King family further papers, being mainly of Dr Hazel King regarding Kelso King, ca. 1841-1982

MLMSS 8842/Boxes 1-3
MLMSS 8842/Folder 4X

fonds

ca. 1841-1982

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Ephemera, Photographs, Objects, Clippings, Medals

411570

0.50 metres of textual material (3 boxes and 1 outsize folder)

Sir George Eccles Kelso King (1853–1943), businessman, philanthropist and the seventh child of Rev. George King (1813-1899) and Jane nee Stewart Mathewson. In 1879 he married Irene Isabelle Rand. After her death in 1900, he married Alicia Martha Kirk (d. 1956), cousin of Eliza Hall. His elder daughter Dr. (Alice) Hazel Kelso King (1908-1998), was Senior Lecturer History University of Sydney 1966-1974, President and Fellow of the Royal Australian Historical Society (1984-1985, 1974), Co-editor of Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society since 1965, contributed articles to the Australian Dictionary of Biography on her paternal grandfather, the Reverend George, her father, Sir Kelso, her halfsister, Olive (whose letters she edited) and her mother's relations, Waiter and Eliza Hall.

In 1870, he joined the Bank of New South Wales in 1870 and two years later became branch manager of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney. In 1876 he became managing clerk of Henry Beit & Co, Sydney stock and station agents. In 1926, he became managing director of Mercantile Mutual Insurance Company, but his association dates back to its inception in 1877. From 1880-1881, King managed the Anglo-Australian Investment, Finance and Land Co. As executor of Walter Hall he assisted his widow plan the Walter and Eliza Hall Trust, of which he was an original trustee

King also became a director of many companies including; Australian General Insurance Company, Mort’s Dock and Engineering Company Limited, Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited, Australian Fertisliser Company, Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company, Messrs Richardson and Wrench land and real estate agents, and the New Illawarra and South Coast Steam Navigation Company, the Electrolytic Refining and Smelting Company of Australia Ltd, Metal Manufacturers Limited.

Also involved in numerous public activities and community organizations including; Boy’s Scouts Association (1922-1943) and the Boys Brigade, commander of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, president of St John Ambulance Association and the Ambulance Brigades, Trustee of the Royal Naval House and vice-president of the Royal Life-saving Society. He was also a member of the Australasian Pioneers Club, Australian and Union Clubs, Council of the King’s School, Trinity Grammar School and the Canberra School and Chairman of Brisbane Theatres Limited. He was president of the Royal Empire Society and benefactor of the Royal Australian Historical Society.

An active freemason, King was initiated in 1878 in the Prince of Wales Lodge, Sydney, and became worshipful master in 1885. He was influential in establishing the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons in 1889 and became grand mark master mason of New South Wales (1892-1895). In 1926, he was knighted in recognition of many years of philanthropic and public service

Reference:
Compiled from the collection

BOX 1
Letters from Kelso King to his wife Alicia during his trip to Europe, 1913-1928

Papers and records including letters, news cuttings and obituaries relating to death and funeral service of Kelso King, 1943

Letters and excerpts from periodicals and newspapers relating to Kelso King’s career in insurance mainly Mercantile Mutual, 1885-1940, 1954

Photograph Kelso King including photo with Col. J. M. Maughan and Lord Baden Powell arrival in Australia and two mounted copies of portraits, ca. 1931

Passport of Lady Alicia Kelso King, 1939

Letters from Kelso King to his mother 1898 and to his family while travelling, 1922

Records and carte de visite relating to King family history and life of Walter and Eliza Hall, including family tree and draft articles for the Australian Dictionary of Biography by Hazel King, ca. 1903-1922

Letters from Kelso King to his first wife Irene Rand and second wife Alice, 1878, 1907, 1922-1923

BOX 2
Letters from Irene Rand and Alicia Kirk to Kelso King, 1878-1879, 1907

Letters from Kelso King to his family, 1865-1880

Greeting cards and newspaper clippings enclosed in letters from Kelso King to Irene Rand, 1877-1879

Carte de visites, ca. 1863-1919

Two family photographs in St Petersburg and souvenir postcards from travels in Europe, ca. 1910-1913

Diary of Kelso King, 1898

Research papers and notes compiled by Georgina King, relating to early history of Western Australia, mineral wealth of New South Wales, ca. 1852, including souvenir program of 90th anniversary service of the Parish of St Thomas Enfield, 1938, and printed newsletters of University of Sydney Archives, 1982

Published version of articles by Georgina King relating Aborigines in Australia and Tasmania and the discovery of gold in Australia published in the Sunday Times 16 December 1923 and printed by William Brooks & Co. 1924

Typed transcripts of letters from Kelso King to Irene Rand, 1877

Manuscript letter book containing proofs of business letters sent by Kelso King, 1876-1882

BOX 3
Scrapbook of Olive Kelso King of news cuttings ca. 1898-1937

Papers of Rev. George King including letters to Alice and extracts of notes and diaries in connection with his work in Western Australian 1841-1849, 1899, and souvenir program of foundation stone centenary celebrations at St peter’s Church Cooks River, 1938

Letter from Professor of Department of History to Hazel King with typescript of ‘Reminiscences’ by her grandfather Reverend George King at Sydney University, 1988

Letters from Kelso King to his fiancé Irene Rand, 1879, and after they were married 1879-1882

Souvenir programs, notes from sermons and addresses, newsletters and news cuttings relating to funeral of Sir Kelso King, 1943

Receipts Walpole Bros Limited and Hotel Washington, 1913

Letter from Chief Secretary of New South Wales to Premier of NSW relating to Miss Kelso King and Miss Hey’s trip to England, 1905

Copy of family tree of John Wallace of Rovergh, no date

Ephemera mainly copies and reproduction of artworks and sites visited in Europe, no date

FOLDER 4X
Certificate conferring on Mr Kelso King the Royal Order of Saint Sava Third Class, 17th March 1921, Belgrade, together with a typescript translation in English.

Certificate appointing Sir Kelso King as an Officer in the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, 17 May 1929.

Certificate appointing Sir Kelso King as a Commander in the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, 20 November 1936

REALIA
Described in attached record

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

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