William Morris Hughes

Hughes
William Morris Hughes
NLA: MD3449 in Australasian, 20/9/1919,

William Morris Hughes was Australia's seventh prime minister (1915–23). Hughes was Australia's longest serving federal parliamentarian. He was a member of Australia's first parliament in 1901 and he served 51 continuous years until 1952. He was a founding member of three Australian political parties:

  • the Labor Party
  • the Nationalist Party
  • the United Australia Party

Hughes was expelled from them all. He sat as a member of the Liberal Party from 1945 to 1952.

What's in the National Archives on William Morris Hughes?

The tables below list a sample of the Archives' records about Hughes.

Personal records of Hughes

People in prominent positions often have significant personal collections of records, as well as creating records in the institutions in which they work. These personal collections are usually a mixture of official and private material and may span a number of different positions. The National Archives collects personal records from Governors-General, Prime Ministers, ministers and some judges. For more information, see Commonwealth persons.

The National Archives holds a number of William Morris Hughes' personal papers. They highlight his early career as Attorney-General and Prime Minister, as well as his involvement in overseas conferences during World War I.
Collection references
257996Records on the Waterside Workers Federation, 1914–151914–15CP359/1, 1 
1339179Records concerning union matters, New Guinea, the Navigation Act, representations and so on, 1914–151914–15CP359/1, 8 
ItemCorrespondence from Douglas Mawson regarding Macquarie Island, claim to Antarctic lands, the New Hebrides question and New Guinea, 19161916CP359/2, 9 
ItemCablegrams regarding Prime Minister WM Hughes' attendance at the Imperial War Cabinet and imperial conference in London, 19181918CP359/3, 1 
ItemRecords concerning Australia's entry into the Chinese consortium, 1920–211920–21CP359/4, 2 

Hughes before his term as Prime Minister

William Morris Hughes worked on the Bonuses for Manufactures Bill select committee (1902–03) and royal commission (1903–04). He also chaired the royal commission on the Navigation Bill (1904–06). In 1907, Hughes went to the London conference on merchant shipping legislation and to the colonial/imperial conference. He served in the first Labor ministry under JC Watson as Minister for External Affairs (1904). He was also Attorney-General in the A Fisher governments.
Collection references
431145Oaths of the third Commonwealth ministry (JC Watson), 19041904A5447, 5 
ItemData used at the conference on dominions legislation and merchant shipping, 1907–291907–29CP103/12, Bundle 24/T110/21 Part 2 
ItemRecords of the Department of Defence on imperial conference discussions on the naval agreement, 1907–081907–08MP178/2, 2115/1/46 
ItemRecords of the Attorney-General's Department on findings of the full court concerning the coal and shipping vend case, 19101910A432, 1929/2755 Attachment 3 
SeriesCorrespondence and telegrams of the Select Committee and the Royal Commission on the Bonuses for Manufactures Bill, 1902–031902–03A586 

Hughes during his term as Prime Minister

William Morris Hughes served as Prime Minister from 27 October 1915 to 9 February 1923. During this period he was also

  • Attorney-General (1914–21)
  • Minister for Trade and Customs (1915–16) and
  • Minister for External Affairs (1921–23)
Collection references
3054171Letter from French President Clemenceau to WM Hughes, 19181918CP222/1, 1 
249155Request by the Governor-General to WM Hughes to continue as Prime Minister pending formation of new ministry, 19181918A11804, 1918/36 
202752Correspondence between WM Hughes and SM Bruce, 1921–231921–23A1492, 1 
431121Oaths of the 11th Commonwealth ministry (WM Hughes), 1915–161915–16A5447, 20 
SeriesCases concerning trading with the enemy – correspondence files of the Attorney-General's Department, 1914–211914–21A3201 

Hughes after his term as Prime Minister

William Morris Hughes held a number of positions after his term as Prime Minister including

  • Minister for Health (October–November 1934, 1936–37)
  • Minister for Repatriation (1934–35, 1936–37)
  • Minister for External Affairs (1937–38, 1938–39)
  • Minister in Charge of Territories (1937–38)
  • Attorney-General (1939–41)
  • Minister for Industry (1939–40) and
  • Minister for the Navy (1940–41)

He was also

  • Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council (1934–35, 1937–38)
  • member of the War Cabinet (1939–41) and
  • member of the Advisory War Council (1940–45)

Hughes was sent as a delegate to the League of Nations in 1932 and was elected Leader of the United Australia Party (1941–43). He was still a member of the House of Representatives (Bradfield) when he died in October 1952. Hughes holds the record for the longest serving parliamentarian – 51 years and seven months.
Collection references
653974Parliamentary question on WM Hughes' statement on Australian defence, 19361936A5954, 1020/13 
ItemExpulsion of WM Hughes from the United Australia Party due to his decision to rejoin the Advisory War Council, and appointment of Captain Harrison as new Deputy Leader, 19441944A5954, 2217/3 
1071790 Notebooks of the War Cabinet and the Advisory War Council, 1939–461939–46A9240, Set 2 Vol 4 
SeriesOpinion books of the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department, the Attorney-General, Solicitor-General and (from 1950) Crown Solicitor, 1901–1901–A1497 
SeriesDaily summaries of naval events (from the Naval Intelligence Division), 1940–421940–42MP1579/3 

Mary Hughes

Mary Ethel Campbell married William Morris Hughes in 1911. She was an active welfare worker and a trained nurse. WM Hughes suffered from a variety of ailments and insisted that Mary Hughes accompany him as his nurse on his numerous official trips overseas. Mary Hughes was made a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in 1922.
Collection references
ItemLetters from the Repatriation Commission to Mary Hughes, 19221922A2487, 1922/8518 
ItemHMAS Deloraine – launching ceremony, performed by Mary Hughes, 19411941MP138/1, 603/280/309 

Significant subjects for Hughes-related research

During the course of Hughes' political career, he was particularly involved in

  • unions
  • the Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry
  • wireless broadcasting
  • Commonwealth oil refineries
  • the metal trade and the formation of the Australian Metals Exchange

He was Prime Minister during World War I, and heavily involved in the conscription debates. He gained Australia's 999-year mandate over New Guinea and the adjacent islands, along with administrative providence over Nauru. He was also involved with renewing the Anglo-Japanese alliance.
Collection references
1339175Deputations concerning preference to unionists, 1914–151914–15CP359/1, 4 
351126Records of the Governor-General concerning the referendum on conscription and compulsory service, 19171917A11803, 1917/89/965 
ItemDocuments taken by the Prime Minister to the imperial war conference, 1916–181916–18A3932, SC472 Part 2 
ItemTreaty and declaration by the United States, the British empire, France and Japan relating to their possessions and dominions in the Pacific, 19211921A11831, 39 
3138866Formation, report and recommendations of the Advisory Council for Science and Industry, 19161916A8510, 3/1/14 

Photographic and multimedia records relating to Hughes

Collection references
ItemAudio tape of Professor LF Fitzhardinge discussing WM Hughes and conscription, 19651965C102, Pol91 Part 1 
ItemAudio tape of 'A political triptych – the life and character of WM Hughes', part two, 19601960C102, FD40 Part 2 
L11181Official portrait of WM Hughes as Prime Minister, nd ndA1200, L11181 
ItemPrime Minister WM Hughes welcomes fliers on their arrival, 19201920A1200, L53897 
SeriesMildenhall collection of glass plate negatives, 1913–351913–35A3560 

Relevant research guides

The National Archives has produced a number of research guides and fact sheets that may assist you with your research on William Morris Hughes. These are available from the website and in print versions.

Records of Australian prime ministers, 1901–71 (Fact Sheet 70)

William Morris Hughes (Fact Sheet 73)

Papua New Guinea Records 1883-1942: Microfilm Collections (Research Guide 4)

Records of Papua New Guinea, 1883–1942 (Fact Sheet 148)

Universal military training in Australia, 1911–29 (Fact Sheet 160)

Conscription referendums, 1916 and 1917 (Fact Sheet 161)

 

Research databases

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