Record of Events: Australia, Nov. 1937 to June 1938., 01/11/1937-06/05/1938

File — Box: 1, Folder: 1

Identifier: 35750

Collection-level Scope and Content Note

From the Collection:

The Thomas Murray Wilson Papers consist primarily of photographs and diaries by Wilson mainly during his travels around the world in the 1920's, 1930's and 1940's in the United States diplomatic corps. The collection is comprised of 5 linear feet of material, arranged in 40 folders in 4 boxes and 3 oversize containers.

Thomas Murray Wilson was an avid traveler during his service as a diplomat, visiting all over Southern Asia, Africa and Europe in addition to the countries where he was stationed. He was also an avid photographer and diarist. The collection is full of photographs taken by Wilson all over the world, and he probably developed many of them himself. Wilson was much more a fan of the nature and old ruins in the areas he traveled in than a documenter of the local cultures. Landscapes of all sorts dominate the collection: mountains, sea coasts, waterfalls, forests and deserts. But there are also many photos of cities, towns and popular tourist sites, such as the Taj Mahal and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Some of the most fascinating photographs are those taken by Wilson with a special panorama camera of the Great Wall of China and of the Yugoslavian coast. Thomas Murray Wilson's diaries kept during his years of service in Australia, India and Iraq (1937-1943) contain an interesting account of his daily experiences as well as of world events and American involvement in the countries where he was stationed. Of particular interest are the diaries kept during his service in Iraq (1942-1943), during which time the United States was negotiating with Iraq over its involvement in World War II and about oil interests in the region. There is also a great deal of discussion about Zionism and Jewish immigration to Palestine. Wilson had his manuscript diaries typed and bound and they are arranged chronologically.

Dates

01/11/1937-06/05/1938

Collection-level Access Restrictions

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.

Extent

From the Collection: 5 Linear Feet (7 boxes)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Shelf Location

8/13/4B

Container Summary

1 bound TMs diary of Thomas Murray Wilson kept from November, 1937 to June 22, 1938 concerning his stationing in Australia. References to many Australian officials including Prime Minister Joseph Lyons and the Governor General Alexander G. A. Hore-Ruthven, 1st Baron Gowrie. Also includes references to Lord Wakehurst, Dame Mary Hughes, the sinking of the Panay, Premier Arthur Borlase Stevens, Sir Henry Gullett, Sir Hugh Poynter, Sir Victor Wilson, Sir Hugh Denison, Sir Thomas Bavin, Sir George Murray, Sir Ernest Clarke, 9th Earl de la Warr, Sir Josiah Stamp, Admiral Lane-Pool, Sir Herbert Gepp, Sir Earle Page, Sir James Leigh-Wood, Sir Howard D'Egville, Sir Robert Murray Anderson, Sir Philip Street, Sir Mark Sheldon, Sir George Pearce, Sir Heaton Rhodes, Sir William Mitchell, Albert Doyle, Sir Lavington Bonython, Sir John Peden and Sir Kelso King.

Subjects and Associated Physical Materials

WILSON, THOMAS MURRAY - DIARY: Diary

AUSTRALIA - DAIRY - 1937 - 1938: Diary

LYONS, JOSEPH - REFERENCE: Diary

HORE-RUTHVEN, ALEXANDER, BARON GOWRIE - REFERENCE: Diary

WAKEHURST, LORD - REFERENCE: Diary

HUGHES, DAME MARY - REFERENCE: Diary

PANAY - REFERENCE: Diary

STEVENS, ARTHUR BORLASE - REFERENCE: Diary

GULLETT, SIR HENRY - REFERENCE: Diary

POYNTER, SIR HUGH - REFERENCE: Diary

WILSON, SIR VICTOR - REFERENCE: Diary

DENISON, SIR HUGH - REFERENCE: Diary

BAVIN, SIR THOMAS - REFERENCE: Diary

MURRAY, SIR GEORGE - REFERENCE: Diary

CLARKE, SIR ERNEST - REFERENCE: Diary

DE LA WARR, 9TH EARL - REFERENCE: Diary

STAMP, SIR JOSIAH - REFERENCE: Diary

LANE-POOL, ADMIRAL - REFERENCE: Diary

GEPP, SIR HERBERT - REFERENCE: Diary

PAGE, SIR EARLE - REFERENCE: Diary

LEIGH-WOOD, SIR JAMES - REFERENCE: Diary

D'EGVILLE, SIR HOWARD - REFERENCE: Diary

ANDERSON, SIR ROBERT MURRAY - REFERENCE: Diary

STREET, SIR PHILLIP - REFERENCE: Diary

SHELDON, SIR MARK - REFERENCE: Diary

PEARCE, SIR GEORGE - REFERENCE: Diary

RHODES, SIR HEATON - REFERENCE: Diary

MITCHELL, SIR WILLIAM - REFERENCE: Diary

DOYLE, ALBERT - REFERENCE: Diary

BONYTHON, SIR JOHN LAVINGTON - REFERENCE: Diary

PEDEN, SIR JOHN - REFERENCE: Diary

KING, SIR KELSO - REFERENCE: Diary