This series mainly consists of condolence messages sent to Dame Pattie Menzies following the death of her husband, former Prime Minister Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, on 15 May 1978. The condolences were conveyed through letters, cards, telegrams and cables, including a small number of cards originally attached to floral wreaths. They were received from various Heads of State, members of the Royal Family, other prominent persons and the general public, both Australian and in the United Kingdom. Copies of the replies are attached only to those received from Heads of State. 

The earliest condolences are dated 15 May 1978, the day Sir Robert died, with a small number dated June and July 1978. However, the series is apparently incomplete. Apart from the files relating to Heads of State, the Royal Family and persons living in the United Kingdom, the series only includes files with condolences from the Australian public whose surnames come within the alphabetical sequence 'J-R'. A letter on file from Miss Hazel Craig suggests there were originally thousands of condolence messages. Miss Craig, former Private Secretary to Sir Robert Menzies, came out of retirement at Dame Pattie's request to handle the immense task of responding to the condolences, and to assist with other special arrangements including her visit to the United Kingdom in July 1978 (1).

The series also includes one file relating to the administrative arrangements for Dame Pattie to attend memorial services for her husband in the United Kingdom, in Westminster Abbey (17 July 1978) and in Rye for the Confederation of the Cinque Ports (19 July 1978).

The records were transferred to archival custody by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in April 1993, and the series description was revised as part of the Prime Ministers Papers' Project in December 2002.
 
Sources:

1) National Archives, CRS A9257, item 16