Collection consists of journals and letters relating to William Levitt Wells and his family.

Collection consists of various essays, lectures and reflections on education, Quakers and also copies of his contributions to the Australian Dictionary of Biography.

Collection consists of correspondence, diaries, accounts and documents relating to personal life, the Society of Friends xxxxxxx

The papers consist mainly of family correspondence of G.W. Walker and his children and a few diaries and miscellaneous papers. James B. Walker's letters to his sisters, particularly letters to Mary Augusta while she was over seas are especially descriptive of his activities and of Hobart life. Mary Walkers' letters from London describe her life as a student in London and her correspondence with friends met then contain references to artists, especially women painters and sculptors.

Diary of the voyage to Australia, arrival in Hobart, 31 May 1884 - 6 July 1884, also visit to Bushy Park, 7 October 1884

Diary of the voyage to Australia written by William Wells, 30 April 1844 to 30 May 1884

Collection consists of 1 photograph album of people met, groups and scenery and account of a visit to Australia in 1909 written by L. Violet Hodgkin describing her impressions of colonial life (not always favourable ), the meetings and social functions and detailed descriptions of the chief Friends in each place some photos stuck into the diary account.

Notes of opinions on alcohol (notebook), petitions to Legislative Council, copy of pledge, list of subscribers, correspondence

Papers relating to Dr. Story's Friends' Mission visits to South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. Also other miscellaneous religious papers

Collection consists of family correspondence, miscellaneous papers, household accounts and personal mementos

File consists of a collection of personal mementos

Miscellaneous papers and photographs relating mainly to the family of Joseph Benson Mather

Collection consists of correspondence and transcripts of letters

Notebook and loose notes by James Backhouse Walker on reminiscences of life in Hobart from 1840-1860

Religious education: a Quaker's view - "Independence" May 1987

Quakers and education

Photograph album of the Hodgkin's visit to Australia during 1909. Includes photos of Christ Church Annual Meeting, Adelaide General Meeting, other meeting groups, Evelyn Camp, Gosforth Camp, Healsville Camp, members of families of Woodham, Erskine, Benson, Howie, Greaves, Allen, Sayce, Robson, Dixon, Mather, Mackie, Isaac Sharp. Also views of New Zealand, Maori carvings, Dandenongs Victoria, Sydney and Point McLeay Mission. Also a loose photo of Mary Augusta Walker aged 93 wearing her mother’s Quaker dress, and the first General Meeting in Hobart 1903

Schools and the nurture of the human spirit - Philip Smith Memorial Lecture.

Peter Jones interviewed by Ben Ross of Oralhistorycompany.com . Part 1: February 21st 2019. & Part 2: March 7th 2019

Visions of a future Australian society - some personal reflections

Person papers and documents relating to Dr. Story. Includes family and other correspondence, personal records, memoranda booklets, accounts and photographs

Autograph book with signatures of friends, some with addresses and brief descriptions. 19 December 1889 - 26 March 1914 and no date.

Miscellaneous notes on the history of the Walker, Benson & Mather families

Collection consists of miscellaneous items found in books that were purchased for the Quaker Collection from the Rowntree Family. Includes circulars, photographs, Ackworth School material and sketches

Letters written by William Wells to Father dated 25 September 1885, 8 January 1888 Hobart: Mather family, job prospects, Thomas Lidbetter there - reminds them of Martin Lidbetter, children and new "young Tasmanian" Martin (1885); Don: birth of Hugh (1888).

William and Bessie Wells to Thomas and Lizzie dated 1885 – 1888. William to sister and brother in law, with notes and one letter enclosed from Bessie: Baby 12 weeks old, Frank and Edith attending Miss Johnson's school, wishes Edith could go to Ackworth school with Fanny, Father & Prissie (September 1885); Hobart house with sketch of verandah railings and "frieze" made by William L. Wells., Edward Octavius Cotton, Mr Henry's business offer, Thomas Lidbetter and son staying after birth of another son for T.L. (18.10.85); family life; birth of fourth son Hugh, business (24.1.88); Miss Greer to be married (5.9.88).

Letters written by Elizabeth Lucy (Bessie) Wells to father, Martin Lidbetter, and mother 1884 - 1886. Bessie's letters to her parents were intended for all her family, as she says in her first letter on the voyage (6 May 1884) which was addressed to Father, Mother, Robert & Sophie, Tom & Lizzie, Willie, Harry & Mary. Her first letter was written from Greenhithe before sailing and describes their boarding, seen off by the Wells father, Prissie, Uncles James Wells, Henry & Louie and her two children, Mabel and Arthur. Her letters supplement the journal of the voyage and describe their lives on the voyage, in Hobart and later at the Don River. There are references to the children's schooling, their hopes for a Friends School and eventual arrival of Samuel Clemes and family and the start of the School and the attendance of Edith and Frank, although the expense was almost too much but Edith gained a scholarship. There are references to visits from other Friends and occasionally relatives, visits to Melbourne, etc. A letter of 13.12.1891 was written on Wells Store printed letter-head.
• Nos. 8-12, 1884 - voyage
• Nos.13-18, 1885 - January 1886 - Hobart
• Nos.19-25, 1886, February-August Don River store (including incomplete letter from Melbourne with postscript from Don, 8 June 1886 - Arnold's eye)
• Nos.26-44, 1887-1893 Don River (including two undated letters c1891- Edith got scholarship, c1892 wedding of Walter Lean at Table Cape, Minnie Furmage and 2 children, Willie going to Latrobe daily, Frank possibly not returning to Friends School after Christmas as fees £50 now he had turned twelve)

Letters written by various members of the Wells family

Letter written by William L. Wells to "Sister" dated 17 July 1910. Grandson, Frank and Isabel's child, William Walker Wells, little Francie,
Arnold, Ella.

A lecture delivered to the Royal Society of Tasmania, 5th July 1994 entitled The importance of James Backhouse in the history of Van Diemen's Land in the 1830's.

Miscellaneous items collected by Nancie Hewitt (nee Brownell), including copies of Judd and Brownell papers, notes relating to Judd, Brownell and Propsting families and other items given to Mrs Hewitt. Also Mrs Hewitt's notes on the Society of Friends and the Quaker faith and some photographs of Quakers.

The journals have been published as "Immense Enjoyment, the illustrated journals and letters of William L Wells 1884·1888, the life of an early Quaker family in Tasmania" edited by Faye Gardam and published by the Devon Wells Historical Soicety (1987) a copy is held at UTAS Library Cent.Quaker DU 194.3, .W45, A3 1987
Diaries, illustrated with sketches, written in duplicate copy books, using a lead point on thin copying paper with a blue "carbon" pad which printed both on the back of the copying paper to darken the faint impression made by the lead point as well as on to the slightly thicker copy paper pages which were perforated to tear out (the copy being darker and clearer writing than the "top"). In the last volume, however, the top flimsy pages were removed to send overseas (possibly now written with a pen) and the copy made with a blacker "carbon" was retained

The bulk of the correspondence consists of Francis Cotton's letters to Joseph Benson Mather, and some other correspondence from members of the Society of Friends (Quakers), family and a few business correspondents also a few letters addressed to Joseph Benson Mather’s children.

Collection consists of five letters from a Quaker, John H. Fisher, in Hobart to his brothers, Reuben A Fisher and Thomas W.Fisher in Cork, Ireland.
John Fisher asked for news of his family, mentioning particularly his sisters May, Susanna and Margaret, Uncle John, cousins and friends and the other apprentices and he inquired if brother Thomas was still apprenticed to Henry Morris. His past misfortune was his own fault and he did not expect friend Thomas Harvey to forgive him (F.1/2) and he wanted to know if the Friends Society had disowned him and how people he owed money to felt (F.1/4). He had not been much to the Friends Meeting House in Hobart -- it was very different from home (F.1/3). Fisher had been in Port Philip and went into the bush but had an accident crossing the Goulburn River when a bullock dray ran over his legs and broke his thigh. In Hobart Isaac got him a job as overseer to David Lord but he was the only free person employed. Now he was working with Isaac who was teaching him hat making (1843 F.1 /2) but in 1845 he wrote that hats could be imported more cheaply and Isaac was fell mongering - getting up wool for the English market (F.1/4). There was a depression in Hobart but his life was comfortable. Hobart had 4 insurance offices, 4 churches (2 English, 2 Scotch), a Catholic chapel, 4 dissenting houses and a Friends Meeting House. In his last letter, dated 11 November 1845, John Fisher says he is thinking of
trying for Californian gold. One letter was later endorsed with a letter from A. Fisher to Thomas dated 31 . 12 . 1894 from Dymond City, N.C., enclosing the letters from their brother John and commenting on A.F.'s good life in the U.S.A., news of his children and his
farm on which he still led an active life although both he and Thomas had "passed the three score and ten"

Collection consists of correspondence, diaries, accounts and documents relating to personal life, the Society of Friends xxxxxxx

Education for peace - Honora Deane Memorial Lecture, 19th July 1990.

Letters written by George Washington Walker to Esther Stickney dated April 1834 and November 1835 regarding : Journal writing, Esther's afflictions, parental discipline, plant specimens, glad to hear her brother had given "proofs of his best feelings being exercised towards his family, Barclay's Apology, Backhouse's health (26 April 1834, also copy "per favour T. Mather"); thank for journal; search for Richard and information about his death, his job with Thomas Steel and lodging with Thomas Soltit and wife who kept the "Jolly Tar" public house. his property; the Meeting House in Sydney (November 1835)

Collection consists of correspondence, diaries, accounts and documents relating to personal life and the Society of Friends

Drafts and circulars to Members of Friends' Meetings reminding them to organise their monetary affairs and to make their wills, etc.
To Hobart friends, signed by Hannah Propsting and J. Ridley Walker.
To Lisburn friends, signed by Clerks of Committee on Ministry and Oversight:
• Norah Douglas - 20 December 1943
• Arnold Benington - 7 December 1946
• Cecil M. Johnson - no date

Notes for the "semi-retreat" and the "day of harmony", note on silence or "stillness".

Collection consists of a photocopy of Mackie's diary dated 1852 - 1855 bound into two volumes with accompanying photographic prints and 35 mm. negatives of some illustrations contained in the diaries.
The diaries (except for the South African portion), with most of the sketches, were published in 1973 as Traveller underconcern, transcribed and edited by Mary Nicholls for the History Department of the University of Tasmania.

Collection note books and loose notes of family family reminiscences

Family reminiscences by James Backhouse Walker (handwritten in block copy, New Testament cover)

Diary of the Don Store, 6 June 1886 - 31 October 1886. In February 1886 Wells was appointed manager of the Don branch store of the Don Trading Company by John Henry, the owner, and about 1888 he took over the store, which became William Wells & Co

Diary of the Don Store, 31 October 1886 - 9 February 1887. In February 1886 Wells was appointed manager of the Don branch store of the Don Trading Company by John Henry, the owner, and about 1888 he took over the store, which became William Wells & Co

Diary of the Don Store, 14 March 1886 - 6 June 1886. In February 1886 Wells was appointed manager of the Don branch store of the Don Trading Company by John Henry, the owner, and about 1888 he took over the store, which became William Wells & Co

Diary of the Don Store, 11 February 1887 - 30 December 1888. In February 1886 Wells was appointed manager of the Don branch store of the Don Trading Company by John Henry, the owner, and about 1888 he took over the store, which became William Wells & Co

Diary of Bushy Park continued, including Kelvedon visit [8] October 1884 - 12 November 1884, and River Don, 14 March 1886

Copies of original diaries covering George W Walker's missionary journey in Australia from 1831-1838.

Progressive schools - a personal view. The D J Ross Memorial Lecture

Personal letters and other documents, letterbooks and business correspondence

Contributions to Australian Dictionary of Biography made by Oats on Quakers: (a) Joseph Francis Mather, (b) Samuel Clemes, (c) Ernest Unwin

Conference of Australian Music Teachers - 12th January, 1992

Photograph of Charles Sowden, , B.A., age 28, teacher at Friends' School, Hobart, depicted ringing school bell.

Benson & Mather family tree compiled by James Backhouse Walker

An historical background to funding of Quaker Service Australia

Some reflections on the problems facing American educators - an address in Pasadena, November, 1951

Two volumes describing L. Violet Hodgkin impressions of colonial life (not always favourable), the meetings and the social functions and detailed descriptions of the chief Friends’ in each place. In Hobart, where they arrived on the 9th of March, 1909, after brief calls at Perth and Melbourne, and stayed a Heathorn’s Hotel, Violet, described especially the Mathers, the Robeys and their daughters Linor and Margie, the Prosptings whose shop was not doing well, Edith Barnett, John Ridley walker, Elder of the Meeting, and his aunt Mary Augusta Walker. Violet Hodgkin and her brother held special meetings, talks or bible classes for the younger members in each place and in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide joined the Young Friends camps. In Hobart Violet describes several girls from Friends High School. Hobart, New Zealand and Adelaide were highlights of the visit. Violet Hodgkin does not say much about Sydney, where they spent two months, except for a visit to the Allens in the Blue Mountains, and the visits to Queensland and Melbourne were short and often difficult. Some photos of groups and people are stuck in the “Diary” account. There is also a photograph album of people met, groups and scenery (DX10/3)

Music for world peace - broadcast FM - ABC, 18th June, 1989.

The changing face of education - a talk to Tasmanian Chapter of Australian College of Education.

1700's "Walker's: a numerous clan": A history of the Walkers

Values and media - a discussion with U3A, 1st May 1996.