Manuscript Name |
Papers of John McCarthy |
Manuscript Number |
MSS 355 |
Last Updated |
August 2021 |
Extent |
4.30 m (32 boxes) |
Location |
Special Collections, UNSW Canberra |
Abstract |
This collection comprises photocopies of Australian government documents relating to World War II and research material for various publications by the historian and academic John Malcolm McCarthy. |
Scope and Content
This collection comprises photocopies of Australian government documents including cables, minutes of War Cabinet meetings, ministerial notes, government correspondence and reports relating to World War II, together with research material for various publications by McCarthy.
Date Range of Content
1916-1986
Organization
The collection was arranged in files with titles when received by the Library. The arrangement of papers within these files and the file titles have been preserved by the Library
Biographical Note
John Malcolm McCarthy was born in 1933 and matriculated from the South Brisbane Evening Tutorial Classes and entered the University of Queensland on a Mature Age Scholarship. He graduated with First Class Honours in History and a University Medal from the University of Queensland. He completed his M.A. in History at the University of New South Wales, Kensington in 1968 and was awarded his Ph.D. from the Australian National University in 1972.
His first academic appointed was as a Teaching Fellow, Department of History, University of New South Wales, Kensington. In 1968 after completing his M.A. he became a Research Scholar in the Department of Political Science, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra. After teaching on the Kensington campus and at the University of Wollongong he was appointed lecturer in 1970 in the Department of History, Faculty of Military Studies, University of New South Wales, Duntroon, Canberra, and Senior Lecturer in 1973. In early 1986 he transferred to the University College, Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), Canberra and retired holding the position of Associate Professor in the School of History, University College, ADFA. After retirement, he was invited to become a Visiting Fellow in History at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University College, ADFA.
He was the foundation president of the Association for the History of Australian Defence and Foreign Policy, 1976-1979; member of the editorial boards of The great circle : journal of the Australian Association for Maritime History and War and society; foundation editor of the Australian journal of defence studies; and vice-president of the Australian Commission of Military History.
He is the author and editor of a number of articles and books on Australian and Imperial defence, foreign policy and Australian politics, including:
'The Stevens-Bruxner government, 1932-1939', M.A. thesis, University of New South Wales, Kensington (1967)
'Air power and Australian defence : a study in imperial relations, 1923-1954', Ph.D. thesis, Australian National University, 1972
Australia and imperial defence 1918-1939 : a study in sea and air power (1976)
Australia war strategy 1939-1945 : a documentary history, John Robertson and John McCarthy (1985)
Last call of empire : Australian aircrew, Britain and the Empire Air Training Scheme (1988)
Dependency? : essays in the history of Australian defence and foreign policy (edited by McCarthy 1989)
Defence in transition : Australian defence policy and the role of air power 1945-1954 (1991)
Australia and the threat of Japan 1919-1945 (edited and introduced by John McCarthy 1992)
The New South Wales state election, 1935 (1998)
The New South Wales state election, 1938 (1998)
References:
Guide (Australian Defence Force Academy. Dept. of History), 1991
Book covers and dust jackets
Kinetica database, 2004
Australian Defence Force Academy Library database, 2004
Administrative Information
Access
The collection is available for research.
Restrictions on Use
No copying is permitted without the permission of the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
[Manuscript Item], Papers of John McCarthy, Special Collections UNSW Canberra, MSS 355, Box [Number], Folder [Number].
Provenance
The collection was acquired from John McCarthy in 1998.
Access Terms
Personal Names
McCarthy, John Malcolm, 1933- -- Archives.
Topical Subjects
Academics -- Australia -- Archives.
Historians -- Australia -- Archives.
Authors, Australian -- 20th century--Archives.
Occupations
Historians
Academics
Container List
Box 1
Folder 1
Pre-war defence planning, August-September 1939
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 2-3
Decision to send troops overseas, September 1939-July 1940
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 4-5
Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) and other air matters, May 1932; July 1938; September 1939-January 1940
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 2
Folder 6-7
Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) and other air matters, February 1940-September 1943
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 8-10
Singapore commitment, May 1931-January 1943
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 3
Folder 11
Use of Australian troops in the Middle East, 1940, January-December 1940
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 12-14
Netherlands East Indies, November 1939-May 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 4
Folder 15-16
Production, December 1918; January 1939-January 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 17-18
Japan/United States to Pearl Harbour (December 1941), September 1939-December 1940
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 5
Folder 19-23
Japan/United States to Pearl Harbour (December 1941), January 1941-December 1941 and August 1943
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 6
Folder 24-27
The Balkans, Greece and Crete, October 1939-January 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 7
Folder 28
Procedure. Examples of Defence Department procedure, May 1916; January 1940-October 1941
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 29-30
Navy, 1939-41, 1921-May 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents plus handwritten research notes
Folder 31-32
Australian policy - general, includes manpower pre-1942, October 1939-December 1941
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 8
Folder 33
Raising 7th Division, January-October 1940
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 34
Home defence, 1939-40, November 1939-November 1941
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 35-37
Policy/UK. Demands for information, June 1939-December 1940
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 9
Folder 38-39
Policy/UK. Demands for information, January-December 1941
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 40
Policy/UK. Finance and trade, November 1939-October 1941
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 41
Troops to Malaya, 1940, June 1940-May 1941
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 10
Folder 42
Miscellaneous, 1939-1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 43-44
Australian/US relations, 1939; 1941-43; 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 45-48
Air - general 1941-1945, January 1941-December 1943
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 11
Folder 49-51
Air - general 1941-1945, January 1944-January 1946
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 52-56
Australian troops in Middle East 1941, July 1940-December 1941
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 12
Folder 57-58
Syria, July 1940-September 1941
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 59
Japan - post 1942 - general, February 1942-January 1943
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 60
Middle East 1942, March-November 1942; March 1943
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 61-62
Northern approaches. Timor, Ambon, March 1940-August 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 63-64
Advisory War Council Minutes 1941, February-December 1941
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 13
Folder 65-66
Pacific Islands. Preparations for defence 1940-41, January 1940; June 1940-June 1942; March and November 1943
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 67
Munitions production, 1942, June 1942-July 1943; March 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 68
Russia, November 1941-February 1946
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 69-71
Advisory War Council Meetings 1942, December 1941-December 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 72
Minutes of War Cabinet October 1941-June 1943, October-December 1941
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 14
Folder 73-75
Minutes of War Cabinet October 1941-June 1943, August 1942-June 1943
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 76-79
Minutes of War Cabinet, July 1943-December 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 15
Folder 80
American troops in Australia, January-August 1942; April 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 81
Danger of invasion, January-September 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 82
AIF 1942, December 1941-May 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 83-84
Singapore, Malaya, NEI 1941-February 1942, April 1941- February 1942; November 1942; April 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 85-86
Navy 1941-1945, November 1941-June 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 87
Anzac naval area, November 1941-March 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 16
Folder 88-89
ABDA area, December 1941-March 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 90-94
Defence of Australia 1942, May 1941-March 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 95
Letters to Curtin re defence of Australia 1942, January-December 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 17
Folder 96
The Brisbane Line, April 1941-November 1943
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 97-99
New Guinea 1941-1942, September 1941-April 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 100-103
Relations with UK - the question of Australian representation, December 1941-May 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 18
Folder 104
Material from Bruce papers, April 1940
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 105-109
Higher direction of the war - grand strategy, December 1941-June 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 110
Higher direction of the war - grand strategy, January 1942-May 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 111
Policy - Australia/United States, December 1941-December 1943
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 19
Folder 112-116
9th Division 1942, January 1942-April 1943
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 117-118
Diversion of convoy to Burma and AIF to Ceylon, 1 February-5 April 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 119
Evatt's overseas trips - 1942, 1943 and 1945, 1942-1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 20
Folder 120-121
Evatt's overseas trips - 1942, 1943 and 1945, January 1943-August 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 122-123
Post-war questions, May 1942-August 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 124-126
South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and MacArthur, March 1943-February 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 127
Manpower policy, December 1941-August 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 21
Folder 128-129
Manpower policy, September 1942-June 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 130
War situation from the Australian viewpoint, December 1941-September 1942; July 1943; January 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 131
Australian politics, May 1941-July 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 132
China, August 1940; April-October 1942; May-July 1943; June-November 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 133
Full Cabinet minutes, December 1941-August 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 134
Curtin's overseas visit 1944, March-July 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 135
Post-war aviation, January 1943-December 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 22
Folder 136
Shipping position, March-June 1943; February-April 1944; March 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 137
Netherlands East Indies (NEI) post 1942, August-December 1943; June 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 138
Tube alloys and uranium, August-October 1943; May-December 1944; February-March 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 139
Intelligence and political warfare, August 1941; July-August 1942; February 1943; May and December 1944; February 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 140
Scientific work applied to the Pacific, September 1940; September-November 1943; October 1944; February-March 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 141
73 Squadron plans, January, May-June 1941; August-October, December 1942; April-July, October-December 1943; May 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 142
Food, December 1943; June 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 143
Australia/New Zealand Agreement, August 1940; December 1943; January-November 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 144-145
Royal Navy fleet to the Pacific, January 1944-July 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 23
Folder 146-152
Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) post-1941, November 1939; January 1941-May 1945; December 1945; 1954; 1963
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 153
Supply of aircraft, May-October 1941; March-November 1942; March 1943
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 24
Folder 154
Post-war question, excluding Europe, May-November 1944; January-February, June-August 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 155
Prisoners of war, November 1944; April 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 156
Financial matters, loans, etc, May 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 157
Portugal and Timor 1945, May, June, August 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 158-160
Australia's final campaigns, November 1943; January, June-September, November-December 1944; January-August 1945; May 1946
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 161-162
Commonwealth forces in SWPA, June 1944; February, June-17 July 1945; 18 July-August 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 25
Folder 163
AMF & AIF, conscription, January 1943; February 1944
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 164
Philippines, September-November 1944; January and April 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 165-166
Destination of 1 Australian Corps - destination of convoy, December 1941-March 1942; July-September 1943; c. 1950
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 167
ABDA, January-March 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 168
The Americans come, October 1941; January-May 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 169
The higher direction of the war, December 1941-March 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 170
Equipment for UK and USA, February 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 171
Malayan fiasco, December 1941-January 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 26
Folder 172
Malayan fiasco, February-March 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 173
Pacific - United States - Europe, January, April, May, August, September 1942; January, March, May, June, September 1943; February, March 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 174
The northern approaches, March-April 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 175
South West Pacific Area (SWPA) in operation, MacArthur and the Australians, March, April, November 1943; March 1945
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 176
Australian troops on the SS Orcades, January-March 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 177
AIF to Ceylon, February-July 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 178
America's involvement before Pearl Harbour, May 1938; September-December 1940; February-December 1941; December 1945; undated
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 179
Total war, February 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Folder 180
Defence of mainland Australia, September-November 1942
Photocopies of Australian government documents
Box 27
Folder 181
Photocopies of Australian government documents, July 1923 and June 1924
Folder 182
Photocopies of Australian government documents, October 1933; March, April, June 1935; August, December 1937; February, August, October 1938
Folder 183
Photocopies of Australian government documents and research notes, February, July 1939
Folder 184
Photocopies of Australian government documents and research notes, August-November 1939
Folder 185
Photocopies of Australian government documents and research notes, January, June, August-December 1940; March, April, August, September, November, December 1941
Folder 186
Photocopies of Australian government documents, January-December 1942
Folder 187
Photocopies of Australian government documents, January-June, August-December 1943
Folder 188
Photocopies of Australian government documents, January-May, August-November 1944
Box 28
Folder 189
Photocopies of Australian government documents and newspaper clippings including the Rowell and the Jones-Bostock problem, 1945, 1946
Folder 190
Photocopies of Australian government documents, 1947-1955, 1959
Folder 191
Photocopies of Australian government documents, 1967-69, 1971-72, 1974, 1981-82, 1984, 1986
Folder 192
Research material: Navy; Chapter III Section II; British/American proposals for participation in aircraft industry 1935-1936
Folder 193
Research material: Supply British aircraft 1935-19; AWS plans and drafts and draft introduction; draft outline; The Americans come
Folder 194-196
Research material
Box 29
Folder 197-203
Research material
Box 30
Folder 204-207
Correspondence re The Boomerang Club
Folder 208
Publications:
Commentary, Volume Fifty-one, number 6, June 1971;
Uranquinty Public School centenary, 1880-1980
Box 31
Folder 209
Reports:
Later campaigns in New Guinea, November 1942-March 1944;
Defence policy 1932;
Defence policy 1934;
British advice on services, 1921 1934-35, 1938-41;
Ellington Report, 1923
Box 32
Folder 210
Research material