In August 1977 the 121st edition of Quadrant was published. The magazine’s illustrative cover proudly displayed an old, worn picture of Sir George Houstoun Reid placed on a cluttered, dusty desk. Below the picture the headline bellowed, “The Reid Papers: An extraordinary insight into Australia’s involvement in World War I, the secret papers of Australian statesman Sir George Reid”. Historians across the country took notice; now at last there would be a collection of papers through which they could gain an insight into the enigmatic premier and prime minister who had played such a prominent role in the shaping of…