National Archives' records

Our collection includes records from John Curtin's time as prime minister and member of parliament.

This is a selection of records from our collection, including Commonwealth records and Curtin’s personal papers (CP 258).

• Copies of photographs of John Curtin, 1938-44 (series M1422)
• Tape recordings of wartime speeches made by John Curtin, 1939-44 (series M1219)
• Mr Curtin's broadcast talks over the national network, 1940-43 (SP112/1, 31/3/5)
• Prime Minister – Press messages – Hon. J Curtin, 1941 (A461, S4/1/12)
• Curtin, John - Declaration of War on Japan (audio tapes), 1941 (C102, 1552510)
• Mr Curtin's speeches 1941 – [press cuttings], 1941-42 (A5954, 1931/1)
• Exchange of cablegrams between Mr Churchill and Mr Curtin after outbreak of war with Japan, 1941-42 (A5954, 581/17)
• Prime Minister – Rt Hon. J Curtin, 1941-45 (A461, R4/1/12)
• Photographs relating to John Curtin's term as Prime Minister, 1941-45 (series M1218)
• Correspondence of John Curtin as Prime Minister – alphabetical series, 1941-44 (series M1415)
• Correspondence of John Curtin as Prime Minister – special subject series, 1941-44 (series M1416)
• Reports and conference papers maintained by John Curtin as Prime Minister, 1941-45 (series M2319)
• Portrait of Rt Hon. John Curtin by Cav A Dattilo-Rubbo, 1941-47 (A463, 1965/1998)
• Federal Election, 1943, 1942-44 (SP286/16, 5)
• Booklet - 12 months Labour Rule: What the Government led by Rt Hon. John Curtin has accomplished, 1943 (MP956/2, 1078)
• Books and journals – John Curtin – Australian, 1943 (SP109/3, 323/26)
• Biography of Prime Minister Mr John Curtin by Mr A Chester, 1943 (SP112/1, 352/53/2)
• Post-war reconstruction – Mr Curtin's proposal for Empire Council. UK comment on British/Commonwealth relations, 1943-44 (A989, 1943/735/150/4)
• Australia and the war – Statement by the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr John Curtin, 1944 (A5954, 667/4)
• Mr Curtin's statement on international affairs – review of war situation [book notes relating to manuscript], 1944 (A5954, 826/23)
• Death of the Rt Hon. John Curtin PC MP, 1945 (A1066, PI45/88)
• The passing of John Curtin, 1945 (SP286/16, 13)
• Successor to Mr Curtin as Leader of the Labor Party [press cuttings], 1945 (5954, 2207/3)
• Death of the Prime Minister John Curtin [press cuttings], 1945-47 (A5954, 2207/2)

Research guide

For details of the records on John Curtin and Elsie Curtin held by the National Archives and other institutions, you can use John Curtin: guide to archives of Australia's prime ministers.