains with the creator.
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Contents listing adapted from inventory supplied by donor.