Sir Henry Parkes and Menie Parkes memorabilia

MLMSS 11929
R 2401
R 2402

fonds

1869, 1880, 1904

Textual Records, Objects

9675121

0.16 metres of textual material (1 box)
1 presentation trowel - silver, bone
1 presentation mallet - wood, silver

Sir Henry Parkes, arguably the most significant figure in 19th century Australian politics, is known as the 'Father of Federation'. He was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1854 and moved to the Legislative Assembly in 1856. He was five times Premier of NSW. Parkes expressed interest in Australian federation as early as 1867 and reiterated his position in speeches at the 1880-1881 inter-colonial conference. In 1891 he presided over the first Federal convention held in Sydney. Parkes died in 1896, four years before Australia became a Federation. Clarinda Parkes was Henry Parkes’ daughter. Known as Menie Parkes, her first poem appeared in 1855 in The Empire. In 1859–1860, writing as Patty Parsley, Menie wrote serialized stories for The Australian Home Companion and Band of Hope Journal. Clarinda (Menie) Parkes married William Thom, a Presbyterian minister in 1869. Her last known published work was a reflection, Sydney Sixty Years Since, published in the Sydney Morning Herald in 1910.
Reference: Library correspondence file

By descent through the Parkes and Thom families from the original owners

MLMSS 11929
1. Holy Bible, London: William Collins, Paternoster Row, 1856. Inscribed on fly leaf ‘Presented to Menie Parkes by Rev. William Thom Presbyterian Minister Eden on the celebration of their marriage Werrington 30th March 1869’. A second inscription reads ‘John Gibson Thom with His mother’s fervent love May 21st 1890’. The bible is annotated throughout and contains three bookmarks.
2. Certificate of marriage between John Gibson Thom and Ada Peterson, 1904.

R 2401
Ceremonial silver trowel used by Sir Henry Parkes to lay the cornerstone at Orange Public School, 1880. Silver trowel with bone handle. Diamond shaped blade with leaf decoration engraved around edges, also engraved on blade, ‘Presented to Sir Henry Parkes K.C.M.G. on the occasion of his laying the Corner Stone of the Public School. Orange. October 30th 1880'.

R 2402
Ceremonial wooden mallet used to tap the cornerstone at Orange Public School into position, 1880. Silver disc attached to mallet head, engraved, ‘Orange, Sir H. Parkes K.C.M.G 1880’.

Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales