1100211
- TitleJames Luby Leahy papers and pictorial material, ca 1930-1981
- Creator
- Call numberMLMSS 9611
- Level of descriptionfonds
- Date
ca 1930-1981 - Type of material
- Reference code1100211
- Issue CopyDigitised
- Physical Description0.80 metres of textual material (5 boxes) includes 1 folder of 86 photographs - manuscript - typescript; gelatin silver ;
- ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
James Luby Leahy was born in 1909, one of 9 children born to Irish immigrants Daniel and Ellen Leahy. He travelled to Papua and the Mandated Territory of New Guinea in July 1929 to join his brothers Mick and Paddy. During the 1930s, with Mick, Paddy and another brother, Daniel, they made pioneering history as they ventured into uncontrolled country as they opened up and mapped the country that had never seen a white man. The Leahy brothers took film and photographs of their expeditions through the Western Highlands. James served as a Captain with the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles and the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) during World War II. After the war he procured 150 acres of land in the Goroka area and planted the beginning of his coffee growing empire. On his property ‘Erinvale’ he also had Angus cattle, sheep, and pigs.
Reference:
Post-Courier, Weekend Magazine, 1 May 1981, pp. 30-36. - Scope and ContentBOX 1
Bound diaries. 1933; 1946; 1948 to 1956.
BOX 2
Bound diaries. 1964 to 1967.
BOX 3
Bound diaries. 1968 to 1971.
BOX 4
Bound diaries. 1972 to 1975.
BOX 5
Bound diaries. 1976 to 1977.
Folder 1
Pictorial Battle History of the 24th Australian Infantry Battalion with inscription to Captain Jim Leahy from George Smith, Commandant, 24 AIF, May 1943-Oct 1944.
Programme for the Royal Visit 1954 in Canberra, Monday 15 February 1954.
Trip Report to the New Guinea Highlands, observations and recommendations on coffee growing by Y. Baron Goto, 27 January to 13 March 1956.
Newspaper clippings, 1962-1965, concerning Papua New Guinea’s future independence.
Copy of article from Post-Courier Weekend Magazine, May 1, 1981 giving a biographical story on James Luby Leahy.
Letter and article by Chris Ashton about James Luby Leahy addressed to Leahy’s son Jon, 30 December 1981.
Folder 2
James Leahy business correspondence, papers, invoices and accounts, 1952-1977.
Folder 3
86 photographs of Papua New Guinean peoples, probably taken by Mike Leahy during the expeditions of the 1930s. Includes a portrait probably of James Leahy (compared with images of James Leahy from newspaper clippings included in the collection). - Copying ConditionsCopyright status:: Out of copyright - photographs created before 1955
Copyright status:: In copyright - textual material
Approval for publication required:
Approval for reproduction required:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales - Signatures / Inscriptions
To my friend Captain Jim Leahy of A.N.G.A.U. whose valued help, good humour and kindness so the Battalion in forward areas was appreciated by us all, George F. Smith, Lt Col., Comd., 24th Aust. Inf. Batt. May 43-Oct 44.
Some photographs have inscriptions.
Several diaries have the name of James Leahy, Erinvale. - Name
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