James Battye

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dr. James Sykes Battye (1871-1954) was the first chief librarian of the Victoria Public Library (now the State Library of Western Australia) in Perth, Western Australia. He was a leading historian, librarian and public figure of the State.

Dr Battye came to Western Australia from Victoria in 1894 to take up the position which he held until his death in 1954. Although not directly within his professional role, he developed a strong interest in Western Australian history and began collecting material from early in the century.

The J S Battye Library is named in his honour.

'"Battye"' is a local term for the library and also his History of Western Australia volume published at the time of the Western Australia centenary celebrations in 1929

[edit] Works

• Battye, J. S. Western Australia : a history from its discovery to the inauguration of the Commonwealth Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1924.

This volume was re-issued in 1974, and is also available as an e-book.