Australian Dictionary of Biography

Period: 1851-1890
Names: D-J
General Editor: Douglas Pike
Published in hardcopy 1972

Preface

This volume of the Australian Dictionary of Biography is the second of four for the 1851-1890 section. The first volume of this section and the two for 1788-1850 have already been published; six have been planned for the third section 1891-1939. This chronological division was designed to simplify production, for over six thousand articles are likely to be included. A general index volume will be prepared when the three sections are completed.

The placing of each individual's name in the appropriate section has been generally determined by when he did his most important work (floruit). For articles that overlap the chronological division, preference has usually been given to the earlier period, although most of the important Federationists will appear in the third section.

The selection of names for inclusion in the Dictionary has been the result of much consultation and co-operation. After quotas were estimated, Working Parties in each State prepared provisional lists, which were widely circulated and carefully amended. Many of the names were obviously significant and worthy of inclusion. Others, less notable, were chosen simply as samples of the Australian experience. Some had to be omitted through lack of material, and thereby joined the great anonymous mass whose members richly deserve a more honoured place; however, many thousands of these names are accumulating in a 'Biographical Register' at the Dictionary headquarters in the Australian National University.

Most authors were nominated by the Working Parties, and the burden of writing has been shared almost equally by university historians and by members of Historical and Genealogical Societies and other specialists. Most of the unsigned entries were prepared in the Dictionary office.

The Dictionary is an all-Australian, Commonwealth-wide project based on consultation and co-operation. The Australian National University has borne the cost of the headquarters staff, of much research and of some special contingencies, while other Australian Universities have supported the project in various ways. Its policies have been determined by the National Committee of representatives from the Departments of History in each Australian University. At Canberra the Editorial Board has kept in touch with all these representatives and, through them, with the Working Parties, librarians, archivists and other local experts, as well as overseas correspondents and research assistants in each Australian capital. With such varied support the Australian Dictionary of Biography can truly be called a national project.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks are due to Professor J. A. La Nauze for his helpful guidance as Chairman of the Editorial Board and to Professor G. Sawer for acting in his absence. Those who helped in planning the shape of the work have been acknowledged in earlier volumes.

For this volume the Dictionary is grateful for many privileges extended by the Australian Universities, especially the Australian National University.

For assistance overseas thanks are due to Mrs Judy Egerton and Peter Saunders, Liaison Officer of the National Library of Australia in London; Dr T. I. Rae, National Library of Scotland; N. C. Buck, St John's College, Cambridge; Kenneth Emsley, Durham; Professor Alan R. Tippett, Fuller Theology Seminary, California; the officials of the Public Record Office, Somerset House and the County Records Offices, and the host of clergy, archivists and others who have answered calls for help.

The Dictionary deeply regrets the death of such notable contributors to this volume as K. G. Allars, Colonel P. Dale, V. W. E. Goodin, A. Gross, C. Lack, N. S. Lynravn, Dr C. F. Macdonald, Dr B. R. Marshall, Mrs I. Mead and especially Dr C. H. Currey.

Within Australia the Dictionary is greatly indebted to countless librarians and archivists in Canberra and each State, to the secretaries of many Historical and Genealogical Societies, to the Registrars-General of Births, Marriages and Deaths, and of Probates, whose generous co-operation has solved many problems. Warm thanks for the free gift of their time and talents are due to all contributors and all members of the National Committee, Editorial Board and the Working Parties. For particular advice the Dictionary owes much to Professor J. J. Auchmuty, Dr A. Barnard, Dr D. Barwick, John Bennett, Dr J. Cumpston, G. A. Fairbaim, Professor B. Gandevia, Dr N. Gunson, Mrs E. Harcus, Dr R. M. Hartwell, Miss Mary Lazarus, Richard Lord, D. McCorquodale, J. McCristal O.F.M., Miss A. M. Mitchell, Miss P. M. Quinn (archivist, Bank of New South Wales), Mrs V. Parsons, E. R. Pretyman, Miss Ann Pugh (librarian, Institution of Engineers), Dr F. B. Smith, Frank Strahan, G. M. Tobin, Mrs R. N. Wardle, Miss Carole Woods and many others. Grateful acknowledgment is also due to the Director and staff of Melbourne University Press; to the editorial staff: N. B. Nairn from September 1965, H. J. Gibbney from July 1965, Nan Phillips from 1967, Martha Campbell and Sally O'Neill from September 1967 and Suzanne Edgar from March 1969; to the painstaking assistance of Audrey Ferguson and Ruth Frappell in Sydney, Noelene Hall in Brisbane, Jessie Serie and Kathleen Thomson in Melbourne, Marjorie Findlay and E. Zalums in Adelaide, Wendy Birman in Perth, Mary Nicholls in Tasmania and Margery Walton in New Zealand; to the secretarial staff, especially Dorothy Smith.