October 14 is Humphrey McQueen Day in Cultural Collections

Portrait of Humphrey McQueen by Karen Donnelly, 2009

Lecture 1

When: 14th October 2011 at 10am
Presenter: Humphrey McQueen
Title: Changing Places: a materialist explanation for nationalism.
Where: Cultural Collections Level 2 Auchmuty Library University of Newcastle.
Cost: Free

 

Lecture 2

When: 14th October 2011 at 1.30 pm
Presenter: Humphrey McQueen
Title: ‘Will you be long, Mr Barrack?’
Where: Cultural Collections Level 2 Auchmuty Library University of Newcastle.
Cost: Free

Everyone is welcome to attend two free public lectures to be delivered by well known Australian historian Humphrey McQueen in the Friends’ Reading Room Cultural Collections (Auchmuty Library) University of Newcastle.

The first will be held at 10am. Humphrey McQueen will be presenting on Changing Places: a materialist explanation for nationalism.

As part of the University’s Radical Newcastle Project an afternoon paper will be also delivered at 1.30 pm entitled ‘Will you be long, Mr Barrack?’ (Peter Barrack is a former Secretary of Trades Hall in Newcastle).

Humphrey McQueen is a freelance historian and cultural commentator. His most recent book is ‘Framework of Flesh: Builders Labourers Battle for Health and Safety’ published in 2009 (copies are now available at the Coop bookshop on campus). He has an impressive and diverse publication record in Australian history over a long period that includes his 1970 book, A New Britannia: An argument concerning the social origins of Australian radicalism and nationalism, released in several editions. He also contributed the Foreword to Radical Brisbane published in 2004.

This is an important opportunity to engage with a prominent Australian historian to help unpack the concept of ‘radicalism’ and to think through how it might be applied to the University of Newcastle’s own Radical Newcastle project.

Prior to Humphrey’s talk, you are also invited to a light lunch downstairs at Isabella’s adjacent to the Student Union Building from 12 noon to 1:15 pm. Isabellas is adjacent to the Student Union Building. This has once again been provided for us by the School of Humanities and Social Science. If you would like to attend the lunch could you please RSVP Linda Hutchinson (Humanities Research Institute) at Linda.Hutchinson@newcastle.edu.au by Wednesday 12 October.

I hope to see as many of you at the event as possible.

Dr James Bennett
for Radical Newcastle collective.
University of Newcastle

Local Treasures: Memory of the World

Friendly Trades Society of Ironmoulders Newcastle Branch

Day Shift – 19/04/2011 – 02:10 PM
Presenter: Carol Duncan
Interviewee: Gionni Di Gravio, Archivist, Newcastle University

University of Newcastle Archivist Gionni Di Gravio discusses the University of Newcastle’s recent inclusion into the UNESCO Memory of the World, which is the Minute Book of the Friendly Trades Society of Iron Moulders (Newcastle Branch) 1885-1886 and explores an exciting new project of the Humanities Research Institute called ‘Radical Newcastle’.

Broadcast Notes:

Back in March 2011 we received the great news that one of our Minute Books from the Friendly Trades Society of Iron Moulders (Newcastle Branch) had been successfuly inscribed on the Australian Memory of the World Register.

It formed part of a nomination prepared by the Noel Butlin Archives Centre at the Australian National University in Canberra to acknowledge the Minute books of pre-federation Australian trade unions. An official ceremony was held in Hobart on April 1.

Memory of the World Invite (front)

Memory of the World invite (back)

University of Newcastle UNESCO Certificate

The pre-Federation minute books document the formation and decision-making of early Australian trade unions, as workers came together to achieve better working conditions through collective action.

The beginnings of the campaign for the 8-hour day and early strikes by stonemasons, shearers and others are documented in these records.

Unions were locally-based in capital cities and regional centres and later amalgamated to form state and then federal unions, the first federal registrations occurring from 1904.

Current trade unions, who have a key role in our workplace relations system, all trace their origins to pre-Federation unions.

Our contribution is the minute book of the  Friendly Trades Society of Iron Moulders (Newcastle Branch) that records the formation of the Branch at the Glascow Arms in Bullock Island (now Carrington).

Glasgow Arms Hotel, Carrington

The photograph taken above by Ralph Snowball  shows the Hotel as it looked at the time.

The title reads “Minutes of Meetings of Friendly Trades Society of Ironmoulders Newcastle Branch”
The official stamp reads “Friendly Trade Society Iron Moulders New South Wales Newcastle Branch”

First Meeting of Ironmoulders Newcastle Branch, Glascow Arms, Bullock Island, August 6, 1885

First Meeting of Ironmoulders Newcastle Branch
Glascow Arms
Bullock Island
August 6/ 1885

Messrs Talbot and Shinnick the Delegates from Sydney being present, the delegates explained the reason for which they were called together. The Delegates then proceeded to the election of members into the Friendly Trades Society of Ironmoulders Newcastle Branch the following gentlemen were duly elected members

David Scott
John Ford
Thomas Roony
William Miller
James Atchinson
Thomas Taylor
George Asquith
John Patmore
James Elliot
Barthomlew FitzPatrick
George Tomlingson
Joseph Tomlingson
William Morgan
Thomas Morgan
Joseph Barclay

The Branch was then declared duly opened by the delegates: the members then proceeded to the election of Officers the following were appointed

President Mr D Scott
Vice-President Mr James Doran
Treasurer Mr J Ford
Secretary Mr G Asquith

The officers being duly installed the Meeting then proceeded to the consideration of By Laws when the following were adopted subject to the Approval of the Executive.

Moved and Seconded By Messrs Talbot and Shinnick that the Treasurer have the power to have in hand the sum of (10) ten pounds for the purpose of Defraying incidental expenses all monies over and above the said (10) ten pounds

verso 1

shall be forwarded to the parent Branch Sydney.

Moved and Seconded that this branch receives contributions from August 11th

Moved by Mr Miller Seconded by Mr Shinnick that all necessary stationery required for the good of this Branch be purchased by the said Branch

Moved by Mr Talbot Seconded by Mr Shinnick that the secretary shall prepare and forward a balance sheet at least once every quarter in time to be inserted in the general balance Sheet of the parent Branch Sydney

Moved by Mr Shinnick seconded by Mr Doran that the President shall receive as payment for services the sum of 2/6 two shillings and sixpence per quarter

Moved by Mr Talbot seconded by Mr Shinnick that the treasurer shall receive for services the sum of 2/6 two shillings and sixpence per quarter

Moved by Mr Talbot seconded by Mr Shinnick that the secretary shall receive for services the sum of (10) ten shillings per quarter

Moved and seconded that for the present the place of meeting shall be the Glascow Arms Hotel Bullock Island the time of meeting shall be from 7/30 till 9 oclock ordinary meeting order of business as per rule adopted

Moved by Mr Ford seconded by Mr Doran that Mr D Scott be appointed as Delegate on the Eight hours Demonstration committee

Recto 2

Moved by Mr Patmore seconded by Mr Taylor that all expenses incurred by the Delegates in Newcastle re formation of the said Newcastle Branch be deducted from the funds of the said Branch

Moved and seconded that the Secretary communicate with the parent Branch about the Society Branch

Moved By Mr Asquith Seconded by Mr Tomlingson that we accord Messrs Talbot and Shinnick a Hearty vote of thanks for their kind services in Helping us along with the Branch

The President Mr Scott put the motion to the meeting and it was carried unanimously by acclamation

Mr talbot then addressed the meeting giving them good advce and thanking them for their vote of thanks Mr Shinnick also responded in an elaborate address calling on all members to work in Harmony togather and in concluding called on a vote of thanks to the president this Being done by acclamation after the President returned thanks this Being the only Business the meeting closed

George Asquith
Secretary

Friendly Trades Society of Iron
moulders
Newcastle Branch

Download the Complete Minute Book here [36.6MB PDF File] Digitised by Melanie Patfield:
Minutes of Meetings of Friendly Trades Society of Ironmoulders Newcastle Branch 1885-1886

Such records relating to labour history, environmental activism, human rights and the fight for better services and infrastructure are currently being researched as part of the Radical Newcastle Project. (http://radicalnewcastle.wordpress.com/)

The Project is an initiative of the University’s Humanities Research Institute and aim to unearth and document Newcastle and the Region’s radical past. Two public meetings have been held and a concept map of potential topic has been drafted. (see it here: http://radicalnewcastle.wordpress.com/concept-map/) The ideas range from Aboriginal Reconciliation initiatives, the Rothbery Riots, the push for a University of Newcastle, the formation of Blackbutt Reserve, the Star Hotel riot in the 1970s and onto local environmental campaigns by Rising Tide and Climate Action Newcastle.

People who are interested in the Project, and wish to contribute are welcome to contact its convenor Dr James Bennett j.bennett@newcastle.edu.au

Radical Newcastle: Josiah Cocking Papers Online

Mary Jane and Josiah Cocking

The Josiah Cocking Diaries spanning the years 1884-1960 have been place online through the Radical Newcastle Project.

Josiah Cocking was born on the 11th May 1867 at Kadina in South Australia and died on the 27th July 1960 aged 93 at Mayfield, New South Wales.

Mr Cocking was a miner and part of the early socialist and free-thought movement of Newcastle.

He lived for a time in Wallsend and Mayfield, and wrote much verse for the local papers of the time under such pseudonyms as “Dandelion” and “Capsicum”.

For a greater insight on the life and character of Josiah Cocking please view his biography in typescript (1.73Mb PDF file) or (496kB OCR PDF file) written by his son, Mr Arthur James Cocking (1916 – 1989).

The diaries and notebook papers of Mr Josiah Cocking were deposited in the Archives, Rare Books and Special Collections Unit (now Cultural Collections) of the University of Newcastle in November 1999 by Mr Keith Cocking. The shelf listing was completed on the 3rd March 2000 by Gionni di Gravio.

The above early photograph shows Josiah with his wife Mary Jane. In his biography of his father the late Mr Arthur James Cocking dedicated it to his

Mum (nee Mary Jane Anderson) who married him, variously tolerated him,
supported him, opposed him, cajoled him, coerced him, nursed him but steadfastly loved
him and bore him 8 children.