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 | In establishing and maintaining a library Two essays on the University of Sydney Library Radford, Neil A. Fletcher, John University of Sydney Library Sydney, Australia 2002 |
| and http://setis.library.usyd.edu.au/oztexts © University of Sydney Library. The texts and images are not to be used for comm[...]xt: Prepared from the print edition published by University of Sydney Library Sydney 1984 All quotation marks are retained as data. First Published: 1984 027.79441/4 setis australian etexts prose nonfiction 1940- In establishing and maintaining a library Two essays on the University of Sydney Library Sydney University of Sydney Library 1984 |
| “In Establishing and Maintaining A Library” |
| [...]A. Radford from In Establishing and Maintaining a Library: Two Essays on the University of Sydney Library 1984 Introduction Behind almost every great library stands at least one great benefactor. Sir Thomas[...]sher (1820-1884), the principal benefactor of the library of the University of Sydney. Contemporary references to his bequest make no m[...]t he was a boot and shoe maker and lived near the University. Later accounts often surrounded him with[...] |
| [...]male convicts sailed in the transport Perseus for Sydney, then a small struggling settlement founded only[...]y of Hassall's important customers. In 1810, the Sydney Racing Club was established and held its first meeting in October. Although the Sydney Gazette reported the event in detail, only one jo[...]s John Fisher later became a well-known jockey in Sydney, it seems reasonable to assume that it was he who[...]ng a new life for himself as a trusted convict in Sydney, another court case took place in England which w[...]to transportation for seven years and arrived in Sydney on the Canada in September, 1810, with 120[...] |
| [...]ught him into contact with many of the leaders of Sydney society as owners and spectators, including Colon[...]he colony. O'Connell was a leading figure in the Sydney Racing Club and Fisher often rode his horses to V[...]In 1818, the Fishers admitted defeat and moved to Sydney, where they occupied a house on Brickfield Hill[...]sher Thomas Fisher was born at Brickfield Hill, Sydney, on January 23rd, 1820, and was baptised at St. P[...]south-east corner of Clarence and Market Streets, Sydney. The census of 1828 shows the occupants of[...] |
| [...]is likely that their father's executors or other friends would have cared for them. In fact, one of the ex[...]tors, many of whom, it may be assumed, became his friends during the thirty years of his ownership of the building. They included John Williams, who became Mayor of Sydney and later Crown Solicitor, and Richard Dri[...] |
| [...]years, died. The death notice he inserted in the Sydney Morning Herald on June 10th, stated simply[...] |
| [...]s Victoria Park and the attractive grounds of the University of Sydney and the Institution for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind.[...]as his neighbour across Codrington Street and the University and park one block distant across busy Newtown (l[...]dly Fisher took advantage of his proximity to the University and frequently walked in its pleasant grounds. At that time, the University had fewer than a hundred students and only a hand[...]friendships, or at least acquaintanceships, with University people. It is probable that he knew Henry Ebeneze[...]ndowment. Here he would have heard, in 1879, that Sydney businessman Thomas Walker had purchased and presented to the University Library the important private |
| [...]se, solicitor, literary patron, and Fellow of the University Senate from 1869 until his death in 1873. This wo[...]er announcing the gift of Stenhouse's “valuable library” referred directly to “the deficiency and . . . the practical inconvenience of our library accommodation.” The 3,600 Stenhouse volumes had[...]d had precipitated a crisis in accommodation. The library had long outgrown its original home in a single room at the northern end of the main University building, and thousands of books were stored in t[...]ther rooms nearby. Suitable accommodation for the library was probably the University's most pressing need. “I will be so bold,” s[...]he gratitude of their country by erecting for the University a library worthy of comparison with like edifices at Home.[...]a fact that in the following year Fisher made the University of Sydney the residual beneficiary of his estate, specifyi[...]ould be used “in establishing and maintaining a library.”28 He left no record of the reasons for his decision to endow the University's library, but it seems not unreasonable to assume that the[...]s appeal for a donor, his own observations of the library's poor state, and perhaps also his convers[...] |
| his friend's own collection eventually came to swell the University Library. As a Fellow of the University Senate, Stenhouse would have been aware of the institution's library problems and might well have mentioned them in co[...]as minister at St. James's Church in King Street, Sydney, 184071884, a period which almost exactly coincid[...]again it is quite probable that Allwood mentioned University matters in conversation from time to time. A cen[...]reasons for Thomas Fisher's decision to endow the University's library can only be, at best, the subject of speculation.[...]know that he kept this decision a secret from the University authorities. In October, 1884, four years after F[...]ade and nearly three months before his death, the University Senate debated the problem of accommodation for the library. It is clear that Fisher's intentions were entirely unknown to the University, for it was proposed that the Challis Bequest be used to erect a library building, to be called the Challis Building, and that the library be supported by annual appropriations from the Ch[...]his way to or from church, and he was admitted to Sydney Hospital.32 He died there of kidney failur[...] |
| [...]uneral, and who inserted his death notices in the Sydney Morning Hera] ,34 were as unaware of this provisi[...]isher Esq. late of Alma Street, Darlington, South Sydney, who died 27 December 1884, aged 64 years. His munificent bequests are recorded in the annals of the Sydney University, School of Arts, and other charitable institution[...]gh a number of hands until it was acquired by the University in the late 1960s. Regrettably, it was demolished[...], Dumb and Blind, the Hospital for Sick Children, Sydney Infirmary, the Benevolent Asylum, Prince Alfred[...]ablet of Marble in Saint James Church King Street Sydney with a suitable inscription thereon.” It[...] |
| [...]he time being entitled to receive the same of the University of Sydney to be applied and expended by the Senate for the time being of the said University in establishing and maintaining a Library for the use of the said University for which purpose they may erect a building and m[...]le for effectuating the objects aforesaid.42 The University was informed of this bequest in the early[...] |
| In June the University Senate received a petition from two of Fisher's n[...]emember him very well . . . The money left to the University at the time should have been given to his sisters and relations; for Mr. Fisher was never in a University in his life; and just petty spite on his part lea[...]ges worth nearly £25,000 were handed over to the University during 1885 and 1886.48 The Senate, in its Annua[...]ed to amount to about £30,000, bequeathed to the University by the late Mr. Thomas Fisher of Sydney. . . . Of the amount bequeathed, a considerable portion had been handed over to the University prior to the 3lst of December in the form of subs[...]e ascertained the amount actually received by the University was £32,212/12/0.50 At present values thi[...] |
| [...]hip. The T 0m Fisher was subsequently sold by the University for £600, only half its apparent worth.52 While these details were being attended to by the University's accountant and solicitors the Senate was giving[...]lising the Fisher bequest for the benefit of the library. In his Commemoration Day address in 1885, after[...]probably suffice for a handsome and well-designed Library Building, and for a partial endowment of the libr[...]rary view was held by the Vice-Chancellor and the Library Committee, who desired at least part of the beque[...]that £20,000 “be applied in the erection of a Library Building at and for the University; such building to be designated ‘The Fisher Library’ ”, that £10,000 be used “for the endowment of a Librarianship for the University”, and that any excess be spent on books.55 In F[...]t “for the erection of buildings annexed to the Library, comprising Reading Rooms and Common Rooms for st[...]l endowment fund for keeping up and adding to the Library”. The amendment was carried 6:5, the Cha[...] |
| [...]entire cost (estimated at £67,500) of erecting a library building, including space for a museum and other facilities. The building, named the Fisher Library, was opened in 1909, the Chancellor Sir Normand M[...]ll be handed down by the influence of this great library to generation after generation of Australi[...] |
| [...]fil. Photograph on page 25: The Original Fisher Library, opmed 1909i |
| [...]cade ofhis life. Within fifty years, the Fisher Library was no longer adequate for its purpose and in 1963 a new building was opened and the name Fisher Library transferred to it, thus nicely maintaining the link between Thomas Fisher and the University Library. By agreeing to meet the full cost of the erection of the first Fisher Library, the State government enabled the University to retain the Fisher bequest in its entirety for[...]fact, pressing financial problems besetting the University forced diversion of at least part of the income of the fund to pay library staff salaries fiom 1893 until at least 1937.61[...]her Fund is now reserved for special purchases of library materials which cannot be afforded fiom the library's normal allocation within the University's annual budget. In announcing the completion of the Fisher Library building to the Commemoration Day audience[...] |
| Thomas Fisher contributed more than he realised to the University of Sydney and to Australian scholarship generally when he d[...]rtune to the establishment and maintenance of the University Library. Convicts' son, bootmaker, and investor, his name[...]les Book, Parramatta, 180341, pp. 36-7. (Mitchell Library Mss A861.) 4 Sydney Gazette 20 October 1810. 5 Public Record Office.[...]rriages, St. John's Church, Parramatta. (Mitchell Library A4381.) 7 T. D. Mutch Index (Mitchell Library) for details of births of Jemima, Mary Ann and Sa[...]s for Wine and Spirit Licences 1819720. (Mitchell Library A764.) 9 Sydney Gazette 5 June 1819. 10 N.S.W. Registrar-General.[...]vember 1828. Ed. M. R. Sainty and K. A. Johnson. (Sydney, Library of Australian History, 1980.) 12 John Fis[...] |
| [...]aker, and boot and shoe warehouse. 17 Fowles, J. Sydney in 1848 (Sydney, 1848), plate opp. p. 41. 18 Thomas Fisher, Death[...]cription appears on his receipts. (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) 20 Recently renamed, respectively, Ma[...]nue. 21 From account books in the Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives. 22 T. W. Henley, “The Fisher Library”, Daily Telegraph, 27 June 1925, p. 10. R. A. T[...]23 Barff, H. E. A Short Historical Account of the University of Sydney (Sydney, Angus & Robertson, 1902), p. 126. 24 Stenhouse was for many years president of the Sydney Mechanics‘ School of Arts of which Fisher was u[...]avour. 26 W. M. Manning, Chancellor‘s Address, University of Sydney Commemoration, Saturday 19 July 1879, pp. 475. 27 H. Bryan, “An Australian University Library in the A.M.: Earlier Years of the University of Sydney Library”. Journal of the Royal Australian Historical So[...]f Thomas Fisher, 29 October 1880. (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) 29 University of Sydney. Minutes of Senate meeting 1 October 1884. 30 Ibi[...]mber 1884. 31 Mortgage document and bill of sale, University of Sydney Archives. 32 A persistent family story ha[...] |
| 34 Death notice, Sydney Morning Herald, 14 and 17 January 1885. 35 Funeral notice, Sydney Morning Herald, 29 December 1884. 36 University of Sydney. Minutes of Senate meeting 19 July 1886. Letter, H. E. Barff to J. H. Clayton, 22 July 1886. (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) 37 Waverley Cemetery, Sec. 2, Grave 175. The grave and monument were restored by the University in 1984 to mark the centenary of his death. 38 Probate document. (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) 39 “Gold Hoard May Lie in Old House[...]y Telegraph, 7 September 1952, p. 11. 40 Letter, Sydney Church of England Diocesan Registry to J. H. Clayton, 19 August 1886. (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) Recent enquiries to the church and the[...]levant information. 41 Releases. (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) 42 Will of Thomas Fisher, 29 October 1880. (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) 43 Sydney Morning Herald, 25 April 1885, p. 8. 44 Town and Country Journal, 9 May 1885, p. 955. 45 University of Sydney, Minutes of Senate meeting 1 June 1885. 46 Lette[...]t to H. M. Green, 14 August 1923. (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) 47 Letters and other documents in the Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives. 48 List of Mortgages of Estate of Thom[...]ned by Mark Spence (co-executor). (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) 49 “Report of the Senate of the University for the Year Ended 31st December 1885”, University of Sydney Calendar, 1886, pp. 300701. 50 “Receipts and Expenditure of the University of Sydney for the Year Ended 31st December, 1886”, University of Sydney Calendar, 1887, pp. 314717. 51 I am grateful to Mr. D. R. V. Wood for making this calculation. 52 University of Sydney, Minutes of Senate meetings 6 December 1886 and 7 February 1887. 53 W. M. Manning. Chancellor's Address, University Commemoration, University of Sydney, 2 May 1885, p. 6. 54 University of Sydney. Minutes of Senate meeting 15 August 1887. |
| [...]57 Ibid. 58 W. M. Manning. Chancellor's Address, University Commemoration, 14 April 1888, p. 18. 59 University of Sydney. Minutes of Senate meeting 4 March 1889. 60 Sydney Morning Herald, 21 September 1909, p. 7. 61 Brya[...]blic Works in 1900, H. E. Barff, Registrar of the University, revealed that the librarian and two assistants h[...]on Public Works. Report Relating to the Proposed Library Within the University Grounds, pp. 556757. In N.S.W. Legislative Assemb[...]pt of Chancellor‘s Address, 1910, p. 3. (Fisher Library.) |
| “Per ardua ad libros” The Friends of the University of Sydney Library 1961—1984 John Fletcher from In Establishing and Maintaining a Library: Two Essays on the University of Sydney Library 1984 John Fletcher, MA, Dip Ed, is Senior Lecturer in Germanic Studies, University of Sydney, and Treasurer ofthe Friends ofthe University ofSydney Library Libraries have, fortunately, always had Friends, as well as users and readers. An early example of one such Friend is seen in Fisher Library's copy (at RB 8236.2 Fol.) of Erasmus' edition of[...]given in 1682 by Abbot Johann to his monastery's library at Wengen, near Ulm. Like many other Friends before and since, Abbot Johann recorded his gift[...]son (187071952). Closer still we have the Fisher Library of the University of Sydney, the story of which needs in the present context[...]ations of diligent Scottish migrants, a McDonalds Library might be accepted, although I am less sure about a Colonel Sanders' Library (with appropriately modified exterior) or a library where “only the best will do”. Nonetheless, I[...]om large in the minds of the three men who in the Sydney of 1961 conjoined to conceive the Friends of the University of Sydney Library.l Nor was the idea as such a new one, however surprising that might seem from the perspective of 1984 with its growing plethora of Friends for zoos, theatres, art-galleries and museums. |
| Library, opened 1963, Similar schemes had surfaced in Eur[...]or-made tradition of alumni societies. The first Friends of a university library group in the USA. was at Harvard in 1925: thirty years later the same country had some 650 Friends organisations. In Australia too, the Public Library of South Australia, faced with a minuscule government budget, had launched its Friends in the 'thirties (1932). It was their Constitution that was used as a model for the Sydney offspring a generation later. Our three men were[...]liographer par excellence; and Dr. Andrew Osborn, University Librarian (l959fi2), fiesh fiom the ivied wall[...]a “provisional general meeting” on 5 October 1961, in the University Staff Club, over dinner, eight people asse[...] |
| [...], later (1968) to be instrumental in bringing the Friends of Monash University Library into being. During the next six months the provi[...]eral Meeting took place in the Senate Room of the University. There were 38 present. The essence of the three[...]ssist, encourage and promote the interests of the University of Sydney Library in such ways as the Society may determine, and in[...]ripts or other material that may be of use to the Library c) by such other manner as the Society may from[...]in addition two further categories of membership. Friends could, in lieu of (or of course in addition to) t[...]ound of money, donate books or manuscripts to the Library. Or they could, in a peculiarly gentlemanly sort[...]40 (see here Appendix 11). Also announced was the Friends' first purchase: a |
| [...]k, an apposite opportunity to proselytize for the Friends in the columns of Bz'blz'onews.2 Spreading the w[...]ity in the Union Recorder, in The Gazette, in the Sydney Morning Herald.3 They decided that lists of acces[...]ntial daily papers” and vowed to “circularize university staff”. When much of this white-hot urgency pr[...]re was a lively discussion on the production of a Friends' Christmas card and on the “publication of a pr[...]s remarks “on the poverty of Australiana in the University Library”, unanimously agreed to buy from Francis Edward[...]similarly authoritative and rare works which the Friends were, at the suggestion of the Librarian or of relevant University departments, to purchase for the Library down the |
| [...]ataloguing backlogged antiquarian books, that the Library already possessed this particular edition. The Librarian acted deftly (30 June 1967) and the Friends' first substantial purchase, still bearing its Friends' bookplate, now rests tranquilly in the State Library of New South Wales (at S.C.275784F). This particu[...]r bibliophile muscles in calling for lists of the Library's desiderata to be drawn up and “to be made available to Friends who actively rummage in second-hand bookshops”. They also voted for substantial support towards the Library's purchase of the late Professor J. R. Stewart's[...]encourager les autres”, that the bequest to the Library of his “large and eclectic” collection will e[...]erpetuation”. There was some steam lost in the Friends' year of March 1964 to the March of 1965. The fi[...]ening held on Friday, 20 November 1964 (the early Friends were keen on Friday evening meetings) where Sir J[...]s. More importantly, books kept coming in to the Library. In the Report for 1964765, the Secretary could a[...]d risen to 174 (see Appendix II), that individual Friends had donated 128 items (including Theodor Dorsteni[...]f 1540), that the Committee had purchased for the Library the entire collection (over 1000 volumes) of the[...]sad news of the death of Dr. G. A. M. Heydon, the Friends' most generous benefactor in their opening years, was leavened by the presentation to the Library by his heir of Dr. Heydon's “considerabl[...] |
| best suited to the Friends' capabilities” (7 May 1965). To this end, Sir J[...]of his copy of Christopher Brennan's XVIII Poems (Sydney, 1897). It was also proposed that Sir John's note[...]i de coeur”, warmly welcomed and abetted by the Friends, was to increase the Library's holdings of Italian books from 6,000 to 9,000.[...]5) designed a letter to be circulated amongst the University's teaching staff, sanctioned “approaches to ind[...]s suggestion that all items printed at and on the Library's Piscator Press (see Appendix VI) be regularly distributed to Friends. Also discussed were the “possibilities of exhi[...]ggestion underlines the revived pragmatism of the FriendsFriends the Secretary notes a manuscript by the sometime University Librarian John Le Gay Brereton. It was titled “[...]d forces”. They discussed their purchase of the Library's forthcoming One Millionth Book which “should[...]Evening of 20 November 1964] as a present to the Friends”.5 A later meeting (19 July 1966) discussed the Friends' contribution to the |
| Library's purchase of the Colin Berckelman Collection. On[...]Henry Lawson's Short Stories in Prose and Verse (Sydney, 1894), the meeting moved that a further $1000 should be given “at once” towards the Library's purchase of their late colleague's library. Those present (there were eleven) were also informed that a recent circular to the University's teaching staff had brought in 38 new members, t[...]end. The Lawson item was duly handed over to the LibraryFriends. It was also in the same year (l966%7) that the h[...]Lawson book, this is again a pivotal point of the Friends' striving towards substantial funding. That the m[...]e. What remains as a crystalline fact is that the Friends will always need friends of this stature. The same thought probably loome[...]1967) of a “business men's reception” at the Library. The Secretary was delegated with the task of dra[...]brochure. There were dark murmurings about those Friends “financially considerably in arrears” which[...]Committee heard of the generous donations to the Library by two Honorary Friends, Mr. W. H. Deane (obiit 1984) and Mrs. Margery Keesing (obiz't 1983) (“that[...]9 June 1972). They expressed too support for the Library's Under-graduate Collection and in quick succession voted for funds to be supplied towards the Library's purchase of Professor K. G. Cross' collection (30 August 1967) and the rich 1000-volume strong library of Mrs. Monner (1 November 1967). This latter col[...]strations) the first incunabulum acquired by the Library under the aegis of Mr. H. Bryan (19 April[...] |
| of the University's Dental Alumni, who have in turn constantly figured amongst the Friends' most enduring supporters. A further field for p[...]e approaches to book collectors”. Those of the Friends, now declared (Secretary's Report for 196 7768) to be 251 strong, who warily came along to the University's Senate Room on Saturday, 15 March 1968 for the[...]medical and literary”. They also heard that the Friends' balance now stood at $3600 (amended on 5 July 19[...]ortly as the second occasional publication of the Friends”.10 The Friends were again mindful of their foundation President,[...]69 he retired from his office as Director of the University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.[...]help of the Department of Preventive Medicine the Friends purchased a mint copy of Thomas Crooke's illustra[...]ch to Sir Edward's well concealed chagrin, to the Library. It also fell to Professor emeritus Sir Edward F[...]lways evinced a “great and warm interest in the Friends . . . which had continued during the course of hi[...]ng 'sixties and entered the sober 'seventies, the Friends left behind them not so much their initial[...] |
| [...]llor nor the present Vice-Chancellor appear to be Friends” (30 June 1970). The same Committee heard too o[...]nt” presumably mirrored too the feelings of the Friends. But the machinery established after so much discussion by the early Friends continued to function. Scores of purchases were m[...]n an ever thickening stream. At the same time the Friends invested heavily in helping (1 December 1971) the Library to buy the Celtica collection of Mrs. Nora Kersha[...]1974) the Committee called for regular notices in University publications, for “articles of some length” i[...]was elected “with acclamation” Patron of the Friends, but where too the Librarian spoke of “a climat[...]membership. Which was, and remains perforce, the Friends' only real hope of attracting real money. Their d[...]he invitation of 21 business men to a tour of the Library and a function (i.e. sherry) in the Macdonald Roo[...]1973. The appeal met with limited success and the Friends have still to improve on the pinnacle of h[...] |
| [...]ing. This was in 1976777, at the end of which the Friends found themselves to consist of 222 financial mem[...]g. There was a Letter sent to all members of the University's teaching staff. The Friends hosted the inaugural meeting (7 July 1976) of the[...]preceded (2 June 1976) by the presentation to the Library by the Friends (Walter Stone) of the Two Millionth Book. Which w[...]ertise was a direct link with the founders of the Friends. In John Le Gay Brereton we find the Library's first full-time Director (1914721). Even more[...]ian from 1959762, in the very cradle-years of the Friends. Such felicitous conjunctions occur but rarely.[...]tions in the March of 1983, when unbelievably the Library's Three Millionth Book was trundled into view. It[...]re Pastorali dz' Dafnz' e di Clue. The President, Sydney Levine, on behalf of the Friends, presented it to the Library. Fittingly and movingly, the Bodoni book came fro[...]and Friend. It had been presented in turn to the Friends by Mrs. Nancy Johnson. The Address was given, wit[...]Harrison Bryan, Librarian from 1963 to 1980. The Friends, now in their third decade, have had to learn tha[...]r job to badger the business world, to remind the University's graduates of the needs of the Library they once successfully used, to alert the academic community with news of the machinery the Friends have so painstakingly constructed. Well might the Treasurer, in his usual purple prose, pronounce, as the Friends lurched into the anxious 'eighties: “clearly, the writing is on the Library wall, the tocsin is tolling etc.” (27 April 198[...]s. What is needed is action. Not so much from the Friends, who have long since proved themselves, bu[...] |
| all those outside who believe in, rely on and look to the Library of the University of Sydney. No account of the Friends, even one as incomplete as this, would be accurat[...]have freely given of their time and energy 0 the Library itself which has long borne all administrative co[...]Galtsmith—Clarke. Appendix I Officers of the Friends of the University of Sydney Library President Secretary Treasurer 962 Sir Edward For[...]Fletcher Appendix 11 Financial Membership of the Friends of the University of Sydney Library |
| [...]iary students from other institutions joining the Friends in order to be able to borrow books from the Library. The true progression is from 1977778 to 1982783. Appendix III Purchases by the Friends up to 7 May 1984 Individual items The Friends have bought for the Library in excess of 320 separate items. These include ma[...]microfilms. Additional material In l964$5 the Friends bought the Library of the Highland Society of New South Wales. The Friends have made substantial contributions towards the Library's purchase of: the J. R. Stewart Collecti[...] |
| [...]) the Hince Collection (1980781) In 1981782 the Friends bought 48 items from Professor F. May's Library, and a collection of 84 three-decker novels. Sin[...]iaeval and 16th-century manuscripts bought by the Friends, see K. V. Sinclair, Descriptive Catalogue of Mediaeval and Renaissance Western Manuscripts. Sydney, Sydney University Press, 1969, nos. 13347.) Appendix IV Donations by individual Friends up to 7 May 1984 By this date, Friends had contributed to the Library 12,318 items. This includes the gift (1974776) of[...]. Appendix V Functions and talks arranged by the Friends 31 March Dr, A, Osborn (Library), Inaugural address, Tour of work-site of the new Fisher Library, 962 1 March Sir Frank Francis (British Museum),[...]siveness” on libraries, 963 9 August H, Bryan (Library), On university libraries in the U,K, and U,S,A, (illustrated), 9[...]unction at the official Opening of the new Fisher Library, This included a “rousing recruiting call” 96[...]ently declared opened by G, D, Richardson (Public Library ofN,S,W,), Guide: C, M, Hotimsky (Library), 20 November Members' Evening, Chaired by Sir John Ferguson, 964 27 March J, Metcalfe (University of N,S,W,), Education for librarianship at[...] |
| [...]egaw (Archaeology), 18 March B, Scott (Macquarie University), On establishing a new university library, Exhibition of Islamic 1966 books and manuscripts[...]the Australian book trade, 1966 24 November The Friends (Sir Edward Ford) present to the Library the One Millionth Book, 1966 22 April 1967 J, J,[...]ical books, 7 July 1967 Professor K, F, Russell (University of Melbourne), The mediaeval doctor and his patie[...]vember Members' Evening, Chaired by Pamela Green (Library), 1967 15 March Sir Edward Ford, Some associati[...]neral and of: Sir 1968 Edward Ford's gifts to the Library and of: items associated with Sir Edward's war-ti[...]th the Arts Association,) 27 June 1968 H, Price, Sydney University Press: three years of publishing, 28 August W, Stone, Items from his collection, Pamela Green (Library), On books of the 16th-18th centuries, 1968 from the Library's collections, (With the Book Collectors' Society ofAustralia,) 16 October G, D, Richardson (Public Library of N,S,W,), A storehouse for the nation's literature: the Public 1968 Library ofNew South Wales, 4 December Retirement of Sir Edward Ford, To mark the occasion the Library acquires a copy of Crooke's 1968 Microcosmogrnphin (London, 1615), 10 May 1969 Film, The True University, 16 October Beatrice Wines (Library), The new Fisher Library: a personal view, (With the Arts Association,) 19[...]wer Institute of Fine Arts and the Power Research Library, 8 June 1971 B, K, Martin (English), Aspects ofth[...]y 1972 Dr, M, G, Carter (Semitic Studies), Fisher Library and Arabic, 28 September Professor A, Bro[...] |
| 3 April 1973 Associate Professor B, Gandevia (University of N,S,W,), Collecting medical and quack Australi[...]an College of Physicians) 8 May 1973 Films ofthe Library, 27 June 1973 Professor E, C, B, MacLaurin (Semit[...]dian art (illustrated), 974 7 May 1974 H, Bryan (Library), On the Library's collections since 1963, 3 June 1974 Members' Ev[...]ollection (illustrated), 974 26 October Visit to Library of St, Patrick's College, Manly, Guide: J, Fletch[...]0July 1975 Visit to the Bishop Broughton Memorial Library at Moore Theological College, Sydney, Guide: K, Robinson (Librarian), 27 August Associate Professor W, Kirsop (Monash University), Australian book-selling and publishing in the 9[...]ent, 975 3 March 1976 E, F, D, Roberts (National Library of Scotland, Books in the Middle Ages (illustrated), (With the Library Association of Australia (N,S,W,),) 5 May 1976 J, Fletcher (German), The history and holdings of the Library of St, Patrick's College, Manly (illustrated), 2[...]nis (illustrated), (With the English Association, Sydney Branch,) 2 June 1976 The Friends (W, Stone) present to the Library the Two Millionth Book, Address: Dr, A, Osborn,[...]n Society,) 24 August Dr, B, McMullin (Monash University), The bibliographical press movement, With a visi[...]n), 15 September R, Rosenthal (Joseph Regenstein Library, Chicago), The trade in antiquarian books, (With the 1976 Library Association ofAustralia (N,S,W,),) 13 November Visit to the science fiction library of Ron Graham in East Roseville, Guides: R, Graham and Pauline 1976 Dickinson (Library), Afterwards at Robin Marsden's, East Roseville,[...]am‘etz (facsimile reprint), Inauguration of the Library's Sir Asher Joel Microfiche Collection in Hebrew[...](With the Hebrew Society,) 11 May 1977 H, Bryan (Library), University Libraries in Britain (illustrated), 21 Ma[...] |
| [...]Wolfenbfittel, 1977 l 1 October Barbara Palmer (Library), Out-of-print books for the book collector, the[...]ns, C, Duffy) and b) the Rabbi Falk 1977 Memorial Library at the Great Synagogue (Rabbi R, Apple), 29 January Visit to the Library of St, Patrick's College, Manly, Guide: H, Ams (L[...]o de Bergerac manuscript recently acquired by the Library, 2lJune 1978 Associate Professor T, G, Vallance[...]stopher Brennan Society,) 4 September K, Tumell (Sydney Technical College), Modern binding techniques (il[...]Lane-Mullins Collection in Sancta Sophia College, Sydney, Guide: J, Fletcher (German), 979 6 March 1979 P[...]tors' Society ofAustralia,) 20 August B, Dyster (University of N,S,W,), Inventing the suburbs and making a fo[...]r), 979 0 November Visit to the Macarthur-Onslow Library at Camden Park, Guide: Associate Professor R, 1,[...]ofAustralia,) 1 June 1980 Pauline Dickinson (Library), Aspects ofscience fiction collecting (illustrat[...]d), 21 October G, L, Fischer (Archivist), On the University of Sydney Archives (illustrated), 1980 5 November Visit to the New South Wales Parliamentary Library, Guide: Dr, R, Cope (Librarian), 1980 9 M[...] |
| [...]l history, 981 29 October Dr, R, Alston (British Library), On collecting ephemera, (With the Book Collecto[...]l concerning botany and botanists in the Mitchell Library, 982 23 November Professor R, 1, Jack (History),[...]Collectors' Society of Australia,) 28 March The Friends (S, Levine) present to the Library the Three Millionth Book, Address: H, Bryan 983 (National Library of Australia), 0 May 1983 Janet Hine, Indexing t[...]rated), 983 29 October Visit to the James Hardie Library, Guide: R, Holden (Librarian), (With the Book Col[...](German), The Early Imprints Project, 984 7 May 1984 Dr, N, Radford (Library), Who was Thomas Fisher? Appendix VI The Piscator Press Fisher Library, University of Sydney. Press, and types used: Albion, Garamond and Per[...]of the Fisher Press.) 1 A Press is Born. 1963 * 2 Friends of Sydney University Library. Secretary’s Report (1963-64). 1964 3 Foscolo,[...]or Press.) 4 Foscolo, Ugo. The Sepulchres. 1964 5 Friends of Sydney University Library. Secretary’s Report (1964-65). 1965 * 6 Quartet [A programme]. 1965 * 7 Friends of Sydney University Library. Secretary’s Report (1965-66). 1966 * 8 Design for a Bookplate. 1966 * 9 Friends of Sydney University Library. Secretary’s Report (1966-67). 1967 * 10 University of Sydney Library. Collection Building Through Collection Buying. 1968 * 11 Sydney University Library. Significant Rare Books. I A General Intr[...] |
| John Milton. A Select List. 1970 * 12 Sydney University Library. Significant Rare Books. 11 Hugh Macdonald and the Macdonald Collection. 1975 * 13 Sydney University Library. An Event of Some Significance for Scholarship.[...]Presentation of the Two Millionth Book. 1976 * 14 Sydney University Library. Souvenir of a Print- in at the Fisher Library. 1976 * 15 McMullin, Brian J. Bibliographical Pre[...]to John Fletcher, Department of Germanic Studies, University of Sydney, N.S.W. 2006. Cheques should be made payable to “Friends of the University of Sydney Library”. Notes 1 A copy of the printed “An invitation . . . ”, dated 12 May 1961, is held in Mitchell Library, Sydney at 027.7/4. 2 R. 1. Jack, “A Fifteenth Century Mass-book Now in the Fisher Library.” Biblionews and Australian Notes & Queries 202[...]irsop subsequently expanded this note into his “Friends of the Sydney University Library”, The Gazette vol. 2 no. 3 (May, 1962), 42-43.[...]notes by Sir John Ferguson on some books from his library displayed at the members’ evening of Friday, 20th November, 1964. pp. [2]. The copy in Mitchell Library, Sydney is at Q094/1. Fisher Library holds three typewritten quarto sheets with the title: “Exhibited by J. A. Ferguson, Fisher Library, 20 November 1964” (RB 378.944S M.Li/23). 6 R. 1. Jack, “The Friends of Sydney University Library 1962-66”, The Gazette vol. 2 no. 11 (1966), 161[...]al, which is distributed to all graduates of the University of Sydney, resulted in four enquiries: see J. Fletcher, “Friends in Deed”, ibid. vol. 4 no. 4 (1982), 21-22. 7[...]One, Two and Three Millionth Books donated to the Library by the Friends, see J. Fletcher, “Milestones in the Library of the University of Sydney”, Biblionews and Australian Notes & Queries, 25[...]V. S. Megaw, “ ‘Neither Rich Nor Rare’. The Friends of Sydney University Library”. Apollonia 4 (1967), 45-47. |
| [...]27. 10 Sir Edward Ford, Some Association Copies. Sydney, Wentworth Press, 1968, pp. [5]. The copy in Mitchell Library, Sydney (at Q010/3) was not acquired until August[...] |
TXT | |
| In establishing and maintaining a library Two essays on the University of Sydney Library Radford, Neil A. Fletcher, John University of Sydney Library Sydney, Australia 2002 |
| http://setis.library.usyd.edu.au/oztexts © University of Sydney Library. The texts and images are not to be used[...]Prepared from the print edition published by University of Sydney Library Sydney 1984 All quotation[...]First Published: 1984 027.79441/4 setis australi[...]1940- In establishing and maintaining a library Two essays on the University of Sydney Library and Sydney University of Sydney Library 1984 |
| “In Establishing and Maintaining A Library” |
| [...]A. Radford from In Establishing and Maintaining a Library: Two Essays on the University of Sydney Library 1984 Introduction Behind almost every great library stands at least one great benefactor. Sir Thoma[...]sher (1820-1884), the principal benefactor of the library of the University of Sydney. Contemporary references to his bequest make no m[...]he was a boot and shoe maker and lived near the University. Later accounts often surrounded him wit[...] |
| [...]male convicts sailed in the transport Perseus for Sydney, then a small struggling settlement founded only[...]of Hassall's important customers. In 1810, the Sydney Racing Club was established and held its first meeting in October. Although the Sydney Gazette reported the event in detail, only one jo[...]s John Fisher later became a well-known jockey in Sydney, it seems reasonable to assume that it was he who[...]ng a new life for himself as a trusted convict in Sydney, another court case took place in England which w[...]to transportation for seven years and arrived in Sydney on the Canada in September, 1810, with 120[...] |
| [...]ught him into contact with many of the leaders of Sydney society as owners and spectators, including Colon[...]the colony. O'Connell was a leading figure in the Sydney Racing Club and Fisher often rode his horses to v[...]In 1818, the Fishers admitted defeat and moved to Sydney, where they occupied a house on Brickfield Hill a[...]sher Thomas Fisher was born at Brickfield Hill, Sydney, on January 23rd, 1820, and was baptised at St. P[...]south-east corner of Clarence and Market Streets, Sydney. The census of 1828 shows the occupants of[...] |
| [...]is likely that their father's executors or other friends would have cared for them. In fact, one of the ex[...]tors, many of whom, it may be assumed, became his friends during the thirty years of his ownership of the building. They included John Williams, who became Mayor of Sydney and later Crown Solicitor, and Richard Dri[...] |
| [...]years, died. The death notice he inserted in the Sydney Morning Herald on June 10th, stated simply[...] |
| [...]s Victoria Park and the attractive grounds of the University of Sydney and the Institution for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind.[...]as his neighbour across Codrington Street and the University and park one block distant across busy Newtown (l[...]dly Fisher took advantage of his proximity to the University and frequently walked in its pleasant grounds. At that time, the University had fewer than a hundred students and only a hand[...]friendships, or at least acquaintanceships, with University people. It is probable that he knew Henry Ebeneze[...]ndowment. Here he would have heard, in 1879, that Sydney businessman Thomas Walker had purchased and presented to the University Library the important private |
| [...]se, solicitor, literary patron, and Fellow of the University Senate from 1869 until his death in 1873. This wo[...]most certainly had been counted among Stenhouse's friends.24 He would also have heard the announcement in 1[...]er announcing the gift of Stenhouse's “valuable library” referred directly to “the deficiency and . . . the practical inconvenience of our library accommodation.” The 3,600 Stenhouse volumes had[...]d had precipitated a crisis in accommodation. The library had long outgrown its original home in a single room at the northern end of the main University building, and thousands of books were stored in t[...]ther rooms nearby. Suitable accommodation for the library was probably the University's most pressing need. “I will be so bold,”[...]he gratitude of their country by erecting for the University a library worthy of comparison with like edifices at Home.[...]a fact that in the following year Fisher made the University of Sydney the residual beneficiary of his estate, specifyin[...]ould be used “in establishing and maintaining a library.”28 He left no record of the reasons for his decision to endow the University's library, but it seems not unreasonable to assume that the[...]s appeal for a donor, his own observations of the library's poor state, and perhaps also his convers[...] |
| his friend's own collection eventually came to swell the University Library. As a Fellow of the University Senate, Stenhouse would have been aware of the institution's library problems and might well have mentioned them in co[...]as minister at St. James's Church in King Street, Sydney, 1840–1884, a period which almost exactly coinc[...]again it is quite probable that Allwood mentioned University matters in conversation from time to time. A ce[...]reasons for Thomas Fisher's decision to endow the University's library can only be, at best, the subject of speculation.[...]know that he kept this decision a secret from the University authorities. In October, 1884, four years after F[...]ade and nearly three months before his death, the University Senate debated the problem of accommodation for the library. It is clear that Fisher's intentions were entirely unknown to the University, for it was proposed that the Challis Bequest be used to erect a library building, to be called the Challis Building, and that the library be supported by annual appropriations from the Ch[...]his way to or from church, and he was admitted to Sydney Hospital.32 He died there of kidney failur[...] |
| [...]uneral, and who inserted his death notices in the Sydney Morning Herald,34 were as unaware of this provisi[...]sher Esq. late of Alma Street, Darlington, South Sydney, who died 27 December 1884, aged 64 years. His munificent bequests are recorded in the annals of the Sydney University, School of Arts, and other charitable institutio[...]gh a number of hands until it was acquired by the University in the late 1960s. Regrettably, it was demolished[...], Dumb and Blind, the Hospital for Sick Children, Sydney Infirmary, the Benevolent Asylum, Prince Alfred H[...]ablet of Marble in Saint James Church King Street Sydney with a suitable inscription thereon.” It[...] |
| [...]he time being entitled to receive the same of the University of Sydney to be applied and expended by the Senate for the time being of the said University in establishing and maintaining a Library for the use of the said University for which purpose they may erect a building and m[...]for effectuating the objects aforesaid.42 The University was informed of this bequest in the early[...] |
| In June the University Senate received a petition from two of Fisher's n[...]emember him very well . . . The money left to the University at the time should have been given to his sisters and relations; for Mr. Fisher was never in a University in his life; and just petty spite on his part le[...]ges worth nearly £25,000 were handed over to the University during 1885 and 1886.48 The Senate, in its Annu[...]d to amount to about £30,000, bequeathed to the University by the late Mr. Thomas Fisher of Sydney. . . . Of the amount bequeathed, a considerable portion had been handed over to the University prior to the 31st of December in the form of subs[...]e ascertained the amount actually received by the University was £32,212/12/0.50 At present values thi[...] |
| [...]ship. The Tom Fisher was subsequently sold by the University for £600, only half its apparent worth.52 While these details were being attended to by the University's accountant and solicitors the Senate was giving[...]ilising the Fisher bequest for the benefit of the library. In his Commemoration Day address in 1885, after[...]probably suffice for a handsome and well-designed Library Building, and for a partial endowment of the lib[...]rary view was held by the Vice-Chancellor and the Library Committee, who desired at least part of the beque[...]that £20,000 “be applied in the erection of a Library Building at and for the University; such building to be designated ‘The Fisher Library’ ”, that £10,000 be used “for the endowment of a Librarianship for the University”, and that any excess be spent on books.55 In F[...]t “for the erection of buildings annexed to the Library, comprising Reading Rooms and Common Rooms for st[...]l endowment fund for keeping up and adding to the Library”. The amendment was carried 6:5, the Cha[...] |
| [...]entire cost (estimated at £67,500) of erecting a library building, including space for a museum and other facilities. The building, named the Fisher Library, was opened in 1909, the Chancellor Sir Normand M[...]ll be handed down by the influence of this great library to generation after generation of Austral[...] |
| Photograph on page 25: The Original Fisher Library, opened 1909. |
| [...]de of his life. Within fifty years, the Fisher Library was no longer adequate for its purpose and in 1963 a new building was opened and the name Fisher Library transferred to it, thus nicely maintaining the link between Thomas Fisher and the University Library. By agreeing to meet the full cost of the erection of the first Fisher Library, the State government enabled the University to retain the Fisher bequest in its entirety for[...]n fact, pressing financial problems besetting the University forced diversion of at least part of the income of the fund to pay library staff salaries from 1893 until at least 1937.61 I[...]her Fund is now reserved for special purchases of library materials which cannot be afforded from the library's normal allocation within the University's annual budget. In announcing the completion of the Fisher Library building to the Commemoration Day audience[...] |
| Thomas Fisher contributed more than he realised to the University of Sydney and to Australian scholarship generally when he d[...]rtune to the establishment and maintenance of the University Library. Convicts' son, bootmaker, and investor, his name[...]s Book, Parramatta, 1803–4, pp. 36-7. (Mitchell Library Mss A861.) 4 Sydney Gazette 20 October 1810. 5 Public Record Office.[...]riages, St. John's Church, Parramatta. (Mitchell Library A4381.) 7 T. D. Mutch Index (Mitchell Library) for details of births of Jemima, Mary Ann and S[...]for Wine and Spirit Licences 1819–20. (Mitchell Library A764.) 9 Sydney Gazette 5 June 1819. 10 N.S.W. Registrar-Genera[...]ember 1828. Ed. M. R. Sainty and K. A. Johnson. (Sydney, Library of Australian History, 1980.) 12 John Fi[...] |
| [...]aker, and boot and shoe warehouse. 17 Fowles, J. Sydney in 1848 (Sydney, 1848), plate opp. p. 41. 18 Thomas Fisher, Deat[...]cription appears on his receipts. (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) 20 Recently renamed, respectively, Ma[...]nue. 21 From account books in the Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives. 22 T. W. Henley, “The Fisher Library”, Daily Telegraph, 27 June 1925, p. 10. R. A. T[...]23 Barff, H. E. A Short Historical Account of the University of Sydney (Sydney, Angus & Robertson, 1902), p. 126. 24 Stenhouse was for many years president of the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts of which Fisher was und[...]favour. 26 W. M. Manning, Chancellor's Address, University of Sydney Commemoration, Saturday 19 July 1879, pp. 4–5. 27 H. Bryan, “An Australian University Library in the A.M.: Earlier Years of the University of Sydney Library”. Journal of the Royal Australian Historical So[...]f Thomas Fisher, 29 October 1880. (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) 29 University of Sydney. Minutes of Senate meeting 1 October 1884. 30 Ib[...]ber 1884. 31 Mortgage document and bill of sale, University of Sydney Archives. 32 A persistent family story has[...] |
| 34 Death notice, Sydney Morning Herald, 14 and 17 January 1885. 35 Funeral notice, Sydney Morning Herald, 29 December 1884. 36 University of Sydney. Minutes of Senate meeting 19 July 1886. Letter, H. E. Barff to J. H. Clayton, 22 July 1886. (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) 37 Waverley Cemetery, Sec. 2, Grave 175. The grave and monument were restored by the University in 1984 to mark the centenary of his death. 38 Probate document. (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) 39 “Gold Hoard May Lie in Old House[...]y Telegraph, 7 September 1952, p. 11. 40 Letter, Sydney Church of England Diocesan Registry to J. H. Clayton, 19 August 1886. (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) Recent enquiries to the church and the[...]levant information. 41 Releases. (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) 42 Will of Thomas Fisher, 29 October 1880. (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) 43 Sydney Morning Herald, 25 April 1885, p. 8. 44 Town and Country Journal, 9 May 1885, p. 955. 45 University of Sydney, Minutes of Senate meeting 1 June 1885. 46 Lette[...]t to H. M. Green, 14 August 1923. (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) 47 Letters and other documents in the Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives. 48 List of Mortgages of Estate of Thom[...]ned by Mark Spence (co-executor). (Fisher Papers, University of Sydney Archives.) 49 “Report of the Senate of the University for the Year Ended 31st December 1885”, University of Sydney Calendar, 1886, pp. 300–01. 50 “Receipts and Expenditure of the University of Sydney for the Year Ended 31st December, 1886”, University of Sydney Calendar, 1887, pp. 314–17. 51 I am grateful to Mr. D. R. V. Wood for making this calculation. 52 University of Sydney, Minutes of Senate meetings 6 December 1886 and 7 February 1887. 53 W. M. Manning. Chancellor's Address, University Commemoration, University of Sydney, 2 May 1885, p. 6. 54 University of Sydney. Minutes of Senate meeting 15 August 1887. |
| [...]57 Ibid. 58 W. M. Manning. Chancellor's Address, University Commemoration, 14 April 1888, p. 18. 59 University of Sydney. Minutes of Senate meeting 4 March 1889. 60 Sydney Morning Herald, 21 September 1909, p. 7. 61 Brya[...]blic Works in 1900, H. E. Barff, Registrar of the University, revealed that the librarian and two assistants h[...]on Public Works. Report Relating to the Proposed Library Within the University Grounds, pp. 556–57. In N.S.W. Legislative Asse[...]ript of Chancellor's Address, 1910, p. 3. (Fisher Library.) |
| “Per ardua ad libros” The Friends of the University of Sydney Library 1961–1984 John Fletcher from In Establishing and Maintaining a Library: Two Essays on the University of Sydney Library 1984 John Fletcher, MA, Dip Ed, is Senior Lecturer in Germanic Studies, University of Sydney, and Treasurer of the Friends of the University of Sydney Library Libraries have, fortunately, always had Friends, as well as users and readers. An early example of one such Friend is seen in Fisher Library's copy (at RB 8236.2 Fol.) of Erasmus' edition[...]iven in 1682 by Abbot Johann to his monastery's library at Wengen, near Ulm. Like many other Friends before and since, Abbot Johann recorded his gif[...]1870–1952). Closer still we have the Fisher Library of the University of Sydney, the story of which needs in the present contex[...]ions of diligent Scottish migrants, a McDonalds Library might be accepted, although I am less sure about a Colonel Sanders' Library (with appropriately modified exterior) or a library where “only the best will do”. Nonetheless,[...]large in the minds of the three men who in the Sydney of 1961 conjoined to conceive the Friends of the University of Sydney Library.1 Nor was the idea as such a new one, however surprising that might seem from the perspective of 1984 with its growing plethora of Friends for zoos, theatres, art-galleries and museums. |
| [...]Photograph facing page 33: The present Fisher Library, opened 1963. Similar schemes had surfaced in[...]lor-made tradition of alumni societies. The first Friends of a university library group in the U.S.A. was at Harvard in 1925: thirty years later the same country had some 650 Friends organisations. In Australia too, the Public Library of South Australia, faced with a minuscule government budget, had launched its Friends in the 'thirties (1932). It was their Constitution that was used as a model for the Sydney offspring a generation later. Our three men we[...]liographer par excellence; and Dr. Andrew Osborn, University Librarian (1959–62), fresh from the ivied walls[...]a “provisional general meeting” on 5 October 1961, in the University Staff Club, over dinner, eight people asse[...] |
| [...], later (1968) to be instrumental in bringing the Friends of Monash University Library into being. During the next six months the prov[...]eral Meeting took place in the Senate Room of the University. There were 38 present. The essence of the thre[...]ssist, encourage and promote the interests of the University of Sydney Library in such ways as the Society may determine, and in[...]ripts or other material that may be of use to the Library c) by such other manner as the Society may f[...]in addition two further categories of membership. Friends could, in lieu of (or of course in addition to) t[...]ound of money, donate books or manuscripts to the Library. Or they could, in a peculiarly gentlemanly sort[...]40 (see here Appendix II). Also announced was the Friends' first purchase: a |
| [...]k, an apposite opportunity to proselytize for the Friends in the columns of Biblionews.2 Spreading the wo[...]ity in the Union Recorder, in The Gazette, in the Sydney Morning Herald.3 They decided that lists of acces[...]ntial daily papers” and vowed to “circularize university staff”. When much of this white-hot urgency p[...]re was a lively discussion on the production of a Friends' Christmas card and on the “publication of a pr[...]s remarks “on the poverty of Australiana in the University Library”, unanimously agreed to buy from Francis Edward[...]similarly authoritative and rare works which the Friends were, at the suggestion of the Librarian or of relevant University departments, to purchase for the Library down the |
| [...]ataloguing backlogged antiquarian books, that the Library already possessed this particular edition. The Librarian acted deftly (30 June 1967) and the Friends' first substantial purchase, still bearing its Friends' bookplate, now rests tranquilly in the State Library of New South Wales (at S.C.275–84F). This parti[...]r bibliophile muscles in calling for lists of the Library's desiderata to be drawn up and “to be made available to Friends who actively rummage in second-hand bookshops”. They also voted for substantial support towards the Library's purchase of the late Professor J. R. Stewart's[...]encourager les autres”, that the bequest to the Library of his “large and eclectic” collection will e[...]rpetuation”. There was some steam lost in the Friends' year of March 1964 to the March of 1965. The fir[...]ening held on Friday, 20 November 1964 (the early Friends were keen on Friday evening meetings) where Sir J[...]. More importantly, books kept coming in to the Library. In the Report for 1964–65, the Secretary could[...]d risen to 174 (see Appendix II), that individual Friends had donated 128 items (including Theodor Dorsteni[...]f 1540), that the Committee had purchased for the Library the entire collection (over 1000 volumes) of the[...]sad news of the death of Dr. G. A. M. Heydon, the Friends' most generous benefactor in their opening years, was leavened by the presentation to the Library by his heir of Dr. Heydon's “considerabl[...] |
| best suited to the Friends' capabilities” (7 May 1965). To this end, Sir J[...]of his copy of Christopher Brennan's XVIII Poems (Sydney, 1897). It was also proposed that Sir John's note[...]i de coeur”, warmly welcomed and abetted by the Friends, was to increase the Library's holdings of Italian books from 6,000 to 9,000.[...]5) designed a letter to be circulated amongst the University's teaching staff, sanctioned “approaches to ind[...]s suggestion that all items printed at and on the Library's Piscator Press (see Appendix VI) be regularly distributed to Friends. Also discussed were the “possibilities of exhi[...]ggestion underlines the revived pragmatism of the FriendsFriends the Secretary notes a manuscript by the sometime University Librarian John Le Gay Brereton. It was titled “[...]d forces”. They discussed their purchase of the Library's forthcoming One Millionth Book which “should[...]Evening of 20 November 1964] as a present to the Friends”.5 A later meeting (19 July 1966) discussed the Friends' contribution to the |
| Library's purchase of the Colin Berckelman Collection. On[...]Henry Lawson's Short Stories in Prose and Verse (Sydney, 1894), the meeting moved that a further $1000 should be given “at once” towards the Library's purchase of their late colleague's library. Those present (there were eleven) were also informed that a recent circular to the University's teaching staff had brought in 38 new members, t[...]nd. The Lawson item was duly handed over to the Library by Sir Edward Ford at a ceremony on 24 November 1[...]irst decade of existence for the publicity-hungry Friends. It was also in the same year (1966–67) that th[...]Lawson book, this is again a pivotal point of the Friends' striving towards substantial funding. That the m[...]e. What remains as a crystalline fact is that the Friends will always need friends of this stature. The same thought probably loom[...]1967) of a “business men's reception” at the Library. The Secretary was delegated with the task of dra[...]brochure. There were dark murmurings about those Friends “financially considerably in arrears” which c[...]Committee heard of the generous donations to the Library by two Honorary Friends, Mr. W. H. Deane (obiit 1984) and Mrs. Margery Keesing (obiit 1983) (“that m[...]June 1972). They expressed too support for the Library's Under-graduate Collection and in quick succession voted for funds to be supplied towards the Library's purchase of Professor K. G. Cross' collection (30 August 1967) and the rich 1000-volume strong library of Mrs. Monner (1 November 1967). This latter col[...]ustrations) the first incunabulum acquired by the Library under the aegis of Mr. H. Bryan (19 April[...] |
| of the University's Dental Alumni, who have in turn constantly figured amongst the Friends' most enduring supporters. A further field for po[...]approaches to book collectors”. Those of the Friends, now declared (Secretary's Report for 1967–68) to be 251 strong, who warily came along to the University's Senate Room on Saturday, 15 March 1968 for the[...]medical and literary”. They also heard that the Friends' balance now stood at $3600 (amended on 5 July 19[...]ortly as the second occasional publication of the Friends”.10 The Friends were again mindful of their foundation President,[...]969 he retired from his office as Director of the University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.[...]help of the Department of Preventive Medicine the Friends purchased a mint copy of Thomas Crooke's illustra[...]ch to Sir Edward's well concealed chagrin, to the Library. It also fell to Professor emeritus Sir Edward[...]lways evinced a “great and warm interest in the Friends . . . which had continued during the course of hi[...]ng 'sixties and entered the sober 'seventies, the Friends left behind them not so much their initial[...] |
| [...]llor nor the present Vice-Chancellor appear to be Friends” (30 June 1970). The same Committee heard too o[...]nt” presumably mirrored too the feelings of the Friends. But the machinery established after so much discussion by the early Friends continued to function. Scores of purchases were m[...]n an ever thickening stream. At the same time the Friends invested heavily in helping (1 December 1971) the Library to buy the Celtica collection of Mrs. Nora Kersha[...]1974) the Committee called for regular notices in University publications, for “articles of some length” i[...]was elected “with acclamation” Patron of the Friends, but where too the Librarian spoke of “a climat[...]membership. Which was, and remains perforce, the Friends' only real hope of attracting real money. Their d[...]he invitation of 21 business men to a tour of the Library and a function (i.e. sherry) in the Macdonald Roo[...]1973. The appeal met with limited success and the Friends have still to improve on the pinnacle of h[...] |
| [...]g. This was in 1976–77, at the end of which the Friends found themselves to consist of 222 financial memb[...]. There was a Letter sent to all members of the University's teaching staff. The Friends hosted the inaugural meeting (7 July 1976) of the[...]preceded (2 June 1976) by the presentation to the Library by the Friends (Walter Stone) of the Two Millionth Book. Which w[...]ertise was a direct link with the founders of the Friends. In John Le Gay Brereton we find the Library's first full-time Director (1914–21). Even more[...]n from 1959–62, in the very cradle-years of the Friends. Such felicitous conjunctions occur but rarely.[...]tions in the March of 1983, when unbelievably the Library's Three Millionth Book was trundled into view. It[...]more Pastorali di Dafni e di Cloe. The President, Sydney Levine, on behalf of the Friends, presented it to the Library. Fittingly and movingly, the Bodoni book came fro[...]and Friend. It had been presented in turn to the Friends by Mrs. Nancy Johnson. The Address was given, wit[...]arrison Bryan, Librarian from 1963 to 1980. The Friends, now in their third decade, have had to learn tha[...]r job to badger the business world, to remind the University's graduates of the needs of the Library they once successfully used, to alert the academic community with news of the machinery the Friends have so painstakingly constructed. Well might the Treasurer, in his usual purple prose, pronounce, as the Friends lurched into the anxious 'eighties: “clearly, the writing is on the Library wall, the tocsin is tolling etc.” (27 April 198[...]s. What is needed is action. Not so much from the Friends, who have long since proved themselves, bu[...] |
| all those outside who believe in, rely on and look to the Library of the University of Sydney. No account of the Friends, even one as incomplete as this, would be accurat[...]e freely given of their time and energy • the Library itself which has long borne all administrative co[...]ae Galtsmith-Clarke. Appendix I Officers of the Friends of the University of Sydney Library President Se[...]an Murray J. Fletcher 1984 Margaret Lundie Jean Murray J. Fletcher Appendix II Financial Membership of the Friends of the University of Sydney Library |
| [...]s Amount donated 1961–62 47[...]ary students from other institutions joining the Friends in order to be able to borrow books from the Library. The true progression is from 1977–78 to 1982–83. Appendix III Purchases by the Friends up to 7 May 1984 Individual items The Friends have bought for the Library in excess of 320 separate items. These include ma[...]rofilms. Additional material In 1964–65 the Friends bought the Library of the Highland Society of New South Wales. The Friends have made substantial contributions towards the Library's purchase of: the J. R. Stewart Collect[...] |
| [...]Hince Collection (1980–81) In 1981–82 the Friends bought 48 items from Professor F. May's Library, and a collection of 84 three-decker novels. Si[...]iaeval and 16th-century manuscripts bought by the Friends, see K. V. Sinclair, Descriptive Catalogue of Mediaeval and Renaissance Western Manuscripts. Sydney, Sydney University Press, 1969, nos. 133–47.) Appendix IV Donations by individual Friends up to 7 May 1984 By this date, Friends had contributed to the Library 12,318 items. This includes the gift (1974–76)[...]. Appendix V Functions and talks arranged by the Friends 31 March Dr. A. Osborn (Library). Inaugural address. Tour of work-site of the new Fisher Library. 1962 11 March Sir Frank Francis (British Mu[...]eness” on libraries. 1963 9 August H. Bryan (Library). On university libraries in the U.K. and U.S.A. (illustrated). 1[...]unction at the official Opening of the new Fisher Library. This included a “rousing recruiting call” 19[...]opened by G. D. Richardson (Public Library of N.S.W.). Guide: C. M. Hotimsky (Library). 20 November Members' Evening. Chaired by Sir John Ferguson. 1964 27 March J. Metcalfe (University of N.S.W.). Education for librarianship at[...] |
| [...]w (Archaeology). 18 March B. Scott (Macquarie University). On establishing a new university library. Exhibition of Islamic 1966 books and man[...]f the Australian book trade. 1966 24 November The Friends (Sir Edward Ford) present to the Library the One Millionth Book. 1966 22 April 1967 J. J.[...]cal books. 7 July 1967 Professor K. F. Russell (University of Melbourne). The mediaeval doctor and his patie[...]vember Members' Evening. Chaired by Pamela Green (Library). 1967 15 March Sir Edward Ford. Some associa[...]d of: Sir 1968 Edward Ford's gifts to the Library and of: items associated with Sir Edward's war-ti[...]Association.) 27 June 1968 H. Price. Sydney University Press: three years of publishing. 28 August W. Stone. Items from his collection. Pamela Green (Library). On books of the 16th-18th centuries, 1968 from the Library's collections. (With the Book Collectors' Society of Australia.) 16 October G. D. Richardson (Public Library of N.S.W.). A storehouse for the nation's literature: the Public 1968 Library of New South Wales. 4 December Retirement of Sir Edward Ford. To mark the occasion the Library acquires a copy of Crooke's 1968 Microcosmographia (London, 1615). 10 May 1969 Film. The True University. 16 October Beatrice Wines (Library). The new Fisher Library: a personal view. (With the Arts Association.) 19[...]wer Institute of Fine Arts and the Power Research Library. 8 June 1971 B. K. Martin (English). Aspects of[...]y 1972 Dr. M. G. Carter (Semitic Studies). Fisher Library and Arabic. 28 September Professor A. Brow[...] |
| 13 April 1973 Associate Professor B. Gandevia (University of N.S.W.). Collecting medical and quack Australi[...]llege of Physicians.) 8 May 1973 Films of the Library. 27 June 1973 Professor E. C. B. MacLaurin (Semit[...]art (illustrated). 1974 7 May 1974 H. Bryan (Library). On the Library's collections since 1963. 13 June 1974 Members' E[...]lection (illustrated). 1974 26 October Visit to Library of St. Patrick's College, Manly. Guide: J. Fletch[...]July 1975 Visit to the Bishop Broughton Memorial Library at Moore Theological College, Sydney. Guide: K. Robinson (Librarian). 27 August Associate Professor W. Kirsop (Monash University). Australian book-selling and publishing in the 1[...]ent. 1975 3 March 1976 E. F. D. Roberts (National Library of Scotland. Books in the Middle Ages (illustrated). (With the Library Association of Australia (N.S.W.).) 5 May 1976 J. Fletcher (German). The history and holdings of the Library of St. Patrick's College, Manly (i[...]ated). (With the English Association, Sydney Branch.) 2 June 1976 The Friends (W. Stone) present to the Library the Two Millionth Book. Address: Dr. A. Osborn. 7[...]nan Society.) 24 August Dr. B. McMullin (Monash University). The bibliographical press movement. With a visi[...]an). 15 September R. Rosenthal (Joseph Regenstein Library, Chicago). The trade in antiquarian books. (With the 1976 Library Association of Australia (N.S.W.).) 13 November Visit to the science fiction library of Ron Graham in East Roseville. Guides: R. Graham and Pauline 1976 Dickinson (Library). Afterwards at Robin Marsden's, East Roseville.[...]Haaretz (facsimile reprint). Inauguration of the Library's Sir Asher Joel Microfiche Collect[...]Hebrew Society.) 11 May 1977 H. Bryan (Library). University Libraries in Britain (illustrated). 21 May[...] |
| [...]Wolfenbüttel. 1977 11 October Barbara Palmer (Library). Out-of-print books for the book collector, the[...]Duffy) and b) the Rabbi Falk 1977 Memorial Library at the Great Synagogue (Rabbi R. Apple). 29 January Visit to the Library of St. Patrick's College, Manly. Guide: H. Arns ([...]o de Bergerac manuscript recently acquired by the Library. 21 June 1978 Associate Professor T. G. Vallance[...]topher Brennan Society.) 14 September K. Turnell (Sydney Technical College). Modern binding techniques (il[...]Lane-Mullins Collection in Sancta Sophia College, Sydney. Guide: J. Fletcher (German). 1979 6 March 1979 P[...]rs' Society of Australia.) 20 August B. Dyster (University of N.S.W.). Inventing the suburbs and making a fo[...]). 1979 10 November Visit to the Macarthur-Onslow Library at Camden Park. Guide: Associate Professor R. I.[...]ty of Australia.) 11 June 1980 Pauline Dickinson (Library). Aspects of science fiction collecting (illustra[...]). 21 October G. L. Fischer (Archivist). On the University of Sydney Archives (illustrated). 1980 5 November Visit to the New South Wales Parliamentary Library. Guide: Dr. R. Cope (Librarian). 1980 9 Ma[...] |
| [...]history. 1981 29 October Dr. R. Alston (British Library). On collecting ephemera. (With the Book Collecto[...]l concerning botany and botanists in the Mitchell Library. 1982 23 November Professor R. I. Jack (History).[...]Society of Australia.) 28 March The Friends (S. Levine) present to the Library the Three Millionth Book. Address: H. Bryan 1983 (National Library of Australia). 10 May 1983 Janet Hine. Indexing t[...]ted). 1983 29 October Visit to the James Hardie Library. Guide: R. Holden (Librarian). (With the Book Col[...]F. Carleton (German). The Early Imprints Project. 1984 7 May 1984 Dr. N. Radford (Library). Who was Thomas Fisher? Appendix VI The Piscator Press Fisher Library, University of Sydney. Press, and types used: Albion, Garamond and Pe[...]of the Fisher Press.) 1 A Press is Born. 1963 * 2 Friends of Sydney University Library. Secretary's Report (1963-64). 1964 3 Foscolo, U[...]or Press.) 4 Foscolo, Ugo. The Sepulchres. 1964 5 Friends of Sydney University Library. Secretary's Report (1964-65). 1965 * 6 Quartet [A programme]. 1965 * 7 Friends of Sydney University Library. Secretary's Report (1965-66). 1966 * 8 Design for a Bookplate. 1966 * 9 Friends of Sydney University Library. Secretary's Report (1966-67). 1967 * 10 University of Sydney Library. Collection Building Through Collection Buying. 1968 * 11 Sydney University Library. Significant Rare Books. I A General Intro[...] |
| John Milton. A Select List. 1970 * 12 Sydney University Library. Significant Rare Books. II Hugh Macdonald and the Macdonald Collection. 1975 * 13 Sydney University Library. An Event of Some Significance for Scholarship. C[...]Presentation of the Two Millionth Book. 1976 * 14 Sydney University Library. Souvenir of a Print- in at the Fisher Library. 1976 * 15 McMullin, Brian J. Bibliographical Pre[...]o John Fletcher, Department of Germanic Studies, University of Sydney, N.S.W. 2006. Cheques should be made payable to “Friends of the University of Sydney Library”. Notes 1 A copy of the printed “An invitation . . . ”, dated 12 May 1961, is held in Mitchell Library, Sydney at 027.7/4. 2 R. I. Jack, “A Fifteenth Century Mass-book Now in the Fisher Library.” Biblionews and Australian Notes & Queries 20[...]rsop subsequently expanded this note into his “Friends of the Sydney University Library”, The Gazette vol. 2 no. 3 (May, 1962), 42-43.[...]otes by Sir John Ferguson on some books from his library displayed at the members' evening of Friday, 20th November, 1964. pp. [2]. The copy in Mitchell Library, Sydney is at Q094/1. Fisher Library holds three typewritten quarto sheets with the title: “Exhibited by J. A. Ferguson, Fisher Library, 20 November 1964” (RB 378.944S M.Li/23). 6 R. I. Jack, “The Friends of Sydney University Library 1962-66”, The Gazette vol. 2 no. 11 (1966), 16[...]al, which is distributed to all graduates of the University of Sydney, resulted in four enquiries: see J. Fletcher, “Friends in Deed”, ibid. vol. 4 no. 4 (1982), 21-22. 7[...]One, Two and Three Millionth Books donated to the Library by the Friends, see J. Fletcher, “Milestones in the Library of the University of Sydney”, Biblionews and Australian Notes & Queries, 25[...]V. S. Megaw, “ ‘Neither Rich Nor Rare’. The Friends of Sydney University Library”. Apollonia 4 (1967), 45-47. |
| [...]27. 10 Sir Edward Ford, Some Association Copies. Sydney, Wentworth Press, 1968, pp. [5]. The copy in Mitchell Library, Sydney (at Q010/3) was not acquired until August[...] |
MD | |
| 1984 | |
| <p>A text consisiting of two esays on the University of Sydney Library, written by Neil Radford, who was Librarian from[...]y. Prepared from a print edition published by the University of Sydney Library in 1984.</p> | |
| University of Sydney | |
| University of Sydney -- History | |
| Fisher Library -- History | |
| Camperdown (Sydney, N.S.W.) | |
| The history of the Library | |
Fletcher, John, In Establishing and Maintaining a Library: Two Essays on the University of Sydney Library (1984). University of Sydney Library, accessed 18/02/2026, https://digital.library.sydney.edu.au/nodes/view/12024