James Battye
Encyclopedia
Dr. James Sykes Battye 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
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.
State Library of Western Australia
The State Library of Western Australia is located within the building known as the Alexander Library Building, in the Cultural Centre of Perth, Western Australia....
) in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. He was a leading historian, librarian and public figure of the State. He also served as Chancellor of the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
.
On the event of his 80th birthday in 1951, The West Australian
The West Australian
The West Australian is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by ASX-listed Seven West Media . The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication...
designated him as the Principal librarian and secretary of the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery of Western Australia
Library
Dr Battye came to Western Australia from VictoriaVictoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
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
J S Battye Library
The J S Battye Library is an arm of the State Library of Western Australia...
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.
Works
Battye was involved in a number of publishing projects - the Cyclopedia of Western Australia before the First World War, and the History of Western Australia, as well as the commemoration of the state's centenary in 1929 he was incolved in the organising committee.Cyclopedia
- Battye, J.S. The Cyclopedia of Western AustraliaCyclopedia of Western AustraliaCyclopedia of Western AustraliaEdited by James Battye - was the pre-eminent written summary of Western Australia's development and context prior to World war one.-Publication details:*Battye, J.S...
: 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)
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 - http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks05/0500301.txt
Further reading
- Cyclopedia of Western AustraliaCyclopedia of Western AustraliaCyclopedia of Western AustraliaEdited by James Battye - was the pre-eminent written summary of Western Australia's development and context prior to World war one.-Publication details:*Battye, J.S...
- 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
See also
- Western Australia Post Office DirectoryWestern Australia Post Office DirectoryWestern Australia Post Office DirectoryAnnual directories of people and businesses, in the state of Western Australia.-Duration:The Western Australian Directory published by H. Pierssene between 1893-1895....
- State Records Office of Western AustraliaState Records Office of Western AustraliaThe State Records Office of Western Australia is the Western Australian government authority with responsibility for identifying, managing, preserving and providing access to the State's archives...