Historical information
The Presidents Fund was created in 1932 by a donation of £50 from Legatee Walter W Berry from his late father's estate "to help temporarily embarrassed Melbourne Legatees" towards the end of The Great Depression.
The aim of the fund was the give the President a way to help needy cases with discretion and without having to gain approval from committees. In many cases the money was repaid by the recipient.
This letter dated 24 February 1933 is a formalisation of the arrangement. Documents in 01875 show meetings between President AN Kemlsey with Legatee Berry to make sure he was satisfied with the terms of the President's Fund.
This document was in a folder labelled President's Fund Origin and Authorisation with many other documents that included correspondence, receipts of donations and material about when money was given to help appropriate cases.
The folder was marked with H40 which is part of an early archive project from the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Significance
The Presidents Fund was a significant help to legatees and junior legatees who were unable to obtain help from other sources.
Physical description
File copy of a letter from Legacy to the Howard and Georgina Berry Trust Fund on 24 February 1933.
Inscriptions & markings
Signature of President AN Kemsley.
