Summary heading

Function and purpose

Series M4254 consists of official gifts, presentations, citations and honours received by Stanley Melbourne Bruce throughout his career.  Many of the items are linked to significant events occurring during his period in public office.  Lord Bruce willed these items to the Commonwealth Archives Office (now the National Archives of Australia) before he died in August 1967.

Of particular note are freedom of the city caskets and citations from London, Manchester, Kidderminster, Edinburgh and Exeter; a gold cigarette case from the Duke and Duchess of York presented upon the opening of Parliament House in Canberra in 1927; a gold cigarette case from the President of Turkey, Kemal Ataturk, for Bruce’s work as President of the League of Nations Montreux Conference; Bruce’s Privy Councillor’s uniform; his viscountcy comprising an illuminated parchment and seal; a framed original 'Punch' cartoon by Bernard Partridge commenting on the 1923 Imperial Conference; two large signed photographs of delegates to the 1926 Imperial Conference; a tea set presented to Bruce at Stoke On Trent; citations for honorary degrees; golfing cups and a cigarette box presented to Bruce by the Food and Agriculture Organisation upon his retirement as Chairman of the FAO’s World Food Council. 

The series also contains a Prime Minister’s Lodge visitor’s book for 1927-1929 and two parliamentary despatch boxes used by Bruce. 

Related legislation

Using the series

Language of material

Physical characteristics

System of arrangement and control

Items in the series have been numbered 1 – 53 with some secondary parts.

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Access conditions

Series history

Provenance

Immediate source of acquisition

Lord Bruce willed these items to the Commonwealth Archives Office (now the National Archives of Australia) before he died in August 1967.

Custodial history

Quantity in agency custody

Disposal history

Publication note

Additional information

End notes

Sources