Record of Events: Australia, June 1938 to May 1939., 06/23/1938-05/11/1939

File — Box: 1, Folder: 2

Identifier: 35751

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

06/23/1938-05/11/1939

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 TMs diary kept by Thomas Murray Wilson from June 23, 1938 to May 10, 1939 during his stationing in Australia. References to Governor General Alexander G. A. Hore-Ruthven, Baron Gowrie, and to Prime Minister Joseph A. Lyons. Also includes references to many other prominent Australians, including: Sir Alfred Davidson, Sir Robert Anderson, Sir George Allard, Sir Edward Ellington, Sir Herbert Gepp, Sir Thomas Bavin, Tom Schuurman, Hugh McClure-Smith, Sir Mark Sheldon, Sir Harry Sheehan, Sir Earle Page, Sir Claude Reading, Admiral Lane-Poole, Sir George Julius, Sir Ernest Fisk, Marquess of Lothian, Sir Philip Street, Sir Alfred Zimmern, Sir John Pratt, Admiral Sir Howard Kelly, Sir James Mitchell, Sir Victor Wilson (memo), Dame Mary Hughes, Sir Graham Waddell and Sir Kelso King.

Subjects and Associated Physical Materials

WILSON, THOMAS MURRAY - DIARY: Diary

AUSTRALIA - DAIRY - 1938 - 1939: Diary

LYONS, JOSEPH A. - REFERENCE: Diary

HORE-RUTHVEN, ALEXANDER G.A., BARON GOWRIE - REFERENCE: Diary

GOWRIE, BARON - REFERENCE: Diary

DAVIDSON, SIR ALFRED - REFERENCE: Diary

ANDERSON, SIR ROBERT - REFERENCE: Diary

ALLARD, SIR GEORGE - REFERENCE: Diary

ELLINGTON, SIR EDWARD - REFERENCE: Diary

GEPP, SIR HERBERT - REFERENCE: Diary

BAVIN, SIR THOMAS - REFERENCE: Diary

SCHUURMAN, THOMAS - REFERENCE: Diary

MCCLURE-SMITH, HUGH - REFERENCE: Diary

SHELDON, SIR MARK - REFERENCE: Diary

SHEEHAN, SIR HAROLD - REFERENCE: Diary

PAGE, SIR EARLE - REFERENCE: Diary

READING, SIR CLAUDE - REFERENCE: Diary

LANE-POOLE, ADMIRAL - REFERENCE: Diary

JULIUS, SIR GEORGE - REFERENCE: Diary

FISK, SIR ERNEST - REFERENCE: Diary

LOTHIAN, MARQUESS OF - REFERENCE: Diary

STREET, SIR PHILIP - REFERENCE: Diary

ZIMMERN, SIR ALFRED - REFERENCE: Diary

PRATT, SIR JOHN - REFERENCE: Diary

KELLY, ADMIRAL SIR HOWARD - REFERENCE: Diary

MITCHELL, SIR JAMES - REFERENCE: Diary

WILSON, SIR VICTOR - REFERENCE: Diary

HUGHES, DAME MARY - REFERENCE: Diary

WADDELL, SIR GRAHAM - REFERENCE: Diary

KING, SIR KELSO - REFERENCE: Diary