James Battye

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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. He also served as Chancellor of the University of Western Australia.

On the event of his 80th birthday in 1951, The West Australian designated him as the Principal librarian and secretary of the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery of Western Australia [1]

Contents

[edit] Library

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

[edit] Cyclopedia

  • Battye, J.S. The Cyclopedia of Western Australia : an historical and commercial review : descriptive and biographical facts, figures and illustrations : an epitome of progress Adelaide : Printed and published for the Cyclopedia Company by Hussey & Gillingham, 1912. 2 volumes - . (xv, 775; xv, 1025 )
Illustrated edition (1912-1913) - same details as above.
Facsimile edition: (1985) The Cyclopedia of Western Australia : an historical and commercial review : descriptive and biographical facts, figures and illustrations : an epitome of progress Carlisle, W.A : Hesperian Press. ISBN 0859050726 (set) ISBN 0859050742 (vol. 2) ISBN 0859050734 (vol. 1)

[edit] Western Australia

  • Battye, J. S. Western Australia : a history from its discovery to the inauguration of the Commonwealth Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1924.
Facsimile edition: (1978) with an introduction by B. K. de Garis. Nedlands, W.A. University of Western Australia Press ISBN 0855641363
Also as an e book at Project Gutenberg Australia - [1]

[edit] Further reading

  • Cyclopedia of Western Australia - has his biography until 1912 at - Vol. 1, p.532-533
  • Garrick, P. (1984) Two historians and the aborigines: Kimberly and Battye, commentary on their different attitudes. Studies in Western Australian History, No.8 (Dec. 1984), p.111-130

[edit] References

  1. ^ Personal column on the 14th November 1951 - The West Australian

[edit] See also