Summary heading
Prime Ministers Papers Project.
Function and purpose
This series
consists of about 380 photographs, one 45 rpm record and six films relating to
Harold Edward Holt and his wife, Mrs Zara Holt (later Dame Zara). The material
mainly covers the period when Holt was Prime Minister (1966-1967), although
many of the photographs relate to his earlier career, particularly as Minister
for Immigration (1949-1956) and later, Treasurer (1958-1966).
The
photographs include official portraits, family photographs, Australian News and
Information Bureau and other official photographs covering a wide range of
Holt’s official engagements both in Australia and overseas. A smaller
number of photographs relate to Mrs Zara Holt, including her childhood, early
fashion business in Melbourne,
as wife of a senior political figure and after Holt’s death.
One 45 rpm
record in the series is a recording of the song ‘We’re with you all the way
LBJ’, sent to Holt by its composer B A Conway. The
title refers to Holt’s association with US President Lyndon B Johnson and his
support of American involvement in the Vietnam War.
The six
films making up the remainder of the series are print copies of Movie tone,
ABC, United States Information Service and other news films covering key events
when Holt was Prime Minister. These include President Johnson’s visit to Australia and the Seven Nations’ Summit
Conference in Manila (1966), Holt’s tour of Asia
and ‘Meet the Press’ interviews in the US (1967).
This series
contains audiovisual formats. As audiovisual formats are either redundant or
susceptible to deterioration, some items in this series have been copied to
ensure their preservation. Preservation copying involves the creation of
preservation, duplicating and reference copies. These copies can be found in
the following series:
Preservation
copies: M4348, Motion picture film preservation copies of M4294, Audio-visual
material relating to Harold Edward Holt and Mrs Zara Holt
Duplicating
copies: M4349, Motion picture film duplicating copies of M4294, Audio-visual
material relating to Harold Edward Holt and Mrs Zara Holt
Reference
copies: M4350, Motion picture film reference copies/answer prints of M4294,
Audio-visual material relating to Harold Edward Holt and Mrs Zara Holt
Preservation
copies: M4404, Video and audio preservation copies of M4294, Audio-visual
material relating to Harold Edward Holt and Mrs Zara Holt
Duplicating
copies: M4406, Video and audio duplicating copies, M4294, Audio-visual material
relating to Harold Edward Holt and Mrs Zara Holt
Reference
copies: M4408, Video and audio reference copies of M4294, Audio-visual material
relating to Harold Edward Holt and Mrs Zara Holt
Related legislation
Using the series
Language of material
Physical characteristics
a)
Items
[1] – [7]: Photographs (mainly black and white, some colour prints, various
sizes)
b)
Item
[8]: - 45rpm Record
c)
Items
[9] - [14]: Films (16mm, black and white, various durations)
System of arrangement and control
The single number system of control was imposed by National
Archives of Australia in the absence of any original order to the material.
Relationships with other records
Originally
part of a larger collection now controlled as M4294, M4295 and M4296, and also
related to other Holt material (eg M4297).
Finding aids
Access conditions
Series history
The material in this series was amongst other records held
in Holt family ownership after the deaths of Harold Edward Holt in December
1967 and Dame Zara Holt (Bate) in June 1989. The arrangement of the material,
including the item numbering and series description, was completed as part of
the Prime Ministers Papers’ Project in July 2002.
Provenance
Harold Edward Holt (CP 27) and Dame Zara Holt (CP 717).
Immediate source of acquisition
Cultural Gifts Program.
Custodial history
The series
was acquired by National Archives in May 2002.
Quantity in agency custody
Disposal history
Publication note
Additional information
National
Archives: RKS file 2001/3037, R346572002
End notes
Sources