(1905–1992)
Sir
Harold White is Australian librarianship’s only recipient of a knighthood.
Born in Numurkah, he graduated in Arts from the University of Melbourne
after attending Wesley College. In 1923 he joined the staff of the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Library in Melbourne, moving to Canberra with the federal
parliament in 1927. Until 1967, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Librarian
was also National Librarian and White held the combined position until
1968, when he oversaw the separation of the Parliamentary and National
libraries.
Under his direction the National Library of Australia became one of
the premier research institutions of the country, with collections extending
far beyond Australiana and an outreach service which encompassed running
public library services in the Northern Territory and the ACT as well
as stocking the libraries of Australia’s diplomatic posts.
White’s determination in pursuing private collections in Europe and
the United Kingdom was legendary, matched only by his skill at securing
funding for their acquisition from successive Prime Ministers. As well
as the great Australiana collections of Ferguson, Nan Kivell and Matthews,
resources acquired are as varied as the David Nichol Smith Collection
of 18th century literature, the Kashnor Collection on the political
economy of Britain and Ireland, the Gayer-Anderson Collection of Indian
paintings and drawings from the 17th to 19th centuries, the Braga Collection
on the Portuguese in Asia and the Yves Coffin collection of 1000 photographic
prints of Javanese architecture.
The long-awaited move into the new building on the shores of Lake Burley
Griffin was described by White as the promised land after 40 years in
the wilderness. He had taken a personal interest in every aspect of
its development.
White chaired the advisory committee on the Australian Encyclopedia
and the Advisory Council on Bibliographical Services and is remembered
in the Harold White Fellowships awarded annually for research conducted
using the resources he did so much to build. Sir Harold was the father
of Professor David White, pro-Vice-Chancellor 1975–78 and Professor
of Microbiology.
