Papers of Matthew Blagden Hale, 1811-1895

These papers cover the period 1677, 1822-1895. They provide a good account of both the personal and working life of Matthew Blagden Hale. They include diaries, correspondence, official papers, sermons, press cuttings and photographs. Of particular interest is the material relating to Australia. This includes detailed material on Pooninie in Southern Australia and the foundation of an Institute for Aborigines at Port Lincoln in 1850 until its closure in 1895, with photographs of aborigines, correspondence with the Australian government, and others. There is a selection of materials relating to the aborigines. Also included is material relating to the positions he held in England and Australia. This material has not been catalogued in great detail, so all correspondents are not mentioned.

Matthew Blagden Hale was born in 1811 and died in April 1895. He was married twice, first to Sophia Clode and then to Sabina Molloy. He was ordained a deacon in Gloucester in June 1836 following his education at Cambridge University. From 1836-47 he served as a priest in the West Country of England in Tresham, Gloucestershire, Wooton under Edge, Stroud, Alderley and Atworth with Wraxall in Wiltshire. In 1847 he moved to Australia becoming Archdeacon of Adelaide from 1847-57. During the period 1850-57 he helped to found and was Mission Superintendent of the Native Institute, Poonindie, Southern Australia. He then became the first Bishop of Perth, Australia from 1857-75, and finally Bishop of Brisbane from 1875-85. On his return to England he retired in Clifton, Bristol.

Accessible to all bona fide readers

This description was compiled by Hannah Lowery, University of Bristol Special Collection Archivist on 29th January, 2002

Typescript catalogue available in the University of Bristol Special Collections Reading Room

Permission must be obtained from Special Collections

These papers were presented in October 1947 by Hale's son.