Record of Events: Australia, May 1939 to Jan. 1940., 05/12/1939-12/31/1939

File — Box: 1, Folder: 3

Identifier: 35752

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

05/12/1939-12/31/1939

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 in Australia from May 11, 1939 to December 31, 1939 during his service in Australia. Contains references to Prime Minister Joseph A. Lyons and Governor General Alexander G. A. Hore-Ruthven, 1st Baron Gowrie. Also includes references to many other prominent Australians: Sir Victor Wilson, Thomas Schuurman, Sir Alfred Davidson, Sir Geoffrey Whiskard, Sir Henry Gullett, Sir George Allard, Sir Kelso King, Sir Claude Reading, Archbishop Mowll, Sir Hugh Poynter, Sir Harry Sheehan, Sir Herbert Gepp, Sir David Rivett, Sir Sidney Kidman, Sir Ernest Fisk, Sir John Peden and Sir Francis Anderson.

Subjects and Associated Physical Materials

WILSON, THOMAS MURRAY - DIARY: Diary

AUSTRALIA - DAIRY - 1939: Diary

LYONS, JOSEPH A. - REFERENCE: Diary

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

GOWRIE, BARON - REFERENCE: Diary

WILSON, SIR VICTOR - REFERENCE: Diary

SCHUURMAN, THOMAS - REFERENCE: Diary

DAVIDSON, SIR ALFRED - REFERENCE: Diary

WHISKARD, SIR GEOFFREY - REFERENCE: Diary

GULLETT, SIR HENRY - REFERENCE: Diary

ALLARD, SIR GEORGE - REFERENCE: Diary

KING, SIR KELSO - REFERENCE: Diary

READING, SIR CLAUDE - REFERENCE: Diary

MOWLL, ARCHBISHOP - REFERENCE: Diary

POYNTER, SIR HUGH - REFERENCE: Diary

SHEEHAN, SIR HAROLD - REFERENCE: Diary

GEPP, SIR HERBERT - REFERENCE: Diary

RIVETT, SIR DAVID - REFERENCE: Diary

KIDMAN, SIR SIDNEY - REFERENCE: Diary

FISK, SIR ERNEST - REFERENCE: Diary

PEDEN, SIR JOHN - REFERENCE: Diary

ANDERSON, SIR FRANCIS - REFERENCE: Diary