Political papers
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Poster from 4th ALP National Women's Conference, 1986 -
ALP how-to-vote card for the 1975 federal election -
DLP central executive minutes, 1955 -
1982 election poster for a John Cain ALP government -
ALP politician Sam Merrifield, 1965 -
Meeting of Victorian Executive Council, 23 January 1903
The Library holds records of Victorian political parties, politicians and activists across the political spectrum. Most political papers can be found in the manuscripts collections; however, substantial holdings of political ephemera, including leaflets, posters and a small number of photographs, can be found in the Riley & Ephemera Collection, part of the Library's Australiana collection.
In addition to unpublished sources, the Library's Australiana collection is home to a substantial archive of published political histories, biographies, autobiographies and related critical works on Victorian politics.
Together, these collections provide fascinating insights into party organisation and division, and the ways political parties and related groups operated in Victoria.
Highlights of our collection of political papers include:
- records of the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), from 1915 to 1995, consisting of over 600 boxes of records, photographs, press clippings, tapes and films
- records of the Victorian branch of the Democratic Labor Party (DLP), from 1857 to 1978, including some ALP material and providing evidence of major internal divisions in the labour movement during the 1950s and '60s
- political and personal papers of ALP politician Sam Merrifield (1904–82), featuring political ephemera, photographs, newspapers, books and pamphlets
- papers of political activist and thinker BA Santamaria (1915–98), a staunch opponent of Communism and a major influence on the DLP; this extraordinary collection measures more than 115 linear metres and contains material relating to all aspects of Bob Santamaria's career
We also have papers from the following politicians:
- Hans William Henry Irvine (1856–1922), Victorian and federal politician
- John Button (1933–2008), ALP senator and minister for industry and communications
- John Cain (1931–), ALP politician and Victorian premier
- Rupert Hamer (1916–2004), Liberal Party politician and Victorian premier
- Richard McGarvie (1926–2003), ALP member and governor of Victoria
- Race Mathews (1935–), ALP Victorian and Federal politician
