McKell family - papers of Sir William McKell, Lady McKell and Betty McKell, 1943-1995

MLMSS 7347

fonds

1943-1995

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Clippings

118227

0.27 Meters of textual material (3 boxes) - typescript, manuscript

Sir William McKell (1891-1985), Premier and Governor-General, was born at Pambula on the South Coast of NSW, the son of Robert McKell, a rural butcher, and his wife Martha. In 1898 the family moved to Redfern where McKell was educated at Bourke Street Public School, Surry Hills. He left school at the age of 13 to take up an apprenticeship as a boilermaker and was to become an active member of the Boilermakers Union. He joined the ALP at the age of 17 and in 1917 was elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly in the seat of Redfern. He was an Assistant Minister of Justice (1920-1922), Minister of Justice and Assistant Treasurer (1925-1927), Minister for Local Government (1930-1931), Minister of Justice (1931-1932) and Premier and Treasurer (1941-1947). He was Governor-General of Australia (1947-1953) and a member of the Malayan Constitutional Committee (1956-1957). Having studied law part-time he was admitted to the bar in 1925 and became a King's Counsellor (KC) in 1945 and a Privy Counsellor in 1948. Sir William McKell received a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in 1951. In 1920 McKell married Minnie May Pye, daughter of James Pye, by whom he had three children. Betty McKell is the daughter of William and Minnie May McKell.

1961-1989; Papers relating to Sir William McKell, being mainly newscuttings and including a copy of his toast to Sir William Hudson in 1961 (Call No.: MLMSS 7347/1/1)
1949-1986; Printed commemorative booklets associated with Sir William McKell, including booklet from opening ceremony of McKell Building in Sydney in 1979 with copies of addresses made by Premier Neville Wran and Sir William McKell on that occasion (Call No.: MLMSS 7347/1/2)
1956-1963; Diplomatic passports of Sir William and Lady McKell (2 each) (Call No.: MLMSS 7347/1/3)
1981-1984; Lists and correspondence relating to charities supported by Sir William McKell (Call No.: MLMSS 7347/1/4)
1982-1985; Certified copies of birth and marriage certificates of Sir William and Lady McKell; death certificates and details of plaques at Northern Suburbs Crematorium for Sir William and Lady McKell (Call No.: MLMSS 7347/1/5)
1985; Papers relating to the funeral service of Sir William McKell, including copy of the address by the Most Reverend Sir Marcus L. Loane. Printed tributes to Sir William McKell by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Legislative Council of NSW. (Call No.: MLMSS 7347/1/6)
1943-1985; Miscellaneous papers of Lady McKell (Call No.: MLMSS 7347/7)
1988-1990; Correspondence of Betty McKell relating to ABC-TV programme 'The True Believers' 1988 (Call No.: MLMSS 7347/1/8)
1990-1991; Papers relating to defamatory article in Sun Herald of 30 Dec. 1990 headed 'Corruption in high places', and copied extracts from book 'Chow Hayes - Gunman' by David Hickie, 1990 (Call No.: MLMSS 7347/1/9)
1957; Postage stamps of the Federation of Malaya, presented to Sir William and Lady McKell, with the compliments of the Minister for Works, Posts and Telecommunications, Federation of Malaya. 16 postage stamps, in 2 booklets. (Call No.: MLMSS 7347/2 RESTRICTED)
1995; 'My memory of family life' by Betty McKell - printed book, 173 pp. (Call No.: MLMSS 7347/3 RESTRICTED)

Partly restricted: Applies to MLMSS 7347/Boxes 2 and 3

This material is held offsite and is usually available after 4pm on the next business day. Please submit your request through Ask a Librarian
Access via appointment - MLMSS 7347/Box 2 contains stamps.

This collection was listed in 2004 as part of the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in NSW 1856-2006 Project.