Evan Kyffin Thomas (1866 – 27 July 1935) was an editor and newspaper proprietor in

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

History

Thomas was a son of

William Kyffin Thomas William Kyffin Thomas (4 November 1821 – 4 July 1878) was a newspaper proprietor in South Australia. William, the son of Robert Thomas, was born in Fleet Street, London and emigrated to South Australia with his father in 1836 on the . From tha ...

and grandson of Robert Thomas and followed in their footsteps in the newspaper business. Most, if not all, members of the family carried the middle name "Kyffin" and "Kyffin Thomas" was often treated as a double-barrelled surname. He joined the literary staff of the "Regíster" in 1885, and editor of the Observer then partner and general manager in 1899. He was elected chairman of the Adelaide committee of the Australian section of the

Empire Press Union The Commonwealth Press Union (CPU), formerly the Empire Press Union, was an association composed of 750 members in 49 countries, including newspaper groups (with several hundred newspapers), individual newspapers, and news agencies throughout the Co ...

at the Empire press conference in 1925, and deputy chairman of the Australian section of the Empire Press Union for 1929–30, and deputy chairman of the Australian delegation to the Empire Press Conference in London in 1930.

A very fine representative of a very fine family which played a big part in the early annals of the State . . . Evan Kyffin Thomas was loved and respected by all. It was a thousand pities that the arrival of the commercial age in Adelaide has deprived us of the paper which the Thomases controlled. South Australia has fallen upon lamentable times. Her businesses have been eaten up by firms run by Eastern capital, her industries have shifted to the Eastern States, her press is manipulated from the east. All that we have left is a string of non-paying agricultural and pastoral industries, and a motorbody business whose future in the State is precarious and whose ownership is largely American.

Family

Evan Kyffin Thomas married Mary "Maisie" Harriet Archer Smith (8 October 1878 – 6 March 1942) on 1 June 1901. Their children included: *Rendel Kyffin Thomas (9 February 1905 – 1985) married Ngaroma Rutherford ( – ) on 18 September 1937 in England. Ngaroma was a sister of Minnie Hope Rutherford, who married Mr. J. Langdon Bonython in 1926. *Archer Kyffin Thomas (30 October 1906 – 1978) married Judy Thomas ( – ) on 20 October 1939. Judy was a daughter of Col. Leonard Rhys Thomas (c. 1882–1948) DSO MBE, SA manager of ABC radio. Archer, editor of the Melbourne

Herald A herald, or a herald of arms, is an officer of arms, ranking between pursuivant and king of arms. The title is commonly applied more broadly to all officers of arms. Heralds were originally messengers sent by monarchs or noblemen to ...

for 11 years, was killed in a car crash. *(Mary) Dorothea Kyffin "Dolly" Thomas (15 September 1908 – ) married Randall Robert Parker ( – 1965) on 6 February 1932 Their home for many years was "Branksome", Glenelg. Home movies shot by Evan Kyffin Thomas and his son Rendel in the 1930s "document the life of extraordinary wealth and privilege enjoyed by the Adelaide establishment at the time".Historic Kyffin Thomas family films capture rare high-society view of 1930s
''ABC News'', 26 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Evan Kyffin Evan Kyffin Australian newspaper editors Australian newspaper proprietors People from Adelaide 1866 births 1935 deaths