State Library of South Australia

Papers of Sir John Cockburn [PRG 1731] • Mixed material

Commemorative booklet.

Cockburn, John A. Sir, 1927, Mixed material, PRG 1731/31/3

Booklet, envelope and invitation 'To commemorate the establishment at Canberra of the Seat of Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, May 9th 1927'.

Commemorative booklet.

Cockburn, John A. Sir, 1927, Mixed material, PRG 1731/31/3

Booklet, envelope and invitation 'To commemorate the establishment at Canberra of the Seat of Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, May 9th 1927'.

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Summary

Papers relating to Sir John Cockburn, former Premier of South Australia, comprising monographs "The records of the Cockburn family" by Sir Robert Cockburn c.1913 and "The house of Cockburn of that ilk and cadets therof" by Thomas H. Cockburn-Hood c.1888 and John Cockburn's "Roll of the National Australian Convention which met in Sydney, 2nd March 1891" with a full page newspaper clipping of the event, and similarly for the 2nd Convention in 1897. Also includes a letter from young 'J.A. Cockburn' to his mother, family trees, a copy of 'Gray's Elegy' and a scrapbook of newspaper clippings related to John Cockburn. Other items include commissions, appointments, a birth certificate and extracts of an entry in a register of marriages, a testimonial, a certificate from the South Australian Medical Board, a personal invitation to the opening of the establishment of Parliament in Canberra and documentation pertaining to his knighthood and a photograph taken of him in later life in London.

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Physical description

Manuscripts
handwritten
typed
Photograph (print)
black and white
Ephemera (certificate, invitations)
Scrapbook
7 volumes, approximately 30 sheets, 1 photograph : 31 cm

Dates / Publication details

1888-1929

Creator

Cockburn, John A

Subject

Cockburn, John A. (John Alexander), Sir, 1850-1929
Cockburn (Family)
Australia. Parliament
Federal government Australia -- History
Visits of state -- Australia
Scotland -- Genealogy
Australia -- History 1890-1897 -- Congresses
Australia -- Constitution -- Congresses
Australia -- Politics and government -- Congresses

Catalogue record

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Historical information

The first doctor to be Premier of South Australia, Sir John Cockburn was described as progressive by his supporters, but derided as a radical by detractors. Selected as the first Mayor of Jamestown in 1878, he stood for Burra in the Lower House in 1884, serving as Minister of Education from 1885-1887 before losing his seat and returning as a member for Mount Barker. He was active in the planning of Federation and argued eloquently for a more democratic Constitution. He served as Premier in 1889 for a year before his government was defeated by Playford's no confidence vote. Cockburn was responsible for an important land taxation Act and supported payment for members of Parliament, and although he did not often successfully negotiate the murky waters of faction politics he continually fought for adult suffrage, technical and industrial education, and Upper House reform. He held office in the Holder and Kingston ministries before resigning to serve as Agent-General for South Australia in 1898. He was effectively fired from this position in 1901 when the post was downgraded to state agent, although he remained South Australia's "unofficial ambassador" in London. He made an unsuccessful attempt to enter British politics in 1904 and was prominent in the financial and insurance circles until his death in 1929. [Source: 'Former Member of the Parliament of South Australia']

Australian Dictionary of Biography entry:

https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/cockburn-sir-john-alexander-5701

Additional notes

PRG 1731/5/1: John Cockburn's personal copy of the 'Roll of the National Australasian Convention to Consider and Report upon an Adequate Scheme for a Federal Constitution.
PRG 1731/5/2: John Cockburn's personal copy of the 'Roll of the National Australasian Convention to Consider and Report upon an Adequate Scheme for a Federal Constitution.
PRG 1731/5/3: John Cockburn's personal copy of the 'Roll of the National Australasian Convention to Consider and Report upon an Adequate Scheme for a Federal Constitution.
PRG 1731/5/4: John Cockburn's personal copy of the 'Roll of the National Australasian Convention to Consider and Report upon an Adequate Scheme for a Federal Constitution.
PRG 1731/5/5: John Cockburn's personal copy of the 'Roll of the National Australasian Convention to Consider and Report upon an Adequate Scheme for a Federal Constitution.
PRG 1731/5/6: John Cockburn's personal copy of the 'Roll of the National Australasian Convention to Consider and Report upon an Adequate Scheme for a Federal Constitution.
PRG 1731/5/7: John Cockburn's personal copy of the 'Roll of the National Australasian Convention to Consider and Report upon an Adequate Scheme for a Federal Constitution.
PRG 1731/5/8: John Cockburn's personal copy of the 'Roll of the National Australasian Convention to Consider and Report upon an Adequate Scheme for a Federal Constitution.
PRG 1731/5/9: John Cockburn's personal copy of the 'Roll of the National Australasian Convention to Consider and Report upon an Adequate Scheme for a Federal Constitution.
PRG 1731/5/10: John Cockburn's personal copy of the 'Roll of the National Australasian Convention to Consider and Report upon an Adequate Scheme for a Federal Constitution.
PRG 1731/5/11: John Cockburn's personal copy of the 'Roll of the National Australasian Convention to Consider and Report upon an Adequate Scheme for a Federal Constitution.
PRG 1731/5/12: John Cockburn's personal copy of the 'Roll of the National Australasian Convention to Consider and Report upon an Adequate Scheme for a Federal Constitution.
PRG 1731/6/1:
PRG 1731/6/2:
PRG 1731/6/3:
PRG 1731/6/4:
PRG 1731/6/5:
PRG 1731/6/6:
PRG 1731/6/7:
PRG 1731/6/8:
PRG 1731/6/9:
PRG 1731/6/10:
PRG 1731/7: Letter written on British Linen Company's Bank letterhead to the Manager of the English, Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank informing him that a credit had been opened in favour of Dr. John A. Cockburn.
PRG 1731/8: South Australian Medical Board certificate determining that John Cockburn is a 'duly qualified Medical Practitioner'.
PRG 1731/9: Appointment of John Alexander Cockburn as a captain in the South Australian National Rifle Association of the Province of South Australia.
PRG 1731/10: Appointment of John Cockburn to be Minister of Education for the Province of South Australia.
PRG 1731/11: Nomination and Appointment of John Cockburn to be a Member of the Council of the School of Mines and Industry.
PRG 1731/12: Nomination and appointment of John Cockburn as one of the representatives of the Colony at the Melbourne Conference on Federation, held in February 1890.
PRG 1731/13: Appointment of John Cockburn as one of the Representatives of the Colony of South Australia in the Federal Council of Australasia 'to have, hold, excercise and enjoy the said office with all rights, privileges abd advantages thereunto belonging, according to the provisions of "The Federal Council Adopting Act 1888."
PRG 1731/14: Appointment of John Cockburn to represent South Australia at a Conference of Representatives from the several Australian Colonies, in Hobart.
PRG 1731/15/1: Appointment of John Cockburn as Chief Secretary for the Province of South Australia.
PRG 1731/15/2: Appointment of John Cockburn as Chief Secretary for the Province of South Australia.
PRG 1731/16:
PRG 1731/17/1: Nomination and appointment of John Cockburn to be a Visitor at the Adelaide and Parkside Lunatic Asylums.
PRG 1731/17/2: Nomination and appointment of John Cockburn to be a Visitor at the Adelaide and Parkside Lunatic Asylums.
PRG 1731/18: Appointment of John Cockburn as Minister of Education and Agriculture.
PRG 1731/19: Appointment of John Cockburn 'to represent the Province of South Australia at a Conference of Representatives from the several Australasian Colonies...in Sydney...to consider the question of the Pacific Ocean Cable, the conditions of the new Ocean Mail Contracts and any other matters relating to Postal or Telegraph Services'.
PRG 1731/20: Nomination and appointment by the Governor of John Cockburn to be Acting Minister of Industry 'in the place of the Honorable Charles Cameron Kingston ... who is unable to perform the duties of his Office through temporary absence from South Australia...'.
PRG 1731/21: Certificate of the Election of a South Australian Representative in the Australasian Federal Convention [John Cockburn].
PRG 1731/22: Appointment (along with six other men) to inquire into, consider and report upon the best means for the Relief of the Aged Poor.
PRG 1731/23: Appointment by His Excellency the Governor of South Australia of John Cockburn to be Agent-General for South Australia 'for the term of three years, from the first day of June, 1898'.
PRG 1731/24/1: Copy letter of a Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor desiring 'that the name of the honorable John Alexander Cockburn ... be recommended for appointment to ... the most distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George as well as notification of the appointment, Annual Service booklets (1921) and copy of the statutes of the order.
PRG 1731/24/2: Copy letter of a Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor desiring 'that the name of the honorable John Alexander Cockburn ... be recommended for appointment to ... the most distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George as well as notification of the appointment, Annual Service booklets (1921) and copy of the statutes of the order.
PRG 1731/24/3: Copy letter of a Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor desiring 'that the name of the honorable John Alexander Cockburn ... be recommended for appointment to ... the most distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George as well as notification of the appointment, Annual Service booklets (1921) and copy of the statutes of the order.
PRG 1731/24/4: Copy letter of a Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor desiring 'that the name of the honorable John Alexander Cockburn ... be recommended for appointment to ... the most distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George as well as notification of the appointment, Annual Service booklets (1921) and copy of the statutes of the order.
PRG 1731/24/5: Copy letter of a Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor desiring 'that the name of the honorable John Alexander Cockburn ... be recommended for appointment to ... the most distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George as well as notification of the appointment, Annual Service booklets (1921) and copy of the statutes of the order.
PRG 1731/24/6: Copy letter of a Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor desiring 'that the name of the honorable John Alexander Cockburn ... be recommended for appointment to ... the most distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George as well as notification of the appointment, Annual Service booklets (1921) and copy of the statutes of the order.
PRG 1731/24/7: Copy letter of a Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor desiring 'that the name of the honorable John Alexander Cockburn ... be recommended for appointment to ... the most distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George as well as notification of the appointment, Annual Service booklets (1921) and copy of the statutes of the order.
PRG 1731/25: Invitation to The Agent General for South Australia to a Complimentary Banquet, Presentation of Sword of Honour to Colonel H. A. MacDonald.
PRG 1731/26: Family tree showing family members from the 1600s till about 1905 and two copies of an extract of an entry in a Register of Marriages, of the marriage of John Cockburn and Sarah Brown, 1875.
PRG 1731/27/1: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 1, 1 January 1901, in which the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed.
PRG 1731/27/2: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 1, 1 January 1901, in which the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed.
PRG 1731/27/3: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 1, 1 January 1901, in which the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed.
PRG 1731/27/4: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 1, 1 January 1901, in which the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed.
PRG 1731/27/5: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 1, 1 January 1901, in which the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed.
PRG 1731/28: Birth certificate extract for John Alexander Cockburn, born August 23rd, 1850.
PRG 1731/29: Typescript letter from J. A. Cockburn to his mother (Faith Julia Cockburn) in April 1911. Underneath the letter is a handwritten note, written in 1971, explaining that J. Cockburn wrote the letter during one of his holidays with Sir Langton Bonython at 'Carclew', Montefiore Hill. John Alexander Cockburn was the grandson of Premier John Cockburn.
PRG 1731/30: Studio portrait taken in London.
PRG 1731/31/1: Booklet, envelope and invitation 'To commemorate the establishment at Canberra of the Seat of Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, May 9th 1927'.
PRG 1731/31/2: Booklet, envelope and invitation 'To commemorate the establishment at Canberra of the Seat of Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, May 9th 1927'.
PRG 1731/31/3: Booklet, envelope and invitation 'To commemorate the establishment at Canberra of the Seat of Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, May 9th 1927'.

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Papers of Sir John Cockburn [PRG 1731] • Mixed material

Commemorative booklet.