john curtin prime ministerial library INFORMATION UPDATE JULY 2011 Above: Hon speaking at the 2009 Anniversary Lecture John Curtin’s vision Below: Ambassador Jeffrey Bleich and leadership: Lessons for today Jeffrey L. Bleich, Ambassador of the United States of America, will present the 13th JCPML Anniversary Lecture on Monday 8 August 2011. Ambassador Bleich will speak on the lessons that John Curtin’s forward-looking vision holds for today’s society and leaders, and the future challenges we should begin addressing now.

‘One of the qualities that made John Curtin one of Australia’s finest Prime Ministers was his visionary leadership. Curtin had an uncanny ability to see far beyond the immediate challenges, and the courage to prepare his country to meet future demands.’

Before taking up the post of Ambassador in November 2009, Mr Bleich had previously served as Special Counsel to the President at the White House. From 1995 to 2009, he was a litigation partner in the San Francisco office of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, where he was recognised as one of the nation’s top lawyers.

Outside of his legal practice, Ambassador Bleich has a long-standing commitment to international Your invitation to hear Ambassador Bleich law. He has taught international human rights at present the 2011 JCPML Anniversary Lecture is the University of California Berkeley’s School of Technology of university Curtin of trademark a is University Curtin 02637B(NSW) (WA) J 00301 Code Provider CRICOS Law, and written and lectured extensively on the enclosed. Hon Paul Keating, JCPML Patron, will international criminal court. introduce Ambassador Bleich.

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Abraham Needham in his study at Bellerive, focuses on Tasmania. Records of the Curtin Family. JCPML00376/226. Curtin’s Empire A small display in the Kandy- Jane Henderson Foyer of the JCPML until the end of July explores John Curtin’s views on the British Empire. Featured is the silver box presented to Prime Minister Curtin after he received the Freedom of the City of London on 11 May 1944. Silver box presented to John Curtin on receiving the Freedom of the City The display opening coincided of London, 10 May 1944. Records of John Curtin. JCPML00287/2. Reading between the lines with the national launch of James Curran’s book Curtin’s Empire BY DAVID WYLIE, ARCHIVES TECHNICIAN in May, presented by Stephen Smith, Minister for Defence. Do the books people buy and From Victoria to South Africa Ideals are the Polar Star towards keep influence their thinking or to Tasmania — these books which men steer their ships and Art of the Possible exhibition does their thinking influence the formed part of the luggage and speed their voyage through books they buy? were never discarded. When storm and darkness, through at the Prime Abraham and his wife Annie sun shine and fair weather until In the late 19th and early 20th joined their daughter Elsie and they reach their desired haven centuries a working man’s her husband John in Cottesloe, or overwhelming circumstances Ministerial Library discretionary spending power the library came along too. engulf them. Developed to commemorate the 60th anniversary of John Curtin’s was not great and his education — Abraham Needham 1906. death, this JCPML travelling exhibition explores the development of was mostly acquired by using the These books bear the Australia’s foreign policy between 1935 and 1950. libraries of railway institutions inscriptions, annotations and JCPML00458/1 and the like. A book bought dog-ears of use, and along The displays include three bronze figurines of John Curtin and can with hard-earned pennies was a with works belonging to John be viewed at the Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library at Deakin treasure to keep and to be read Curtin and his family, once University in Geelong, Victoria, until the end of July. and re-read, not just displayed on lined three walls of the study a coffee table. in the Curtin’s Jarrad Street home. Some 500 or so political Abraham Needham is best known and social tracts, scientific as John Curtin’s father-in-law but treatises, literary masterpieces his life was significant in its own and penny dreadfuls survive as right. Abraham was a sign writer the Curtin family library within during the week and a fire and the JCPML collection. brimstone Methodist preacher on Sundays, a published poet and an An ancient proverb says that accomplished amateur artist, a every time an old man dies journalist and a socialist rabble- a library burns. Thankfully, rouser, a candidate for political through the generosity of the office and a phrenologist — and Curtin family, the libraries most of all, a loving family man. of John Curtin and Abraham Needham live on in the archives How do we know all this about of the JCPML. someone who died almost 90 years ago? In part through his Abraham Needham’s hand- writings, but also by the books he made bookshelves live on too, bought and the books he gave as in the care of the National Trust The Art of the Possible exhibition at the Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial gifts — books that travelled the of WA. Library. world with him and his family. APM Fellows research John Curtin Three 2010/2011 Australian Prime Minister Centre Fellows are undertaking research into different aspects of John Curtin’s life.

Bob Wurth (the JCPML’s 2009 The Bathurst City Council Visiting Scholar) is writing a book purchased the Chifley house on John Curtin’s wartime legacy, and its contents in 1972 as a seeking to assess and clarify memorial to Prime Minister Curtin’s actions before and Chifley. Opened by Prime during the war with Japan. Minister Whitlam in March 1973, the property has been Caryn Coatney, a Curtin maintained as a house museum University academic, is since. addressing the question ‘How successful was John Curtin in developing innovative prime was Treasurer in ministerial journalism strategies the and that made a lasting impact on following John Curtin’s death successive Government-media on 5 , Deputy Prime relationships?’. Minister acted Sam Malloy, Coordinator of the as Prime Minister until the Chifley Home and Education Federal Parliamentary Labor Centre in Bathurst, New Party elected Chifley as its new South Wales, is undertaking a leader. Chifley served as Prime comparative study of the homes Minister from 13 July 1945 to of Prime Ministers Ben Chifley, 19 December 1949. John Curtin and . (The Lyons’ family lived at Home Labor leaders - Prime Minister John Hill in Devenport, Tasmania.) Curtin and J.B. (Ben) Chifley, circa 1941. Records of the Curtin Family. Sam visited in May and JCPML00004/25. spent time at the JCPML and the Cottesloe home where the Curtin family lived. St Cottesloe, 1988. JCPML00632/1. John and E lsie Curtin’s home at 24 Jarrad Home & E ducation Centre. Busby Street, Bathurst. Courtesy Chifley Ben and E lizabeth Chifley’s home at 10 Right to left:

John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library, Library Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley WA 6102 GPO Box U1987 Perth WA 6845

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